Everything you need to know about putting up your Christmas tree
Christmas is coming up fast, and many of us in the office are already in debate. The question is: when is the right time to put up the tree? When I was younger, the first weekend in December was the tradition. My dad would hang the string lights while my mum, my sister and I would decorate the tree. But as I’ve grown older, things have admittedly changed.
I struggle to find the time to put the Christmas tree up nowadays, even though it’s quicker to assemble than the one I grew up with. So, I have to pop a date in the diary to make sure it gets done and recruit my partner to help. By the time the decorations are up, it’s often mid-December, which shocked a few in the office. Some start decorating as early as mid-November and make it a gradual process, saving their tree for December.
For our readers, a recent Good Housekeeping survey found that, while trees will generally go up anytime between 2 and 23 December, one in four will put up the tree and decorations bang-on 1 December, which is a considerable amount of us. Decorating seems to be getting pushed earlier and earlier, especially when you consider that, traditionally speaking, the tree was meant to go up on 22 December to mark the beginning of the Advent festivities.
The timing also depends on whether you’re using an artificial tree or buying a real one. If you want to use a real tree, you might be driven by the available delivery dates above all else. And you need to find the time to saw it and prepare it for the indoors (see our tips at the end). Whatever your preferences, trees will likely start going up over the next few weeks, but is there a right time to deck the halls? We asked the experts to weigh in. Plus, there’s tips on how to care for your Christmas tree and a little Christmas history along the way.
When did the Christmas tree first come to the UK?
It’s widely believed that Prince Albert and Queen Victoria introduced the tradition of Christmas trees to England, but that’s not strictly true. It was Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, who was the first royal to decorate an indoor Christmas tree at Queen’s Lodge, Windsor, in 1800. However, Prince Albert and Queen Victoria did popularise the tradition when it was later illustrated in magazines, such as The Illustrated London News, in the late 1840s.
“Trees were originally a German tradition,” says Hannah Fleming, curator at the Geffrye Museum. “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.”
Once the trend caught on, families across the UK were uprooting their own Christmas trees and decorating them to celebrate. The decorations on the trees were modest to begin with, with fruit, nuts, sweets and home-made decor filling the branches. Even before Christmas trees, evergreen foliage would be used to decorate around the home, such as ivy and holly. The natural decor seems to be catching on again, because our recent survey found that 23% will make their own wreath and forage for natural materials instead of buying fresh baubles.
When should I put up my Christmas tree?
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.
“As above, the tree would go up no earlier than 22 or 23 December, and quite often on Christmas Eve,” Hannah explains.
Why? Well, as doctor Martin Johnes, author of Christmas And The British: A Modern History, explains putting your decorations up sooner rather than later was traditionally meant to bring bad luck.
Nowadays, traditions have shifted a little, with people buying their 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,” explains Chris Craig, cofounder of Christmas at Home UK (@christmasathomeuk) and director and second generation grower at Stagsden Christmas Trees (stagsdenchristmastrees.co.uk). “For the 30 years we’ve been selling trees, the majority buy them roughly two weeks before Christmas. However, in the last couple of years, we’ve sold more trees 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?
Hannah thinks it might be to do with commercialisation. She says there isn’t a specific period when we started putting up Christmas trees earlier but it happened over time, although it is, she says, a 20th-century occurrence.
“This move earlier was partly due to commercial trends that saw more advertising of Christmas in November, but also due to the introduction of needle-retentive varieties of fir trees from Scandinavia,” explains Chris. That would make sense – 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 you should 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.
Are there any benefits to putting your tree up earlier?
“There are definitely benefits to putting up your Christmas tree early,” shares interior influencer Ness Hancock (@creativedesignseeds). “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.”
Ness explains that surrounding yourself with small things that bring you joy, such as a Christmas tree and decorations, can really help to boost your mental health throughout the busy December period.
“Christmas always provides a reason for celebration and a welcome, relaxing break, so it’s understandable that people are looking forward to it and are starting to plan for it earlier and earlier each year,” she explains.
But what about putting your tree up super early – say, the end of November? “Decorating your home early can create that neurological shift, a spike in the feelgood hormone dopamine, which can produce happiness. If putting up your Christmas tree early will bring you a little extra joy, why not?” she adds.
And Chris agrees, adding: “Christmas is about family, love and togetherness. The tree is the physical symbol of these values and having this reminder in our homes is a wonderful gift.”
Our expert shares top tips for looking after your Christmas tree
Worried you’ll put your Christmas tree up too early and risk it wilting pre the big day? Here, the owner of Christmas tree company Pines and Needles (pinesandneedles.com), Samuel Lyle, shares his top tips for making sure your tree stays in good shape.
NB: Real Christmas trees last for around five weeks if you follow the steps below and look after them correctly, so putting it up at the end of November shouldn’t be too risky.
“We still find that people aren’t aware of the care their tree needs,” Samuel explains. “Cutting the bottom 3cm off your tree once you get it home is vital, as is watering it. Amazingly, trees need around three pints of water a day, especially if the central heating is on full blast.”
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about caring for your Christmas tree this year, including where to place it in your home.
Our go-to Christmas tree-care guide:
1. Let your tree relax
“Christmas trees are pretty hardy, so they’ll happily sit in a bucket of water outside your door for two or three days before you bring it in,” Samuel explains. “In fact, we’d always recommend letting your tree have a relax outside before you bring it in, once you’ve snipped away the netting.” Why? To let it settle. Neat.
2. Top up your Christmas tree water
Fun fact: your tree needs around two to three pints of water a day. “Your Christmas tree will need to drink more than you do this Christmas, so give it around two (to three) pints of water a day and it will be as happy as Larry.”
Not sure how to water your tree? Place it in plain water – not soil or sand, as they block the pores in the bark. A specially designed Christmas tree stand is best. Note here: it’s important to keep the water topped up, as once the water level drops below the tree’s trunk, sap will reseal the bark within a few hours. This will prevent the tree from drinking any further water, even if you then refill the Christmas tree stand at a later date.
3. Prepare the trunk
You’ll likely know this already, but do you know how much to saw off? “Just before you install your tree, saw off the bottom 3cm of the trunk,” shares Samuel. This creates a fresh cut and opens up the pores in the bark, which otherwise can block up with sap within a few hours of being cut. “The tree is then able to drink water through these pores via capillary action,” he explains.
4. Keep it away from any heat sources
Obvious but essential. “Position your Christmas tree away from any heat sources, such as radiators and fireplaces,” Samuel instructs. Why? Well, because heat will dry out your tree faster. “The further from potentially damaging heat sources, the better – and the fresher your tree will remain.”
5. Be mindful of timing
Try not to expose your tree to sudden changes in temperature. “Trees, like most people, are creatures of habit and prefer steady conditions,” explains Samuel. “Plus, it’s important to remember that trees are natural living things. Once they’re cut, they begin to die. They’ll last for around five weeks. Make sure to time the arrival of your tree with this in mind so you can get the most out of it.”
Happy decorating!
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