Ever heard of putting your Christmas tree up on Christmas Eve?

[CharmedPhoenix]

It's a tradition in many households, especially with little kids.  The tree and all the presents magically appear during the night.  Some families eat Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve too.

[alice44]

I have heard of it but thought of it as an old idea that families use to do.  I agree that it wouldn't be up long enough to really appreciate it 

[SherylsShado]

It's what people do when you have cats, 'cuz you know it's not going to be staying up for very long!!   

[killers2]

Yeah that is a big tradition for some people.  Or they at least do something with the tree on that night.  We put the tree up 2 weeks into December!

[timvolley]

my family never did this but I have hear of this

[timvolley]

my family never did this but I have heard of this

[KarenWitty]

I think I was close to doing that when I had a 6 year old, 3 year old, and twins that were 3 months old. Little hard to juggle the on time stuff and get it all done...

[UGetPaid]

i have also heard of santa bringing the tre and putting it up on chirstmas eve with the presents.

My mother tells me this is how it was in her house growing up.  The tree and presents all "magically" appeared after the kids had gone to bed on Christmas Eve.


She did not continue that tradition with our family growing up.  I suppose it was just too much to handle in just one night.


We usually put our tree up in late November or early December, but have no 'set' time to do it -- it all depends on motivation and other things going on in our schedules.  We have a number of other Christmas programs and events going on -- some of which my wife is involved in setting up and selling tickets, etc.  So that takes a lot of her time on the evenings and weekends right about this time of year.


We do an artificial tree that is stored in the basement.  I had some surgery earlier this month, and I am on lifting restrictions until at least December 5th.  So our tree might not be up until the following week, but our 24 year old daughter just moved from Ohio to Florida at the beginning of November.  She is coming back to visit about that time, so I think my wife will want to have a tree up before she gets here!

[aflyingmonkey]

I had a lady tell me her family comes over and they have a big production of putting the tree up on Christmas EVE. I was like what is the point by then? Anyone else ever hear of this?

Yes.
Then they leave it up till the Epiphany, January 6 - the 12 days of Christmas.   Are they Catholic by chance & celebrate 3 Kings Day (Epiphany). 

[lmrbean]

Yes, I've heard of that. However, we get our real tree the weekend after Thanksgiving and put it in the stand with water ASAP, so it will stay fresher longer. We normally don't decorate it for a week or more, so all our children can be home to help. Then we leave it up until about the second week of January.

[fjaz1]

It's before Christmas, for Christmas so what is YOUR point?  Just because they didn't get one during Halloween like you did doesn't mean they don't have a point, maybe it's a family tradition

[encino11]

never heard that. I've always put it up around early december.

[pmagalei]

A lot of people are still doing that. Sometimes it is for last minute and sometimes people like to put it up when all family members who are traveling would like to put it up together because it brings them good luck into the new Year. They usually leave the tree until the end of January.

[y2kpeaches]

Though I don't put a tree up anymore, I did put it up the weekend after Thanksgiving. It allowed the whole family to participate and do it in a relaxed mode.  Always a fun time.

[jkhanson]

My mother said that was how it was done when she was a kid (early 50's) and then the tree stayed up till Jan 6 (The feast of the Epiphany or Three Kings Day). Basically the 12 Days of Christmas.

 When I was a kid we would put the tree up about 2 weeks before (and most of the people in the area who celebrated Christmas) and they stayed up thru New years at least.  When we moved South I was shocked that people put trees up on Thanksgiving Day (and took them down the day after Christmas).

Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas is my understanding of that tradition.

These days, we get the tree up whenever we have some of the kids or grandkids around to help with it.  It is more fun with help.