When is a Christmas tree meant to go up?

[OfDeath]

I've got family coming to stay with me over the holidays and because I live by myself and am not religious, I don't bother with Christmas trees and stuff.

However, my family are Catholic and more importantly, have young children. So in the interest of peace, courtesy and mostly just not wanting to scar children, I'm going to put up a Christmas tree this year.

Now, dont get me wrong, I'm not going full Griswald and deforesting North America. No, I actually have a Christmas tree. It belonged to my grandmother. I dont know how I ended up with it but it's genuinely from the 1950s or 60s, is made out of steel and looks very similar to the one in the picture.

They're arriving on the 14th of December. Should I have it up by then?

Or maybe I should not put it up and it can be an activity to do with the kids?

[FunkyMonkee]

A week and a half to 2 weeks before Christmas!
I'm not the least bit religious, either but, I still want a tree and refuse to do Christmas stuff until a week or so before the day.
I'd wait `til they got there to let them have fun helping you, especially the kids! As they're coming on the 14th, I'd give them a day or 3 to settle in and then put it up with them. If they want to set it up the day after the get there, go for it!
When we were kids, we used to love getting a ream of coloured construction paper, cutting the sheets into half inch (or 1 inch) wide strips, pasting the two ends of each strip together to form a long set of chains which we'd drape across the ceilings on the first floor from one corner to the other making a big colourful X across the ceilings! If you're okay with that and the kids are a bit jumpy, wanting something to do, have them do that. It'll keep them busy for hours!!

[OfDeath]

Yeah that's a good idea. The AI bot made a good choice lol

[FunkyMonkee]

Thank you!

[BCA6010]

For every day someone celebrates Christmas or listens to any rendition of "All I Want For Christmas" before Thanksgiving, Santa has to execute another elf.

December 1st (the beginning of Advent) is the proper time to put up decorations, but believe it or not, there are people who will wait all the way until December 24th.

[OfDeath]

Lol the Mariah Carey song. I'll be sure to let the kids know that so I dont have to hear the song hahaha!

[BCA6010]

Her and every other famous singer's take on it. Seems like last year one version or another was on the radio every third song or so.

[OfDeath]

Yeah I know the feeling. I've also lived through the decades of this song being inflicted on is every year lol

[Razp_Sorbet]

My family usually put it up end of November/ beginning of December. Really just depended on how hot it was and how busy everyone was

[TrueConfection]

It needs to be up by then. Activity suggestion is gingerbread houses

[CTOswald]

First of all, it's "Griswold", not "Griswald." You have sinned and must repent. Say 10 Hail Eddies and 10 Our Snots and go in peace. Second, I personally like to wait until after Thanksgiving. Don't get me wrong, Christmas is great, but Thanksgiving gets a hard shaft these days that it doesn't deserve. If you've never been the cook on Turkey Day, you wouldn't understand. I say anytime after Thanksgiving is ok. Also, depending on your climate, some decorations are ok. For example, in the great frozen North, it's generally acceptable to put up outdoor decorations before the snow flies. And I've long since given up on stores showing any restraint or deference.

[CTOswald]

Also, the tree depends on whether it's artificial or real. Real trees shouldn't be up for more than about 10 days, depending on a number of factors.

[OfDeath]

I wondered if it was actually Griswold after I posted it. Not sure I ever saw the name written down.

[CTOswald]

Now that you have joined the enlightened ones, go forth and spread the word! Peace and joy, and don't catch anyone's toupee on fire!

[OfDeath]

I will and I'll also be sure to dispose of the shitter contents in the correct manner.

[CTOswald]

Don't forget to dress appropriately and begin with "Merry Christmas!" It's all in the details... the ear flaps are crucial to that look!

[OfDeath]

I have the robe but I'll have to get the hat

[CTOswald]

I love and respect your dedication to the cause. I think if you have untied boots, that should just about round out the homage.

[MrOracle]

If it's a natural tree, then probably second week of December. Much before that and it will be dry and browning by Christmas. But with a fake tree, anytime after Thanksgiving is fine.

[AviatorTom]

We usually put the tree up just before Thanksgiving. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas is when most family and friends visit.

The tree usually stays up until a few days after New Years.

[joeldalton]

After Thanksgiving. Yeah do something with the kids. Tell them the history of the tree and the ornaments.

[DonkeyDan]

Traditionally it would be Christmas Eve but the first 2 weeks of December seems to be the modern choice.

[horatiohornblower]

I also do December 1st for Christmas decorations. At least I did before I dropped all the Christmas stuff.

[ewok737]

When I was growing up, it would go up just after Thanksgiving and came down on New Years day.
Now I don't celebrate Christmas migrated to being an atheist.

[OfDeath]

I'd be too hung over to be taking things down on New Year's day. I'll probably take it down on the 27th to allow one day cooling off period.

[HighValue]

Any time after Thanksgiving is okay. Usually by the first weekend of December it is up in my experience.

[Texaskid1]

I would say do it with the kids.

Kudos on the old school pic by the way. It reminds me of the many pics I have seen of my relatives when they celebrated Christmas back in the 60's and 70's.

[humanearth]

Christmas eve. We set it up at night when all the kids are sleeping. So it feels like magic

[OfDeath]

That seems like leaving it a bit late. It's also metal so it would probably be a bit noisy if I want to maintain any sense of mystique lol

[humanearth]

My family been doing it this way since my grandma was a little girl. Trust me when you see a little kids eyes open up wide to a tree they never seen before and top it off with gifts.

It does seem like magic to them

[JakeS00]

It goes up after Thanksgiving. Around the start of December.

[douride2]

At my house it won't go up before the second week of December.

[MadBoy]

After Thanksgiving please. At least when December starts.

[Likes2drive]

I usually do it three weeks before Christmas

[exitseven]

I put it up the weekend after Thanksgiving.

[OfDeath]

Seems to be a popular answer

[exitseven]

Yes, put up the tree and decorate the house before it gets really cold out. The caveat is that if you have a live tree, by Christmas there will be needles all over the place.

[TacosRAwesome]

In December and this a hill I'm willing to die on.

[CT_CD]

November 26th

[princeofromance]

After Thanksgiving!

[threebelles]

1st December.

[OfDeath]

Really? That seems a bit early.

[threebelles]

Some put it up after Thanksgiving.

[Wedgied12]

After Thanksgiving