Some prefer to put up the Christmas tree in October, while others wait patiently until Sinterklaas has passed. There are indeed rules for when you can put up and take down the Christmas tree, but when is that?
When do I put up the Christmas tree?
The unwritten rule is that – even if we watch Christmas movies beforehand – we only decorate the Christmas tree when Sinterklaas is out of the country. Some even use the rule of thumb of two weeks before Christmas. That means you could put up the Christmas tree around December 10th. The Christmas period does not officially start until December 21, and in the past the tree was only brought into the house on that date. Hardly anyone follows these rules anymore, because why should we no longer be able to enjoy this cozy green work of art? In America they start decorating the Christmas tree at the beginning of Advent: this starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, after Thanksgiving.
Can I put up the Christmas tree earlier?
More and more people are choosing to put up their Christmas tree earlier, sometimes in November, but Christmas fanatics already have it in their home in October. This ‘trend’ emerged during the corona pandemic. That’s not surprising: we were at home a lot during this period, so a little fun – even if it is way too early – couldn’t hurt. Another reason why you should put up the Christmas tree a little earlier is that it simply makes you a lot happier. People want to associate themselves with things that make them happy, especially in a world full of stress and anxiety. Christmas decorations evoke strong feelings of their youth. Decorations are a kind of path to magical feelings of joy from when they were young. Putting up the Christmas tree therefore promotes your feelings of happiness.
