Experts Reveal 'Perfect' Date To Put Your Christmas Tree and Decorations Up

Are you excited for Christmas? Perhaps chief among the signature symbols of the festive holiday spirit is the humble Christmas tree. But when is it too early (or too late) to put up the tree and Christmas decorations?

The short answer? There is no definitive time of year to get your Christmas tree and decorations out. According to experts, most Americans tend to put both up around Thanksgiving.

Jami Warner, the executive director of the nonprofit American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA), said in a statement on Wednesday: "There is never a bad time to pull out Christmas decorations or set up your Christmas tree, but if consumers haven't already begun, now is the time."

When Is The Right Time To Put Your Christmas Trees and Decorations Up?

A recent survey of 1,000 Americans conducted by Home Depot and Wakefield Research found that 55 percent of those polled begin their holiday decorating before Thanksgiving.

Consumer trends expert Daniel Levine told Newsweek that the day after Thanksgiving is traditionally when Christmas trees and decorations go up. But he "wouldn't be surprised if in a few years we start seeing some tinsel just after Columbus Day [marked on the second Monday of every October]."

Levine said: "Christmas decorations seem to be going up earlier than in the past. I think there are two reasons behind this trend.

"The first is led by the retail industry, which has a financial incentive to get consumers to buy earlier. The second is part of a larger cultural change, in which our world seems to move ever faster," he said.

The trends expert said "a cultural feedback loop" is created when features like Amazon's 1-Click option "speed up our buying" and Gmail's Smart Compose feature "finishes our email sentences for us."

Tara Dennis, a residential interior architecture, design expert and co-founder of Australia-based design firm Archie Bolden, told Newsweek that "the first day of December seems like a good time" to get Christmas decorations up around the house, with other holidays out of the way.

Dennis said: "It seems the anticipation of Christmas grows more and more every year. A long time ago, Christmas trees were usually not put up until after December, sometimes even a day or two before Christmas, which is shocking. I've even heard of some who put them up right after Halloween.

"However, most Americans tend to put up their Christmas tree and decorations around Black Friday," she said.

Is It Unlucky To Put Your Christmas Tree and Decorations Up Early?

More than a quarter (79 percent) of Americans in the aforementioned survey said that putting their Christmas decorations up early "gets them in the holiday spirit."

Dennis believes "it's a personal preference" and many look forward to the Christmas and holiday season, "so I don't think there is a need for a set date to put decorations up."

However, she advises against putting them up before Halloween to avoid "creating double work for yourself."

Psychologists have said there may be benefits to getting your Christmas tree and decorations up early due to it causing a spike in dopamine (a neurotransmitter that plays a role in different body functions, including mood and motivation).The ACTA's Warner said: "Studies show that there are mental health benefits related to decorating for Christmas before December. Even if it's just getting the Christmas tree up in the living room or pulling out the ornaments, decorating for Christmas is shown to boost moods and 'activate' the holiday spirit."

In an interview with Florida's First Coast News, which was posted on the ACTA website, Dr. Marcus De Carvalho of the HPR Treatment Centers said: "What [studies] found is that just by celebrating holidays early, we actually improve our mood.

"If you think about it, [during] the holidays, what do we do?" asked Carvalho. "We want to go to places and we want to see people's lights. When we do that, it strengthens our communities and improves our mood."

Others say Christmas decorations are linked to childhood nostalgia.

Psychoanalyst Steve McKeown told Unilad in October 2017: "In a world full of stress and anxiety people like to associate [with] things that make them happy and Christmas decorations evoke those strong feelings of childhood. Decorations are simply an anchor or pathway to those old childhood magical emotions of excitement. So putting up those Christmas decorations early extends the excitement."

Psychotherapist Amy Morin also told the same website that holidays stir up a sense of nostalgia. "For many, putting up Christmas decorations early is a way for them to reconnect with their childhoods."

How To Make Sure Your Christmas Tree Is Safe

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), nearly a third of Christmas tree fires at home are caused by electrical issues. "Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they are more likely to be serious," the NFPA warned.

Dennis advised: "Be sure to watch for things around it like candles, electrical sockets, and fireplaces. Also, try not to leave your decorative lights on 24/7 as it can run up your power bill, and even contribute to potential tree hazards."

See the NFPA website for more information on Christmas tree safety during the holiday season.