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Hi: Our church is doing the musical "Music Man" from Nov. 14th.- 24th., and I am doing a lot with sewing and costumes. My question???
We are having a lot of friends for drinks before show on 23rd. and I am wondering should I try to decorate my house for Christmas. Two trees, plus getting dh to do outside, or should I just do it all after. I don't have to feed friends, just drinks and nibblies. Am I crazy to decorate of just forget it.
from Canada

I wouldn't -- it's really too early for Christmas IMO. I think the earliest should be the first of December!

Martha

Agree, too early. It's still Fall. Keep Fall decorations up, if you do those.

I think if you want to decorate for Christmas, you can as that is after the USA Thanksgiving date that so many seem to use as a guideline. However, if it would be too stressful to try to get your Christmas decor up by then, I think it would be fine to use autumn decor. Your party date seems to be on the cusp of the changeover from autumn to holiday, so either decor is appropriate.

No, it's too early to decorate for Christmas. Keep it Fall Harvest/Thanksgiving until at least the first week of December. Enjoy your get-together!

Its a bit early - maybe you could do it low key with some white Christmas lights outside or around a mantle! Enjoy your party!

what you must consider is your holiday&work schedule whether to trim more for Fall vs. Christmas. Only you can address this. The practical approach might be to feature a subtle Fall display that you can easily transcend into Christmas in short time and minimal expense. This option is especially doable if your Christmas decorations are neutral in color vs. traditional. White lights can be incorporated from Fall through Christmas. Go minimal with Autumn trimmings and you can easily add Christmas elements closer to that holiday. Transitional Fall to Christmas items can be things like raffia, plaid ribbon, pinecones, branches, solid Christmas balls in metallic colors, decorative spheres in natural materials (moss, birch bark, wood, feathers, etc.), feathers, velvet, felt, lame, tapestry fabrics, decorative finials, fruit, nuts, deer, rabbit, or bird figurines, framed seasonal prints (easy to change out), dried pods, beaded garlands, etc.

If you are asking peoples personal opinion, I would concur with fellow posters who feel November is too early for Christmas decorations. As I am a fan of natural/organic harvest style decor for Thanksgiving, I'm thinking there must be a way to transition into the next season with branches, pine cones,apples, ect. without including overtly Christmas decor.

That was my point exactly, Charles and in fact offered the poster similar options for transitional elements.

quote:

Originally posted by Froo Froo:
That was my point exactly, Charles and in fact offered the poster similar options for transitional elements.

Yeah, missed that! Love how your ideas include the classics like pine cones but also things like feathers. Helping someone to open their eyes to alternative possibilities is a great thing.

I agree with those who say to hold off on the Christmas decor until after Thanksgiving. Once I went to a party in earlier November and the host was so excited about giving the party, and about Christmas coming that she did full on Christmas decor all through the house. She basically leap frogged a holiday - doing one before the one that is next. It would seem like maybe who should care, but instead of admiring the decorations most of the party goers were talking about how it seemed weird to have Christmas before Thanksgiving. Kind of backfired on her.