Some folks are pure traditionalists. For them, the tree goes up on December 1st, like clockwork. My neighbor Brenda is one of those people—she sets a timer on her phone. She says it keeps the magic from getting stale.
But then there’s my friend Mike, who puts his up on November 1st the second Halloween ends. He argues that life is short and glittery lights fix everything, including the post-candy-corn blues. Who are we to judge his joy?
The truth is, there’s a sweet spot between being too eager and waiting too long. If the tree goes up before the Thanksgiving turkey is cold, you might burn out on "Silent Night" by mid-December. But if you wait until Christmas Eve, you miss the whole cozy buildup.
