Shyra said:

sextonseven said:

The org shouldn't have a Secret Santa?

That's why I joined SS this year because I didn't get diddly squat last year for Chirstmas. My mother gives me a check, which I don't count as a gift really. I mean, yeah it's a gift of cash, but I'm talking about gifts wrapped up in paper and bows. My brother is a Grinch, so he doesn't "do Christmas," although I give him a wrapped gift every year. I really enjoy giving. I'm looking forward to seeing who I get so I can start the hunt for the perfect gift!

I got a mug and a chocolate penguin.

I know some people celebrate St. Nick's Day on the 6th, which is basically just letting the kids have their stockings. My family was never into that though, but I can see how it would require decorating earlier. I usually do it around the 2nd week of December some time.

[Edited 11/4/10 22:59pm]

ZombieKitten said:

sextonseven said:

The org shouldn't have a Secret Santa?

if you go in it, I will too and then I'll rig it so we get each other

Answer: whenever you want

CarrieMpls said:

missfee said:

I get what you are saying.

And I get what you're saying too. If the 13th is your time to do it who cares what anyone else thinks?

Except it's still wrong.

I know, I feel the same way. Part of me says "well if she's going to be overworked, maybe she should get this off of her list things to do so she won't be dead at the Thanksgiving dinner table"

but then my heart says, nope- she needs to wait and just put the durn things up after that Thursday...there's too much rush for Christmas!

I haven't had a Christmas tree in...geez...at least four years. Seems like every year, I've been in a show that has happened right around Christmas (last year we closed A Christmas Carol on December 23), so I just haven't had time to deal with all that.

This year's show doesn't open 'til January, though - and I have all of Thanksgiving weekend without rehearsals. Maybe this is the year I put the tree up...

our tree usually goes up the day after thanksgiving, no sooner

the kids are always out of school and it's basically their tradition

outside decorations some time the following week

the christmas season is my absolute favorite time of year

to each their own but I want to enjoy the decorations

for more than just a couple of weeks before xmas day

vainandy said:

The day after Thanksgiving.

That sounds a decent estimate for me.

From a liturgical standpoint, the Christmas season technically runs only from Christmas Eve to Epiphany (Jan. 6) for Catholics and most Protestants; to Candlemas (Feb. 2) for Anglicans. These days, though, most people are far more casual in their observance, preferring a long lead-in time that anticipates the holiday. This is exactly the purpose the Advent season has traditionally served in the church, and as the first day of Advent is the fourth Sunday before Christmas, the weekend following U.S. Thanksgiving seems a natural start/setup time... assuming you're in the U.S. (In this way, "Christmas trees" might more appropriately be called "Advent trees.")

IMHO, the end/take-down time is fuzzier...

Most people I know want the tree down by New Years Day. If those who celebrate with a tree again want to borrow from the liturgical calendar, though, Epiphany (Jan. 6) or Candlemas (Feb. 2) might bear more precedent.

I personally think it's darned impractical to keep a huge fake or decaying real tree up in my home until Feb. 2, so I bid on Jan. 6. And, indeed, in some countries it's actually considered bad luck to leave decorations up after Epiphany eve a.k.a. Twelfth Night (Jan. 5).

[Edited 11/6/10 16:02pm]