It's not really necessary before Christmas Eve.

In the late 1970s, our dad had bought a tree for our monstrous house where our parents lived with an empty nest. I came home on leave shortly before that Christmas and saw the tree out on the back porch. I asked Mum when Dad intended to put it up, and she suggested that I do it. So I did. I don't think Dad ever put up another tree if he knew I was going to be home for Christmas.