We all have this link to the idea that there's something very comforting about decorating your home for Christmas. As the weather begins to grow colder and the year concludes, many folks will begin to wonder: When is the right time to begin decorating? Is early November too soon? And when should everything come down again? Part 1. When to Put Up Christmas Decorations The First Day of November For those who love to get into the festive spirit as early as possible, November 1st is a perfectly reasonable starting place to get going. Many people also find that putting up the decorations early rallies their moods. Holiday decor can evoke good emotions and complement an extended celebration, "and psychologists say they're the bright colors and things we see as we were kids that evoke more dopamine - the feel-good chemical, in our brains." The First Day of December December 1st is a traditional one in many households. Once December comes, festive music blasts in shops, events are held for the holidays, and season-like feelings become unmistakable. For families who are more-relaxed about keeping the holiday anticipation neat and organized, waiting until December helps to keep a sense of anticipation. The First Day of Advent Some Christian families prefer to get decorated on Advent Sunday, which is the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Advent is a time of reflection, hope, and spiritual preparation, and is, therefore, a significant time to start decorating. Part 2. Christmas Decorating Timeline If you feel like you want something more structured, some form of decorating time line may help to enjoy the season in pieces without feeling produced. Here's a well-balanced schedule: Early November: Exterior Lights, Planning & Shopping Outdoor preparation and light-stringing should be done when the weather is also milder and daylight hours are long. At this point, many people also start shopping around for new ornaments, stocking fillers, or decorative pieces. Planning ahead helps you to avoid rushes in December. Mid–Late November: Wreaths, Garlands & General Prep As you get closer to Thanksgiving, move to small, subtle accents inside your home with things like garlands for staircase rails, wreaths, door accents, and mantle accents. This highly gradual introduction creates excitement without making the job of full decorating a daunting task. After Thanksgiving / Advent & First Week of December: Main Tree + Full Interior Decorating If you are more into an artificial tree or smell a fresh pine, the first week of December is the perfect time for you. Many families choose this time for sentimental traditions of decorating the tree, holidays music, warm comings, and so on. January 6–January 16: Suggested Take-Down Window Traditionally, decorations are taken down on January 6th, known as Epiphany; the date commemorating the coming of the Three Wise Men. However, many modern households leave decor up until mid-January for convenience or to hang on to the warm feeling of the holiday season a little longer. Part 3. What Date Should You Put Up Christmas Lights? Traditionally, decorations will be hung on the first day of Advent - the fourth Sunday before Christmas. However, in 2025, this falls to Sunday November 30th. Another popular option is the first weekend of December, particularly for those households which are intending to purchase a real Christmas tree. Fresh trees usually last about 4 weeks, so early December is the best time to make sure you have one that lasts through the Christmas Day Holidays, where you and your family can sit around a warm, cheery fire, surrounded by and watching all kinds of greenery shine as they remain evergreen. 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Durable IP67 construction for outdoor use to build automatic water dispensers that constantly evolve with AI-powered designs and apps/voice controls for easy customization. Easy to set up and robust accessories make a holiday centerpiece anywhere and in no time. Govee Curtain Lights Pro These lights provide a 960-LED IPS display with advanced image processing, 30-layer DIY editing, and 250+ dynamic scenes. Upload in photos, a musical sync, or 3 sets maximized for a monster visual canvas. Perfect for windows, walls, and events, they offer impressive, creative lighting all year round. FAQs About When to Put Up Christmas Decorations When does the Christmas season start and end? Traditionally, the Christmas season begins with Advent, which starts four Sundays before Christmas Day. Many people, however, consider the season to start on December 1st or right after Thanksgiving. The season usually concludes on January 6th, called the Epiphany or "Three Kings' Day", but some people extend the season until mid-January. What month should you start decorating for Christmas? Most people start decorating in the month of November or December, depending upon personal taste and family tradition. Early decorators are often after the Nov. How early is too early for Christmas decorations? There's no hard and fast rule by any means, but decorating before Halloween is thought by most people to be "too early." Any time after November 1st is highly accepted, mostly mid to late November. Should you decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving? It's not a bad thing to decorate if you feel like doing it. Some families like to celebrate Thanksgiving first and then decorate and others welcome Christmas decorating as early as mid-November. If you're one who loves the holiday stuff and does it early enough, it's perfectly fine to decorate before Thanksgiving. When should you take down Christmas lights? Most people take the decorations down between January 1st and January 6th to bring the traditional Christmas season to an end. However, if the lights outside are helping in some way to brighten the dark winter's day, then it's all very well to leave them up a little later. Conclusion When to decorate for Christmas is all up to your traditions and style of living, and the mood you wish to set. Whether your preparation starts in early November or forces you to wait for Advent, the Christmas decorating should be joyful. Enjoy that process, take advantage of the season, add a stocking to make a place of warmth, meaning, and all your own.