Christmas Decorations

[Trekker4747]

For many people, Thanksgiving is more or less the time to put up the Christmas decorations at home, or at least the time to start thinking about it.

So are you putting them up tomorrow? How far do you go? Do you just do the tree and stockings? Do you go all out with new table cloths, garland , etc.?

How about the exterior of your home? Do you do nothing? A couple trees? A row of lights along the eave? Or do you go nuts with the lights all over the place?

Provide pics if you wish.

 

[tharpdevenport]

Well, not having my own place and barely enough money to spend on myself, the furthest I am going:

Today I bought a Christmas tree ball, and hung it from my rearview mirror. I'm gonna get a strand of lights and hang it on my car and plug it in.

 

[Shatmandu]

We've never put any up, but now our daughter is five and is asking for them. She wants a lighted sleigh and Santa to stand on the roof next to the chimney.

I said, "Fine by me, but every dollar we spend on that stuff is a dollar we don't spend on toys for you and The Boy."

Joe, cheap asshole

 

[thestrangequark]

I live in an apartment and will be away for Christmas. I am full of holiday spirit, though, and am hosting Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, so I did string some lights around the windows that face the street, and I bought a caramel apple scented candle.

 

[Capn Flukie]

No decorations for me this year. Just don't feel like doing xmas at all.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

No decorations of any kind, inside or out.

Now don't get me wrong, I love Christmas as much as the next guy, but just not decorating my own personal house for it. I'm too lazy to do that.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I always put up my tree and decorations on December 1. I didn't have all that many decorations last year as I threw most of them out when I moved as they were old and tired. I bought a couple of new ones and this year i will buy a few more.

My biggest problem is that my cats, especially Miss Chicken, like to play with any decorations that are hanging on the tree especially the Xmas balls and we generally find them scattered over the house.

 

[Kestra]

I don't know if we're doing decorations this year since we want to sell our place. I figure it might look nice during the holidays, but I don't want it to look cramped either. Not sure what we're going to do. I thought about putting the tree up at my parents' but since we don't celebrate Christmas there, I'm not sure there's a point.

 

[ancientone51]

Going to be away for Christmas and the cats would rip it up quickly.

However, we just got a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and put it up where they little furballs can't get to it in the bedroom. It's so sweet.

 

[auntiehill]

I will put up a tree next week---maybe Monday or Tuesday. I'll have a few days off then, so I'll have time. I love Christmas; I'm just nuts about it. I inherited that from my Mom. But it's odd that my family is so fanatical about it, since we're all atheists. But we definitely do it up right. We'll head up to my Mom's place for Christmas, but I want my house to have that Christmas feel until we leave.

 

[WillsBabe]

I love Christmas trees, they're some of my favourite things in life, so I will be putting up a tree. It will probably be put up the weekend before Christmas. I think that's time enough. I have a great selection of baubles and trimmings and alternate them from year to year. This year, I have no idea yet what my colour scheme is going to be.

 

[Jadzia]

My decorations go up around the 10th december, or the week before, depending on how festive I feel. Last year I inherited some decorations dating from the 1930s or thereabouts. I might try those this time. They're a little shabby but that's not the point.

 

[Captain Ice]

I really enjoy doing Christmas decorating and have for about 12 years or so. At some point over the next couple of days, I'll drag out the Christmas decorations and start checking to see what works, what's going to need new bulbs, and what else I'd like to put up. Sunday or Monday will involve a trip to the store to check out new decorations and purchase replacement bulbs and light strands. Then, come Monday or Tuesday, everything will go up outside. The tree(s) will follow later in the week.

Am not sure if I'm going to stick with one tree this year or put up a second tree just for my Hallmark ornaments. I've been collecting those steadily ever since they produced the one of the shuttlecraft with Spock's voice about 17 years ago and now have quite an extensive selection to choose from.

 

[Gertch]

I was going to wait til the weekend but the kids want them up outside (many people have had them up for a week already) and in their rooms. We'll do it this afternoon since tomorrow is calling for rain.

The gutter hangers are great. I can use an extending painting pole and have those up in 15 minutes.

 

[Trekker4747]

On a related quesion....

For the Christmas Tree... Real or artificial?



In my own apartment I don't decorate. I've little space as it is, but my parents -per the insistance of my SiL- decorated a couple weeks ago. (Tree, stockings, various trinkets and acoutraments around the house.) The tree is artificial and fiber-optic.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Christmas isn't my thing usually, although it is an opportunity to get together with family and put up decorations. My parents have had this tree for about thirteen years, which they put up with flashing white lights each year without fail. I have a tree of my own which has been only been erected once, that time in 2006 when everybody and my dog came to my house for Christmas - the other two years I drove up to spend time with parents on the 25th and 24th respectively.

When I was younger I would go overboard with decorations, but nowadays I'm more modest. Usually my decorations go up close to the start of December.

 

[1001001]

Our children insist that Christmas decorations go up the nano-second we return from Thanksgiving dinner.



We have to be prepared for Santa's arrival. We go all out on the inside. Lots of different decorations, lights, etc.

We don't do too much on the outside though. We have a big inflatable Winnie the Pooh in a Santa Hat that stands on the porch, and candy canes that line the driveway and walkway.

 

[John Picard]

The fiber optic tree will be put up this year. Damn, I love that thing.. 6' tall and throws color beautifully. I can sit there with some music and beer and just watch that thing for hours. Best $29 I've ever spent!

 

[nevermore]

On a related quesion....

For the Christmas Tree... Real or artificial?

I generally get a plant. I got some sort of 2-foot tropical potted pine tree last year for $15, but have had to move it to the fire escape as it was not doing well inside. I'll probably pick something else up this year.

Anyway, I'll put up lights on the fire escape. I already have some lights up inside all the time because I like the diffuse light, but I'll embellish those and add touches around the house. Probably will not do lights in the windows this year though. Also, my friends are having their annual holiday decorating party on Saturday, and we'll all go get drunk on hot toddies and check out the insane lights on 34th street in Hampden next weekend. My favorites are the hubcap chistmas tree and the Natty Boh can wreath.

 

[Commander Rabbit]

I always put a big wreath on the door and usually have a tree in the house, both artificial. Never before the first Sunday of Advent (Sunday after Thanksgiving). I've used artificial for years, mostly because I'm allergic to the real thing.

I also have a creche from my childhood and a couple more contemporary ones. I don't put the old one out any more because the pieces are smaller and become cat toys. Somehow it doesn't feel right to have to drag Baby Jesus out from under the couch. LOL