With each year that passes, they seem to be going up earlier and earlier. Traditionally, the Christmas tree went up on the 22nd of December and marked the start of the advent festivities.
Wrapped presents were stashed under it and kept safe until the big day. But, fun fact: in recent years, the last weekend of November has become an increasingly popular date to put the Christmas tree up, although it, of course, varies from family to family.
Whether your family opts for real or artificial, or decks the tree with tinsel or baubles, one thing’s for sure. Christmas is coming. Keep reading for everything you need to know about caring for your tree and when to put it up, and learn a little Christmas history along the way, too.
When did the Christmas tree first come to the UK?
A little history lesson for you: before the 19th century, Brits didn’t even put up a Christmas tree. Victorian history books reveal that Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert was the first to bring one to the UK. He did so around the 1840s, gifting a spruce-fir to his wife after a visit to Germany.
The trend soon caught on, with families up and down the UK uprooting firs and covering them in decorations such as candles, paper decorations and Christmas ornaments. Prior to that, families hung greenery such as ivy and holly around the house in celebration.
Trees were originally a German tradition, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were responsible for popularising it—see the illustration of the Queen, Prince Albert and their family decorating their own tree."
When should I put my Christmas tree up?
Well, traditionally, Christmas decorations wouldn’t be put up until the last possible moment. This trend continued into the Victorian times with the tree, too.
The tree would go up no earlier than the 22nd or 23rd December, and quite often on Christmas Eve.
They say putting you’re decorations up sooner, rather than later, was traditionally meant to bring bad luck.
Nowadays, traditions have shifted a little, with people buying they’re trees earlier and earlier. "Originally the Christmas tree was put up on Christmas Eve and left up until Twelfth Night but very few families follow this tradition now.
For 30 years since Christmas trees have been selling the majority buy them roughly two weeks before Christmas. However, in the last couple of years, more have sold at the end of November to coincide with the beginning of advent as people’s traditions change.
Why do we put our Christmas trees up earlier now?
Putting up Christmas trees earlier is partly due to commercial trends that saw more advertising of Christmas in October / November but also due to the introduction of needle-retentive varieties of fir tree from Scandinavia.
If you can buy a tree earlier without all the needles dropping off come Christmas day, you’ll get to enjoy your decorations for longer.
Whatever your thoughts on when to put up your Christmas tree, rest assured, it varies from family to family and is simply personal preference. Put your tree up whenever makes you and your family happiest. My friend Charlotte and her family have already put their Christmas tress up as of the first week of November.
Are there any benefits to putting your tree up earlier?
There are definitely benefits to putting up your Christmas tree early. Research has found that it can improve your mood, and a study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology concluded that those who decorate the outside of their house come across as more friendly.
This year has been immensely stressful for many, and surrounding yourself with small things that bring you joy, like a Christmas tree and decorations, could really boost your mental health and give you something positive to focus on.
With the year we’ve had, everyone could do with a bit of happiness. It’s something positive and joyful to look forward to. Christmas always provides a reason for celebration and a relaxing welcomed break, so it’s understandable that people are looking forward to and plan for it earlier than ever this year.
But what about putting your tree up super early the end of November? "Decorating your home early can create that neurological shift, a spike in the feel-good hormone dopamine which can produce happiness. If there was ever a year to make an exception to decorate early, this could be it. It’s a crazy year. If putting up your Christmas tree early will bring you a little extra joy.
Christmas is about family, love, and togetherness. The tree is the physical symbol of these values and in a year of separation, having this reminder in our homes is worth a whole lot more.