Can I Put my Christmas Tree Up Before Thanksgiving?

The truth is, there is no rule regarding when to put up a Christmas tree. The Bible never mentions the tradition at all, the church doesn’t care about it, and the opinions differ drastically.

Some believe that it’s never too early for Christmas cheer.

Indeed, putting up a Christmas tree early also has practical benefits – you can save money, avoid shopping in rush hours, and certainly won’t miss a tree due to unexpectedly high demand.

Furthermore, the Christmas atmosphere doesn’t contradict Thanksgiving.

Both holidays are celebrated in the family circle and involve eating turkey and mince pies. So why would a beautiful green fir hurt the Thanksgiving celebration?

However, early Christmas tree decoration has drawbacks. Genuine firs don’t last forever, and that’s a significant point to consider.

That’s why most people prefer to wait until the start of December – this seems to be the sweet spot for putting up a Christmas tree.

The Earlier, the Better

Many would agree that our daily lives lack a bit of twinkle and joy, so it’s never too early to decorate your home for Christmas.

Especially if you don’t take out all your outdoor decorations that may distract neighbors and only put up a Christmas tree in your living room.

Numerous studies show that Christmas trees and sparkling lights on them make us happier. However, there’s no need for scientific proof – you likely know it for yourself.

Some may say that you should let Thanksgiving be Thanksgiving, but others would argue that these two holidays don’t counteract. In fact, they have a lot in common.

For instance, mince pies in the US were initially a Thanksgiving dish, and turkey is a favorite course on both holidays.

So, why not enjoy the refreshing, calming smell of fir and the sparkle of Christmas lights on its branches during family Thanksgiving dinner?

Fun fact: the famous Christmas song “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey was released in October. Why should you wait to put up your Christmas tree until December if holiday songs start playing in malls in late October?

However, nearly everyone would agree that you should at least let Halloween pass in its dark and moody atmosphere, not ruining it with merry and cheer.

Recently, though, a new trend emerged in the US – Halloween trees. They look just like Christmas trees but feature spooky decorations.

So if you can’t wait to bring in the holiday spirit, you can go for a Halloween tree and replace the ornaments afterward.

By putting up a Christmas tree early, you can also free yourself from shopping for it in a rush at the last moment, fearing all tress will be soon gone.

Plus, Christmas trees tend to increase in price closer to Christmas, so early decoration is not only time-saving but also cost-effective.

Should You Wait Until the First Advent?

While you can find endless arguments in favor of putting up a Christmas tree before Thanksgiving, there are no fewer arguments against that.

For starters, the rustic atmosphere of Thanksgiving doesn’t mix well with the red, green, and glitter of Christmas.

Even if it’s solely a Christmas tree, ask yourself – is it considerate of you to take attention away from your Thanksgiving turkey?

Jokes aside, every holiday is unique, and we should learn to enjoy each one in its unique atmosphere, commemorating its special meaning.

By bringing in the main Christmas symbol, a fir, into the Thanksgiving celebration, you risk losing the deep significance of this national holiday.

However, letting Thanksgiving pass without a Christmas tree doesn’t mean you should wait until the end of December to put it up.

The first Advent is a perfect compromise between early Christmas tree decoration and paying respect to Thanksgiving.

Advent lasts for four Sundays before Thanksgiving and signifies the preparation for the birth of Jesus.

So, the first Advent falls between November 27 and December 3, whereas Thanksgiving is celebrated between November 22 and November 28.

The dates of the first Advent and Thanksgiving never intercept. Advent season always starts right after Thanksgiving.

So, by putting your Christmas tree up on the first Advent, you start celebrating early while also putting more meaning into the process.

Like the first Advent marks the beginning of the Christmas season on the calendar, you, putting up a Christmas tree, symbolically indicate the beginning of holiday cheer.

How Long Does a Christmas Tree Last?

While early Christmas tree decoration has many advantages, it also has practical drawbacks.

The first and foremost point to consider is – will your Christmas tree last until Christmas? This merely depends on whether it is genuine, but other factors also matter.

The maximum lifespan of a real Christmas tree is two months – after it has been chopped down, of course. This isn’t much, considering that many Christians prefer not to take the tree down right after Christmas.

You’ll likely want to wait at least until Epiphany to take your Christmas tree down, and some people leave it even longer.

Assuming you take good care of the tree and take it down on Epiphany, the earliest date to put up a Christmas tree is November 6.

However, that’s a very tight estimation. Most of us can’t ensure an ideal temperature and moisture conditions for the Christmas tree to last for the entire two months.

Furthermore, its lifespan in your home also depends on how long it was standing at the store, which you can’t predict.

Lastly, you likely want your tree to look as fresh as possible on Christmas Eve. If it has been standing since early November, it might still look acceptable but is unlikely to be in its absolute best visual state.

A dry fir is also a significant fire hazard, and Christmas celebrations often involve candles or other forms of fire that the tree may catch.

Of course, with the rising popularity of artificial Christmas trees, this concern loses its actuality.

Still, if you prefer the smell and look of a real Christmas tree, consider putting it up no earlier than in mid or late November.

Dates to Consider for Putting Up Your Christmas Tree

If you’d like to put more context into every Christmas tradition, including putting up a Christmas tree, you may consider some important dates.

There is no universal rule regarding putting up a Christmas tree, yet doing it on one of the special dates during the holiday carries a beautiful symbolism.

Apart from the first Sunday of Advent, you can put up your tree on the second, third, or fourth Sunday, depending on what Christmas means for you personally.

The candle that is lit up on the second Sunday represents faith and commemorates Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.

If Christmas is about faith for you, this may be the perfect date. The candle that is lit up on the third Sunday symbolizes joy, and the fourth candle marks the final week of penance and prayer.

If waiting until the third Sunday of Advent to express your jolly attitude towards Christmas seems too long, you may put up your Christmas tree on the stir-up Sunday.

It’s the last Sunday before Advent and, consequently, even before Thanksgiving, falling between November 20 and November 26.

Baking Christmas puddings and mince pies on the stir-up Sunday is a medieval British custom. Combining it with putting up a Christmas tree may bring even more cheer into your home.

The Bible Doesn’t Mind

Lastly, what are the religious considerations regarding the Christmas tree put-up date? The answer is relatively straightforward – the Bible never mentions it.

Moreover, it doesn’t even mention Christmas trees in general since the custom originated only in the Middle Ages.

A justified argument would be that the Bible doesn’t bring up any Christmas traditions at all, such as lighting up candles on Advent, and yet, we still follow them.

But such customs were established by the church in ancient times and had a deeply religious significance.

The Christmas tree tradition, in turn, stems from pagan times, when people decorated their homes with evergreen plants during winter solstice festivals.

They served as a symbol of the soon spring arrival and everlasting life. The Catholic church, in turn, never had rules regarding Christmas trees.

In other words, Christmas trees and their decorations aren’t closely linked with Biblical narrative.

They are a symbol of Christmas, indeed, but God doesn’t mind you putting one up early, just like he doesn’t mind you not putting one up at all.

What Do Statistics Say?

Coordinating your Christmas tree put-up date with others may help to not feel guilty or odd for your decisions. What if more people than you think put up their Christmas trees before Thanksgiving?

So, a study conducted in the UK in 2021 has shown that 13.4% of respondents put up their Christmas trees in November, and 2% even earlier than that.

The majority of respondents, in turn, put up their trees in the first week of December – 29.1%. In other words, the Brits wouldn’t judge you for decorating a Christmas tree early.

The American Christmas Tree Association recommends US residents find their trees early. Based on 2020 data, 77% of consumers celebrated their holidays with a Christmas tree, and some retailers weren’t ready for such a demand.

Experts expect the demand to be the same in the following years, so putting your Christmas tree before Thanksgiving will ensure you won’t be left without one.

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