BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?

Subject: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Ed T
Date: 06 Nov 12 - 06:16 PM

What date do you put up your Christmas decorations (inside and out) and erect your tree? (assuming they are not up all year long);)

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: DMcG
Date: 06 Nov 12 - 06:23 PM

The saturday before 25 Dec, usually.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Joe_F
Date: 06 Nov 12 - 06:31 PM

In the days when I lived in a group house & we had one, it was usually about the beginning of December.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: gnu
Date: 06 Nov 12 - 06:35 PM

I shall endeavour to put up Mum's decorataion in early December. Normally, she would do so about two weeks before Xmas as it takes her a while... since she was about 80 years old. She does like Xmas as she remembers the hard times and that Xmas was a celebration of FAMILY.

Me... I don't. I have no children and for me, Xmas is all about kids and family. I truly hate the gift giving between adults. I feel affonted by that bullshit. Towels? Sweaters? WTF is that? This year, I am giving them what they gave me last year. I don't need more bullshit and I intend to show it. I need family and if I give them back what they gave me last year, they might "get it"?

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: MMario
Date: 06 Nov 12 - 07:03 PM

12/24.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: gnu
Date: 06 Nov 12 - 07:27 PM

MM... ain't that the truth, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Charmion
Date: 06 Nov 12 - 07:27 PM

A wreath goes on the front door about the middle of Advent, and the tree -- if we're having one -- goes up as close to Christmas Eve as possible. We don't get a tree unless we'll be at home for the full stretch of the Christmas season; it just feels wrong to put it up and then not be home to enjoy it.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 06 Nov 12 - 07:33 PM

Don't need to worry about it. Stuff from last year still there.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 06 Nov 12 - 07:36 PM

Just after my neighbours (to the left in the picture).

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Bobert
Date: 06 Nov 12 - 08:39 PM

We like to put up our tree around the 15th of December but here is a major tip for folks buying cut trees...

...buy as early as you can so you can keep it hydrated... You'll do au much better job than the folks selling them and that will keep yer tree in good shape for a lot longer..,

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Nov 12 - 08:42 PM

Well, I saw my first Christmas lights on Halloween.....

We always used to get a tree about Dec.1.... not much room any more for anything except lights & wreath

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 06 Nov 12 - 09:23 PM

I buy a small live potted tree each year as soon as after Thanksgiving as I see one that I like. My problem is that I have no place to plant it (I live in a condo) and nobody else ever wants to plant it, either.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 06 Nov 12 - 09:59 PM

I have a small cedar growing on the dam of my pond that needs to be dug up and transferred. (Trees growing on pond dams is a no-no. If the tree dies, the roots will rot away and create channels for water to leak through the dam.) I'll put it in a pot and bring it in for use as a Christmas tree whenever my wife tells me to.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: JennieG
Date: 06 Nov 12 - 11:31 PM

We put up Christmas stuff on the weekend after 2nd December, whatever day of the week that is on. Our younger son's birthday is 2nd Dec, so when he was a little sprog we always celebrated his birthday before getting out Christmas stuff. Even though he left home years ago, we have kept the same habit.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 07 Nov 12 - 12:14 AM

The expected date has been critical in our area in a couple of recent years simply because of the number of people who had a nice little tree visible from the road before then, and didn't have a nice little tree after.

The thefts haven't been as numerous as implied by the news media, but it may still be necessary, whether or not you observed the festivities, to observe (surveillance TV with recorder, lighting, (electric) fences, and an M60 MG all part of the equipment) your trees.

Yard decorations have also been targeted, but the ones on the house are probably safe if you don't leave a ladder out.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,BobL
Date: 07 Nov 12 - 03:34 AM

Put it this way: if it was your kid being born, would you hang up the balloons a fortnight before the due date and take them down as soon as it had arrived?

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Nov 12 - 07:56 AM

Tom and I have two anniversaries -- our wedding anniversary on June 26th and our "Other Anniversary" on December 15th.

Our Other Anniversary is the double anniversary of the night we met (at a Fishtraks recording studio's pre-Christmas client party) and the night a year later while celebrating the fact that we had known each other for a year, we found ourselves planning our wedding. (Nope. Tom never actually ASKED me to marry him.)

It's a convenient date to eat some nice appetizers, drink some celebratory champagne and trim the tree. Or at least get it set up. Or at least have it purchased and on the porch.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: MMario
Date: 07 Nov 12 - 09:18 AM

we taditionaly put the tree up on Christmas Eve - and we KEEP the xmas decorations up until Epiphany (January 6) or the weekend following it, depending on where it falls in the week.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Ed T
Date: 07 Nov 12 - 09:30 AM

""Every year since 1971, Nova Scotia sends a Christmas tree to Boston, to thank them for their help during the Halifax Explosion of 1917"".


Christmas tree tradition

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 07 Nov 12 - 09:40 AM

Thanks for the link, Ed.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Becca72
Date: 07 Nov 12 - 10:22 AM

I have not put up a tree since moving out from my parents' house 20 years ago. I have also 3 cats and wouldn't even consider bringing in a tree at this point.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 07 Nov 12 - 01:32 PM

Christmas Eve - there are twelve days of Christmas, and we have always marked them, though when the children were at school their friends were puzzled by out strange lack of decorations before Christmas and our keeping them up when, as far as they were concerned, Christmas was long past.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 07 Nov 12 - 01:34 PM

End of November (adore doing this), tree, lights, garlands, the lot. But take them down on Twelfth Night, as it's unlucky to keep them up after that. Nothing outside though as we don't have the electric connections and all the cats around us would be up on the tree ripping it to bits and electrocuting themselves. We have to watch our Siamese inside, as they like to have a quick wee on anything new!

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Rapparee
Date: 07 Nov 12 - 03:04 PM

December 6 -- Feast of St. Nicholas.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Nov 12 - 07:05 PM

Becca, I've never in over 42 years had a problem with the cats and the Christmas tree. I usually hang belled ornaments along the bottom (though now we have a smaller tree and it's raised on a table). Not even when the squirrel terrarium window was directly behind the tree. (I could just visualize three cats sitting in the tree staring at mama squirrel.)

Once, many years ago, Samantha, a very polite Siamese, waited until we were taking the tree down, the ornaments were off and the tree was on its side. Then she sat in it and bopped the tinsel.

Haven't used tinsel in over 35 years.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 08 Nov 12 - 04:55 AM

Second weekend in December, to coincide with Scoutpost

I'll usually be out delivering cards while 'the boss' erects the tree!

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 08 Nov 12 - 05:52 AM

Bat Goddess, your Samantha sounds delightful. I'm afraid our three horrors are a bit naughty. But we love them just the same.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: JennieG
Date: 08 Nov 12 - 08:15 AM

Christmas decorations are starting to appear here - Toronto, Canada - already, while some folkses haven't yet taken down their Halloween stuff. Yesterday we saw a fully decorated upside down tree hanging from the ceiling of a small cafe, it seemed to me a good idea if one had small children or animals to be concerned about.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Charmion
Date: 08 Nov 12 - 08:24 AM

As soon as the tree was up and decorated, our dear Lucy (obit 2008 or so) would stroll under the bottom branches and strike a pose, waiting for the inevitable camera. We have literally dozens of photos of Lucy under various Christmas trees, each one more suitable for the top of a chocolate box than the last. Lucy was a long-haired black and white cat who achieved an almost sickening level of apparent cuteness.

This year, for the first time, we have a Siamese in the family. A skilful and energetic jumper, Rosie has shown no interest in climbing as such (the curtains are unshredded), but this may change when she finds a tree in the sitting room covered with neat things to swat.

Bill used to be too heavy to climb and is now too arthritic, but he does enjoy persecuting the loose end of anything electric he might spot on the the floor. He's certain death to iPod earbuds, and the plug end of the Christmas tree lights must be inserted quickly into the powerbar if we are to avoid a nasty fang-on-wiring incident.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Becca72
Date: 08 Nov 12 - 09:13 AM

Linn,

My boys can't be trusted. The everyday things they get into are bad enough without adding forestry to the list. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Ed T
Date: 08 Nov 12 - 09:27 AM

From the past - I recall angel hair made me itchy and looked more like spiders webs on Christmas trees (to me).


Fading Christmas fads

Angel hair

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 08 Nov 12 - 12:24 PM

Oh yes Ed T, angels' hair! I remember our poor mum getting out the boxes of decorations for the tree, including the rather tarnished and old angels' hair. My sister and I were supposed to let it hang from each branch like icicles, but we got bored and simply chucked great handfuls anywhere, spoiling the whole effect. We recently got down our decorations from the loft, as I'm selling some of them in a church sale next week. The three Siamese had enormous 'thought bubbles' above their heads saying 'Aha! We can have a good old wee on this!'. They got shut in the kitchen!

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Charmion
Date: 08 Nov 12 - 02:56 PM

Eliza, does your household really include three Siamese cats? It must get really noisy where you live!

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,olddude
Date: 08 Nov 12 - 07:50 PM

Ah Ed
how much Viagra does it take to erect a tree?

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,olddude
Date: 08 Nov 12 - 07:53 PM

Ah Ed as far as dating one, what do ya have to buy it first? dinner , movie

sorry can't help it ...

I put mine up .. xmas eve I do

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: artbrooks
Date: 08 Nov 12 - 08:16 PM

Up weekend before, down weekend after.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 09 Nov 12 - 03:51 AM

Charmion, yes I'm afraid so! They're Minty, Murphy and Smokey-Pokey. It goes get a bit noisy sometimes, especially when my husband is cutting up chicken for them and keeps teasing them by saying "Chicken! Chicken!" in a loud voice. Their screeches and yowls are ear-splitting. I've always had Siamese, sometimes five at a time.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Ed T
Date: 09 Nov 12 - 08:01 AM

After having crappy tree stands, a few years ago I found the perfect one. The next year my spouse purchased an artificial tree at Costco. It was hard to give the perfect tree stand away, but I eventually gave it to a neighbour.

The artifical tree looks very much like a real one (in fact, some folks have confused it as a real one) and is a breeze to put up.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Becca72
Date: 09 Nov 12 - 08:56 AM

Eliza,
I have two boys who are 1/2 Siamese and 1/2 tuxedo. My sister came to visit the other day and Mikey (the ruler of all the land) sat at the top of the stairs where it's nice and echo-y and keep yelling "Hawwhoa?" I'd reply "hello" and he'd call back to me "Hawwhoa". But every time my sister said hello he would ignore her. I think it's because he was mad she couldn't pet him (she's seriously allergic) so he was giving her the silent treatment.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 09 Nov 12 - 10:17 AM

Probably the best day to buy is Christmas itself. The vendors are happy to have you haul their stock away.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Nov 12 - 12:04 PM

Reminds me of when I first met Cletus, Paw, and Buford. They turned up selling Christmas trees.......interesting trees........much like y'all are discussing here............

I had noticed an area on Rt. 664 just outside of our little village being carefully prepared and roped off as I drove by and every now and then there were these three guys working there, building a little shed and driving stakes into the ground about 6 feet apart. It finally dawned on me that they were getting ready to sell Christmas trees. Now I have always gotten ours from the same place for years, but the prices were getting pretty steep so I kept an eye out for new sources. The day they put up the lights, I stopped by to see when they'd be bringing the trees in.

As I got out of the van I couldn't help but notice that these three, from all appearances, were a bit "down on their luck" and it made me want to help them out a bit. Cletus came up to me and introduced himself and I asked about the trees. He was glad to tell me all about them in that way which I've since learned to interpret. At that time however all I could seem to understand was that they were "working on them." These many years later, that kind of phrase would set off alarms, but I didn't know Cletus then so I thought it was just an odd hilljack way of phrasing things. Paw came over and I liked the old guy a lot right away. He said he'd seen me before and I remembered something about the sewage plant and the day it exploded. I couldn't place what it was that this guy had to do with it but the correlation seemed quite vivid. I shook his hand and he farted in return.

I had never met anyone who was quite so casual with flatulence. Paw used it almost as punctuation......."How ya' doin'?" (rriippp) "Purty day ain't she?" (bbraawwmmpp)..........Let's say it took some getting used to and made it easy to understand why this old coot could probably not find gainful employment. But for all that, he was a friendly cuss who told me they called him Paw because he was from Paw-Paw, West Virginia. He pointed out the other fellow named Buford who was involved in extricating himself from a string of Christmas lights that seemed to have attacked him. Even from a distance, the unmistakable smell of Iron City brew was pretty strong. I figured he spilled about the same amount on himself as he drank and I later found this to be not only true, but the amounts involved were prodigious.

All in all, I couldn't help but like them even if they were, well, let's just call them odd and drop it right there. They told me the trees would be in and they'd be open for business on Friday at 6 PM. I left shaking my head at the idea of bringing Karen and the kids to "pick out the tree" as was so traditional with our family. What the hell? We can at least check them out.

On Friday afternoon Karen and I were going into Lancaster and as we passed by I pointed out the place, not that it was really necessary to point. I'd never seen anything quite so garish in my life but it was one of those gray Ohio days, very cold and occasionally spitting snow so perhaps it was the contrast......perhaps not. Karen was making comments about the place, but as we drove past we could both see the trees that were now in place quite well. Surprisingly enough, they looked magnificent! All were very full and perfectly shaped and a greener bunch of Christmas trees I'd never seen. Even at 65 mph, Karen saw one on the far end of the first row that she said was absolutely "the one!" Since she and our kids were going to spend the night with Connie and go shopping on Saturday, I promised her I'd stop back and get the tree and forget the tradition for one year.

So on my return trip I looked at my watch and saw that I'd arrive about the time Cletus told me they would open and sure enough, I was the first one there. Cletus, Paw, and Buford, greeted me as a long lost friend. They were really in the Christmas Spirit and offered me some of their "spirits." Friends, there is 'Shine and then there is 'Shine and whatever it was they had in the Mason jars was not. I found out later that this was a homebrew of their own and made not from corn, but soybeans, and distilled through an old radiator off a Mack. Luckily I only tasted it, but that single gulp went down like a 4-stage rocket, taking my breath away, and immediately starting to bore a hole in my stomach. After the coughing subsided I gave them the common courtesy line you use upon tasting any 'Shine..........."Smooth!"

They were all adorned themselves with some of the seediest Santa hats I had ever seen and were ready for business. They said I was the first customer and I nodded appreciatively while glancing about at the trees. Even up at a closer viewing they seemed almost perfectly formed and beautifully green and I thought the light snow must be the reason they glistened so under the glaring bulbs. It was dark now and the temperature had dropped to about 25 with a nasty northwesterly blowing in a chill from Alberta. My eyes were no longer crossed from the 'Shine and I slowly became aware that something was odd about the trees. They weren't moving at all. Not a branch, not a needle, absolutely nothing was moving although the breeze was pretty stiff. Paw commented on the weather and let fly an air biscuit as I walked over to the tree Karen had seen earlier. I reached out to touch it and it was positively stiff!

I felt several branches and the whole thing down to the smallest needle was like glass. I put a little extra pressure on a needle and it shattered in my gloved hand. What the hell was this anyway? Cletus came up and asked how I liked them as Paw and Buford tossed wood in a barrel to start a warming fire. I said I thought these were real trees, but they seemed to be artificial. Cletus protested they were real.......and recycled. Once in awhile you hear sommething that is so completely ridiculous that it takes some time before you can absorb the fact that the speaker is completely serious.

Recycled Christmas trees............

My mind was slowly opening to the sound of Cletus' voice proudly telling the tale of how they collected them last year and then formed them up, glued in branches with rubber cement, gave them several coats of shellac, painted them with spray cans of "Yew Be Green" epoxy, and topped the job off with several coats of lacquer. Recycled.......uh................yeah............

I stared at the tree. I stared at Cletus. I stared at the tree. I stared at Cletus. I stared at the tree. I stared at Cletus. Cletus noticed I was a bit pale and pulled me by the arm over to the shed where Paw and Buford had finished filling the barrel and were dumping gasoline onto the contents. Cletus said that I should have another drink and then Paw asked if I was cold. I nodded vacantly, my mind still unable to absorb the insanity which surrounded me. Then I heard Cletus say, "Hey Paw, show him how we light a fire."

With that, Paw bent over pointing his butt at the barrel, Buford held a Zippo to his ass, and Paw ripped a monster of a fart, something akin to a Cherry Bomb in it's magnitude. An enormous flame shot out of his ass and ignited the barrel which flared high in the air. But it was a truly huge blaster and the flames not only ignited the barrel, but the nearest recycled Christmas trees. Coated as they were with such a combustible mixture, they didn't catch fire, they friggin' exploded! Bits of flaming plastic-like shards went flying away on the wind to explode the next tree, and the next, and the next. Within 30 seconds the remnants of every tree was flaming brightly and in less than a minute the flames were gone and 50 smoldering sticks were all that remained. None of us had moved and Paw was still bent over and looking over his shoulder at the charred remains of their business.

The next day when I picked Karen up, we stopped at our usual place and picked out a lovely Frazier Fir. I had told her the story and that I figured that here was a case where a single fart may not have saved the world, but at least did save 50 home fires. We stopped at their place and the boys were cleaning up the mess and told us it probably meant a Christmas that would be a little bleak for them. Karen is a kind soul and right then and there invited them to our place for Christmas Day. She said they should come early and maybe Santa will have left something for them and that they would be welcome for Christmas dinner too. As we drove home I tried to explain that this probably wasn't a great idea but Karen felt pretty bad for them and they had cheerfully accepted her invitation.

On Christmas morning they arrived at 6 AM and the day went downhill from there. But that's another story.

So no matter how bad it is and how you feel, there is always a friend out there for you. Even if you're obnoxious, nasty, and haven't bathed in a month, there is always the chance that if you can light a good fart, miracles will occur.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 09 Nov 12 - 12:07 PM

Becca, Smokey-Pokey says "Hawwhoa!" too. He and Mikey could have a nice chat. (He also says "Laptop!"; it's what he wants for Christmas I reckon.)

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: saulgoldie
Date: 09 Nov 12 - 12:27 PM

Spaw, that was an awesome story!

Saul

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Nov 12 - 01:14 PM

Well its a long time since I had an erection, and even longer since I had a date.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 05:15 AM

We keep it short sweet and simple. Greenery (tree is optional, but we gather a variety of evergreens to drape about the room) and candles go up on or around the Winter Solstice/Yule, to be taken out (to be burned later) a day or two after New Year.

I've become fond of a new 'tradition' we've kept for the past couple of Yules, where friends VTam and SO come over for a short walk to gather in the evergreens and a vegetarian Yule meal.

Christmas proper is kept just for the three days of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. I'll often go out for a wander through the high street to see the lights and a wee drink of Baileys in the pub with my Dad on Christmas Eve, but since his Mam died he doesn't bother with Christmas for himself and prefers to get away on his boat with his dog.

Me and my partner usually get in a duck to roast (with spuds and veg.), get in some decent cheese and salad, some smoked salmon, some booze and some films and hole up for Christmas and Boxing day. Presents are rare, though we sometimes surprise one another with a little something. This year I've been tempted by the idea of foregoing the Duck and instead ordering in a Vegetarian Thali from a local curry house for Christmas day.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 06:12 AM

Guest CS, what a good idea, duck! We're having a quiet Crimbo this year, and I was planning on a simple chicken/stuffing meal, but duck with orange sauce would be a nice change. We're sick of turkey. Crown roasts are better than a whole bird,(far too big) but I've never much rated turkey. I don't think my husband has ever tasted duck, so it might be favourite this year!

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 06:55 AM

Duck is my favourite bird Eliza - I like it just rosy pink, unlike chicken which I roast till it falls off the bone. When we didn't have an oven some years ago, I just bought duck breasts and pan fried them. Super easy, though of course it lacks the 'drama' of roasting and carving a whole bird.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,olddude
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 09:32 AM

my tree throughout the years has gone through shrinkage. We use to have a real one that would not fit in the house without a lot of trimming. As the kids grew it became smaller, Now it is a little fake tree that I can put up in 10 min ...

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 09:37 AM

Same here Dan........Last year we dropped off to a small tabletop model. As the kids grew, Christmas shrank ..................Gotta' stop here before this turns into a John Prine song.............


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 12:15 PM

The real tree got the heave ho, because the dog tries to eat the baubles !
We usually have a rib roast, but one that roasts satifactorily is too big for two folks. We have in past years had duck, but this year it's venison.
NEVER NEVER tasteless turkey in this house.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 12:49 PM

I haven't had a real tree for many years. The last time I struggled on my own to put it up, and the very next day when I came downstairs, all the blooming needles had dropped off and it was just a very large bare stalk. I got an artificial one and have never looked back. (In all fairness, I have my sitting room as hot as the fires of Hell, my neighbours can hardly bear to come in for a visit without dripping with sweat. So I expect the poor old tree dried out and gave up the ghost that night.)

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 01:35 PM

Never.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 02:44 PM

Could you be a bit more precise LH?

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 06:17 PM

I think LH means he would never erect a Christmas tree, in answer to the question posed by the thread.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 06:57 PM

Oh bugger! its not that time already.....it can't be.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: olddude
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 07:33 PM

I hear ya Spaw, I am thinking now of bringing in a tree limb .. Well I will be with the kids this year so I probably won't do anything here

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Nov 12 - 03:13 PM

Spaw-

I almost made the mistake of ignoring this thread and missing your outstanding post.

In the spirit of Christmas, may you have many happy returns!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Nov 12 - 05:37 PM

Thank you Charley......An old story but worth a retelling now and again.


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Ed T
Date: 01 Dec 12 - 04:59 PM

This one is up

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Janie
Date: 01 Dec 12 - 05:13 PM

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.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 03:59 AM

If you buy a tree at Thanksgiving, you get a fresh tree. If you buy a tree on Christmas Eve, you get a tree that was cut before Thanksgiving and has been without water for six weeks.

I usually buy my tree on Christmas Eve at discount, and then I wonder where all the needles went.....

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Megan L
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 05:52 AM

Eliza Lassie ye forget thon auld scunner MacKenzie is a Glaswegian we hiv a wierd sence o humour at the worst o times.

when we moved house I had to choose between the tree and the wheelchair a felt bad aboot stickin Dauvit oot in the garage fur Christmas so the wheelchair won.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: banjoman
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 08:00 AM

We usually put our tree up about my birthday (13 Dec). However, our next door neighbours trumped everyone this year when their tree appeared in the front window, full decorated and lights flashing, on 31st OCTOBER. I had only just got back from a late summer holiday.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 12:48 PM

Outside Christmas lights and inside Christmas decorations up today. Went to a Christmas concert last night from Belshazzar's Feast, and looking forward to all things Christmas, Mellstock Band next week and Maddy Prior later in the month!

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 01:14 PM

Ours is up, and looks very nice (if I say so myself!) Cats looking at it speculatively ("Which bit do we wee on first?") Hung the Christmas wreath on the front door. Have just made two Crimbo cakes (bit late, I know, 'cos they should mature for a month) Nice Advent service this morning in a freezing church, so I'm really getting into the spirit of things. My muslim husband adores Christmas. He always likes his chocolate Advent calendar!

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 07:47 PM

My son called today to tell me the small live tree I ordered from his stepson's Cub Scout troop has arrived. However, since it sounds like we'll all spend Christmas in the Berkshires (son's family in their timeshare--not their usual week, and me in a nearby America's Best Value Inn), I told my son to use the tree to decorate the timeshare. If they decide to do something more elaborate, I'll take my tree to my motel room.

Any 'Catters in Berkshire-land?

We won't be in western MA long enough to do First Night in Northampton again like we did last year, but we may get to one in RI, southeastern MA, or nearby CT.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: keberoxu
Date: 21 Nov 21 - 12:15 AM

A long time since you asked, ChanteyLass,
but this Mudcatter is in the southwestern Berkshires this season,
not far from the state lines with New York and Connecticut,
which tells you which state is my location.

Talking of dates,

Hanukkah is remarkably early this year,
I was shocked when I realized HOW early.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Nov 21 - 09:46 AM

At my mother's house where we had three cats and one large dog the tree was set in the corner of the living room beside the fireplace, positioned equidistant in front of two windows so we could run picture frame wire from the bole of the tree at about breast high over to the shutters that covered the lower half of the windows. The wire was wrapped around an upper hinge on both corners to keep the tree upright if someone climbed it (they did on occasion). Plastic ornaments were put on the bottom to avoid shards of broken glass from being swatted or wagged against.

I have done trees here, I have a high ceiling so it looks good, but I find that the type of fir generally available down here (usually Noble) makes me sneeze. On xmas eve I would buy one at a discount from the neighborhood nursery (making a low-ball offer since it will be on the curb day after xmas) and take it down by New Year's. This was when I had a pickup. Now I don't, and I'm not willing to go to the struggle to strap one on top even for the six blocks to get it home.

Instead of a tree I pull out sparkly colors of garlands and arrange them around the top edge of the mantle, then I get out crystal pitchers and large containers and bowls (antiques from the family) and fill them with glass balls that would hang on the tree. A few other ornaments like nutcrackers, festive shapes intended as ornaments that I've collected over the years fill in spaces. This looks good and keeps everything out of reach of the three dogs that live here now. One that is still young enough to be particularly destructive.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Donuel
Date: 21 Nov 21 - 01:56 PM

The date to kill, sacrifice and cut down a tree is everyday of the year and times ten in the Amazon.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Nov 21 - 02:15 PM

In the countries that observe the holiday using the old pagan custom of putting up a tree, many of them have a form of agriculture called a "tree farm." These trees add to the air quality while they grow, but because of the way they are pruned to make a thick bole and a proportionately short crown with way more branches than nature intended, these trees are only good for xmas trees or for chipping up to use as mulch later.

Subject: RE: BS: Do girls date to erect Christmas trees?
From: Donuel
Date: 21 Nov 21 - 05:33 PM

I am not really an anti Christmas tree Grinch but I play one one social media.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Joe_F
Date: 21 Nov 21 - 05:44 PM

keberoxu: Because the Jewish calendar tries to keep the years in step with the seasons *and* and the months in step with the phases of the moon, some calendar years have 13 calendar months. That makes the Jewish holidays jump around quite a bit with respect to the secular year.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Nov 21 - 06:51 PM

A few years back I culled my christmas decoration collection & sent most of it to a charity shop early December, as I had far too much.

I only kept 2 of my 6 small trees (6") & none of the zillions of tiny decorations that I displayed around them. I put them in sandwich bags - santas, angels, gnomes, reindeer, etc, etc & also bagged bigger decorations. All I kept were my vintage pieces, & those I made - one per season since 1992.

All I displayed was my knitted tree with it's "lights" & baubles & it's still on the shelf along with an angel my neighbour gave me.

Dec 1 will be time to bring out the other tree & maybe I'll even put the embroidered decorations onto their display board - or maybe not.

Maybe I'll look at the vintage items & decide whether to take them to the charity shop as I never even looked at them last hear.

Maybe I'll also look at the vintage sleigh full of small stuff that has been sitting on the shelf above the tree & angel for many years under an increasingly dusty plastic bag! I've forgotten what's in it ...

Maybe I need to contact my friend who collects vintage christmas stuff to see if I can downsize it to her.

sandra (slowly downsizing)

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: BobL
Date: 22 Nov 21 - 05:21 AM

Once upon a time, I put off getting a tree until it was too late, not one was to be found in shop or on market stall. This was before artificial trees were anything like realistic, so being me, I decided that if I must have a fake tree, I'd jolly well have a stylized one with no pretensions to authenticity.
A bedsheet-sized piece of black cloth was bought, hemmed to fit over a broomstick as a hanger, and hung on the wall. On it I pinned thick green tinsel forming the outline of a tree, a dozen lights, a few baubles and some thin tinsel. It looked perfect, it took up no space and the cats didn't bother it. I re-used it for several years until eventually I needed the black material for another purpose. Now, I don't bother with a tree at all, even a 2-dimensional one, I just hang lights in the windows with greenery and decorations on the picture rail.

To answer the date question, for me it's December 17th. Always 17th. The official Christmas season lasts for 12 days, so I allow 11 for my own birthday on St. Nicholas' Day before the cards and decorations go up.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Nov 21 - 07:41 AM

We usually go for about a week before. I guess this year it will be the 18th unless we go for a really early one on the 11th. Usually a weekend as the daughters enjoy coming round to help :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 22 Nov 21 - 06:36 PM

Precisely as with us, Dave. Our wedding anniversary is on the 18th so we have it up by then. ;-) We have a real tree, generally a Nordmann fir that we collect fresh from our local Christmas tree farm. More often than not we traipse through the mud to find a nice tree then wait for the chainsaw chap. We have to get it early if we want a decent specimen, so I get it home, cut the bottom off and keep it in a bucket of water in a cold outbuilding until the 17th. It comes down on Twelfth Night. We squabble about whether that means the 5th or 6th.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Nov 21 - 08:16 AM

We always used to have a Nordmann but succumbed a couple of years back to a fake! I miss the real ones but it makes like easier :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Nov 21 - 08:37 AM

Finding pine needles until April can be fun if you pay the kids a pine needle bounty, A penny a needle.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Nov 21 - 10:09 AM

Some of those artificial trees look pretty realistic now, and when they come pre-wired with lights it does make the job easier. I intertwine lights with the garland on my mantle and don't necessarily have a natural look, but it is very attractive.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 23 Nov 21 - 11:47 AM

A Nordmann cut fresh, bottom removed and kept in water won't drop needles.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Nov 21 - 01:53 PM

I wouldn't drop anything if I had my bottom removed!

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 23 Nov 21 - 05:24 PM

Well you might drop a few pounds, Dave... ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Neil D
Date: 26 Nov 21 - 09:34 AM

There are twelve days of Christmas and none of them are in November.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Nov 21 - 12:40 PM

You know, I never noticed that but I suspect it is why most people don't put their trees up until nearer Christmas :-)

FYI - The 12 days of Christmas are traditionally the 25th of December to the 5th of January inclusive so nearly half of them are not in December either!

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 26 Nov 21 - 01:22 PM

If you get a bit of delight in the winter gloom from those wacky, over-the-top Christmas light displays on the outsides of some houses, as I do, you can kind of understand why they put them up a bit early. It would hardly be worth going to all that bother just for twelve days. There's a village near us called Pipers Pool, and every year a bloke put up a spectacular show in his front garden. It was so good that a lot of people around here made a special detour once a year to see it (us included). Then one year it wasn't there - the chap had died (it took us a year or two to find out). We still raise a glass to this unknown hero once every Christmas!

I'm not that bothered about clots who put trees up in their windows before November is out. I get a lot more irritated when I'm seeing Christmas stuff in the shops in early September and hearing carols over the tannoy in October...

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 26 Nov 21 - 01:24 PM

...He was called Paul Perkins and you can google him and his Christmas lights!

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Nov 21 - 01:40 PM

I did find traces of his activity via a Google search, though after almost seven years a lot of it is probably lost or broken links.

I used to put lights in the pine trees in the front yard when they were small, but all are too tall now, so I drape lights around one juniper (that I should trim before I add lights). In 2005 a beloved local radio talk show host died suddenly, and he really loved xmas - he did a long holiday radio show with all sorts of oddball songs, interesting stories, poems, and more. I put up those lights and a little sign on the yard under it noting his passing, and it was interesting how many people noticed and asked or remarked on that sign.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 26 Nov 21 - 03:10 PM

Just google Pipers Pool Christmas lights. You'll get lots!

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Nov 21 - 03:24 AM

The street at the back of us does a spectacular display and this year they are doing a special one for their 20th year. Same evening we are going to see Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band. A good evening all round :-)

If shops doing Christmas stuff early irritates you, Steve, good job you never worked at a supermarket head office - Mossers used to start testing stuff for Christmas on us in August!

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: keberoxu
Date: 29 Nov 21 - 01:36 PM

wonder if there is any argument for waiting to put up a Christmas tree
until after the U. S. President
has pardoned a couple of turkeys?

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: DMcG
Date: 29 Nov 21 - 01:49 PM

I said above that we normally put our tree up the Saturday before Christmas.

This year will be different because we have our grandson to stay for a few days a fortnight before Christmas, so it will timed so he can decorate it.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Nov 21 - 03:28 AM

We are going for early too. Going to a concert which will contain lots of Christmas songs on the 4th. The daughters will most likely stop over until the 5th. The lights at the back are being turned on that weekend. My sister is visiting on the 6th. All has conspired to put up the tree and deccies next weekend. Ah well.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: keberoxu
Date: 24 Nov 23 - 05:10 PM

This thread was refreshed two years ago,
when we were still getting over the pandemic and all.

Time to pose the question again this year.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 24 Nov 23 - 05:42 PM

Saturday, 16th December, 2023.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 25 Nov 23 - 04:31 PM

No more than a week before the Solstice. It comes down at Epiphany. Ish.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: JennieG
Date: 25 Nov 23 - 06:13 PM

We gave our tree away years ago. Instead I have a selection of table trees ranging in height from just a few inches to about 18 inches, some with a few decorations already on while some get titivated with my modest collection of Hanging Stuff. Not all the trees get put out every year.

Given that in this household as in, I suspect, many others, it is the female who gets to pack away all the Stuff (even if she is not the person who gets it out and does the decorating) this female does what she likes with said trees.

We have a small collection of decorations, souvenirs from our trips to Canada, so we have a Canadian tree for our Canaussian son and his Canadian wife over there in Toronto. I also have a collection of wombat decorations, so there is an Ozzie tree for me.

It adds a touch of the festivities of the season, without getting too carried away by it all.

Bah humbug, and all that.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Nov 23 - 03:51 AM

We too gave away our plastic Christmas tree and all the decorations last year, and this year neither of us wants to decorate the house. Neither do we want a 'Christmas dinner', just eat what we normally do (him: fiery hot curry, me: a salad and some cold smoked salmon) No visitors hooray! (my only family member is my sister who lives up in Scotland). Just an inexpensive present each (I'm getting a lovely wildlife calendar, and he'll be getting a sporty tracksuit).
We both reckon that Christmas is far too commercialised. The shops have been crammed with Christmas tat for weeks now, and it's all about money and spend spend spend. I'd rather give my money to charity.
Couple of grinches aren't we?

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Donuel
Date: 26 Nov 23 - 09:27 AM

The boss has decreed today is the day.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Nov 23 - 11:23 AM

We would have gone for Saturday the 16th but we have visitors round that weekend to see the Yourkshire Farmers Christmas Tractor rally (Yes, honest!) that goes past our house. SO I think sometime during the week that leads up to that.

Last year it took about 30 minutes for all the tractors to pass!

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Charmion
Date: 26 Nov 23 - 02:34 PM

No tree in my house. It’s more than I can deal with on my own.

I’m growing a massive amaryllis, however. It’s supposed to be red streaked with white, and it’s likely to top out at close to two feet tall.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 26 Nov 23 - 05:08 PM

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.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Raggytash
Date: 27 Nov 23 - 07:53 AM

I'm with Andrew on this, Christmas Eve and not a day earlier ......... and before I am met with a chorus of Humbug and references to Scrooge Christmas was a magical time for me as a child.

Nothing was put up in our house until AFTER I went to bed. I would wake up on Christmas morning and Father Christmas had been, decorations down the stairs and through the hall, the Christmas tree had been put up and the house decorated. For a child it was truly magical.

I did the same when our son was born and he too found Christmas to be a magical occasion. When he was about 14 I asked him to help me put up the tree he turned me down saying "you do that AFTER I have gone to bed!"

He is now doing the same with his son.

Over the years we have created several "traditions" such as we must have a glass of Madeira while putting up the decoration and we must prepare the vegetables for the next day.

I am now rapidly approaching 70 and Christmas is still magical in our house!!

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Nov 23 - 08:13 AM

Putting up a Christmas Tree isn't the same as adorning it.   I think it's better to let it settle in for a few days before you dress it up.

Actually we stopped having an indoors tree some years ago, because of our cats.. And since we used to get trees with roots and planted them out that meant problems. So now we heave one in a pot that's still movable so it can look in on us, and we decorate it a day or so before Christmas.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 28 Nov 23 - 07:56 AM

MaJoC's €0.02:

* The problem with getting a real Christmas tree later is that all the good ones, and those short enough to fit in the house, have gone.

* In certain parts of the country, Christmas tree sellers tend to dip the roots in boiling water in the interests of repeat business next year, then charge extra anyway for a tree with roots. We haven't succeeded in getting Christmas trees to grow properly since we moved Dahn Sahf, but it takes a month for them to go brown.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: keberoxu
Date: 01 Dec 23 - 07:55 PM

Where I am currently staying, the household has got an artificial tree which looks lifelike but has all the advantages of not shedding, turning brown, and so on.
Our household put the tree up this past week, and decorated it with ornaments and colored lights. The lights do not get overheated, so we feel free to leave them plugged in, and the tree lit up, overnight.
It does lift the spirits to look at it.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Senoufou
Date: 02 Dec 23 - 03:23 AM

My sister, who lives up in Scotland, has a house with a very large sitting room with a high ceiling. Every year she orders the biggest tree imaginable, and it arrives on the back of a lorry. This year she's already ordered it, and is awaiting its arrival. Her two sons-in-law help her erect the bloomin' thing and use ladders to decorate it, under her instructions. She told me she thinks it's coming today (Saturday 2nd December) and the two young men will zoom over from Edinburgh and get stuck in. She's an excellent cook and will serve them a gorgeous dinner as a reward!

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Dec 23 - 02:29 PM

I'm noticing more outdoor lights going up around the neighborhood, bringing a more cheerful demeanor in general. I cleaned off my front porch (moved in a small glider swing that had an increasingly weathered tarp over it) and am going to add another string there to balance the yard a bit (so far there are lights just in one corner).

Still no tree for my house, only ornaments on the mantle and hanging a tree-like object in the form of a large round basket in a macrame support that has lights running around it. I put small gifts in the basket for a festive appearance. I've recently rearranged the den so I might have to find a new spot for it this year.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Charmion
Date: 07 Dec 23 - 06:58 PM

My amaryllis is now in bloom. With two stalks, it could well carry on all through Advent and even past Christmas Day. It’s definitely a plant with presence.

My neighbours are into blazing lights and arrangements of inflatable Santas on their lawns, but I’ll pass — just too lazy. I’ll free-ride on others’ efforts.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: JennieG
Date: 07 Dec 23 - 08:20 PM

You and me both, Charmion. Our neighbours at Number 70 have three young kiddos, so their house is already bedecked with inflatables and lights.....as is Number 72, who also have kiddos.

I might hang my bell wreath on the front door.

Bah humbug, and all that.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 07 Dec 23 - 08:24 PM

We always get a real tree. We got ours yesterday from the same friendly place we've been getting it from for 20 years or more. It's about seven feet tall, it's a noble fir this year and it's in our cold outhouse in a bucket of water (base sawn off first) until we bring it in. It's our wedding anniversary on the 18th (47 years!) so we get it in and decorate it the day before. We squabble over when Twelfth Night is. She reckons it's the 5th but I go for the 6th. Then, down it comes.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Dec 23 - 03:08 PM

Ours went up this weekend

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Dec 23 - 06:40 PM

We're up.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Dec 23 - 02:50 AM

my trees are a permanent feature in my living room. I have 2 small 6-8" trees with miniature decorations on them.

One is a traditional style tree with wired branches & lots of miniature decoration, the other is a knitted tree.

What could be hard about knitting a triangle then sewing it up & filling with toy stuffing? hmmmm, it bent ... It has a little string of "lights' on it & a few miniature decorations, some are christmas earrings.

This year they have been joined by a 3" red tree, one of 30 or so made by a friend for everyone at a christmas lunch! It is not decorated. Several other crafty friends also made a similar number of small/miniature christmas items for the guests.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 13 Dec 23 - 03:57 AM

6' 8^ isn't small!

Oh, hang on... :-D

(Well, it's how I first read it. That would be a knitting marathon!)

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Dec 23 - 04:34 AM

I had to re-read what I'd typed to make sure I'd used the correct symbol!

meanwhile, here's a giant knitted tree & and another

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 13 Dec 23 - 11:11 AM

Just to make matters worse. I DID use the wrong symbol!

^ insted of "

Could be worse. I could have used the wrong cymbal...

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Dec 23 - 03:46 PM

clang

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 20 Dec 23 - 03:19 PM

I have liberally festooned my living area with balls, stars, bells, red green gold and purple mardi gras beads, plastic greenery floral and not, and a sprig of mistletoe in the entrance. Yarn wreath on door. Stockings for self and kids, with the prezzies that didn't get mailed under.

I had to mail prezzies so I had to wrap, and didn't want to put my unmailed prezzies into an unfestooned room!

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 21 Dec 23 - 02:50 PM

Date to erect: four days before the owl wakes up.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 23 Dec 23 - 09:24 PM

Before tomorrow night?

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Dec 23 - 10:54 PM

Years ago, when I had a pickup truck to move a tree easily, I used to visit the nursery six blocks from my home. They sold a bunch of high-end cut trees, but on xmas eve there wouldn't be many sales and all of the trees go on the curb as trash after the holiday. I'd ask if I could pick one for $10 and they'd always let me. We had some glorious trees, but they didn't stay up for more than a week. And because my mother always spoke about her childhood tradition of putting trees up on xmas eve, it felt right. But those tree tend to make me sneeze, so I don't get them these days. I have a 14' ceiling in my den, so a large tree was fine in there. Maybe again someday, perhaps if there are grandchildren to enjoy it.

I decorated the mantle with smaller ornaments this year, many that would be lost in a field of garland, so it is lit with a string of rice lights. Very nice.

Subject: RE: BS: Date to erect a Christmas tree?
From: Raggytash
Date: 24 Dec 23 - 11:33 AM

Its 16.30 on Christmas Eve UK time and we have just put our Christmas Tree up, a bit early for us it's normally about 21.00 !!