When I put one up, usually 7 days before Christmas. 4 years ago I broke down and bought a small, narrow, artificial tree that sorta doesn't take up too much room in my narrow-roomed house. The last two years haven't put up a tree. Neither my son or I are home enough to enjoy it, and the rooms in my house are so small it is a real challenge to maneuver around even the smallest tree. This year, my Christmas decorating consists of my trusty Christmas Cactus, now in full bloom, and two amaryllis that may or may not bloom before Christmas.