When is the right time to put up your Christmas tree? Readers have their say

Last year, following a year of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and different lockdowns, many families have decided to buy their Christmas trees early this year.

And Christmas tree growers across the UK said they were having a bumper year.

After lobbying from growers, the government relaxed coronavirus restrictions and after that the spruces and firs sold well at the farms.

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Heather Parry from the British Christmas Tree Growers Association said last year several of her 320 members reported that 2020 was their busiest year.

UK farms usually sell about eight million trees each year.

We asked readers on the Oxford Mail Facebook page: “What is the correct date to put your Christmas tree out?”

Some readers said they would start celebrating Christmas long before December 25.

SONIA RICHARDS: “I like to have Halloween done then happy to see Christmas decs up. Love it!”

PETER BRACKETT: “Christmas Day and back in loft at midnight.”

KIRSTY GRANT: “Whenever the heck you like. In my house, Christmas is a season, the festive season, therefore we enjoy our house looking all festive from usually the end of November until early January.”

CRAIG COLVILLE: “12 days before, 12 days after.”

KAREN ROPER: “Whenever you like. It’s your house!”

BETHANY JOY: “There are 2 “Christmases” being celebrated here (and represented in the comments) - the secular/cultural winter festival (that lasts all of one day) and the Christian celebration of the Birth of Christ. It depends which you are celebrating as to when the tree goes up/comes down.”

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KAZ DAFFEH: “In the Church or England’s calendar, the decorations should go up on the 1st of December to mark the journey Mary and Joseph took to Bethlehem. And the deccies should come down on the 6th of January to represent hiding from King Herod. I follow those dates each and every year.”

SAMANTHA STRANGE: “First Sunday in advent (this year 28th November) comes down on epiphany (January6).”

SUSAN LEAKE: “Christmas Eve!”

SARAH DENMARK: “Christmas starts for me for the 1st of December not before.”

KIM TRIMBLE: “There are only 12 days of Christmas and none of them are in October or November!”

LEIGH BUTLER: “Everybody is different - whatever suits that individual.”

SASHA HILL: “As long it’s after November 11 - it can go up, I have a three-year-old - don’t judge.”

MICHELLE ANNISON: “Normally 12 days before and down 12 days after.”

RICKY DICKENSON: “When I can be bothered to climb in the loft and get it.”

NATE CHAMBERS: “12 days before Xmas - not a month before.”

MARC JONES: “December 24, then back down the day after Boxing Day.”

KIRSTY GRANT: “Marc Jones what’s the point of putting it up if you’re only gonna enjoy it for a few days - that’s a lot of effort for hardly any reward.”

PAULETTE DUCKWORTH: “Whenever you want to, nobody else’s business!”

LEIGH SCAYSBROOK: “Mine’s up all year round, up in the loft.”

SHANDA HESMER: “December 24 and down on 26th.”

EMMA ROWLANDS: “I’ve just wrapped a Christmas present.”

ALAN CAMPBELL: “I bought mine from Homebase yesterday.”

KATHRYN WHITBY: “Never. (Used to have cats)."

JUDITH JARVIS: “Growing up we always put our decorations up 12 days before and took them down 12 days after, that was our tradition.”

OXFORD MAIL READER: “Whatever date makes you happy and excited for Xmas.”

CHRISTOPHER DAY: “Well, it’s definitely not the middle of October..”

DANI STOCKTON: “Middle of December - usually first or second weekend.”

BAILEY LAD: “About a month before Christmas or maybe before that.”

KIM BEARD: “Whenever you like, as soon as my Halloween decorations come down.”

HAILEY BURGESS: “

Whenever you want to! Christmas brings joy, if you want that early, then crack on. Life’s too short to worry about the 12 days rule or if it’s too early. Find happiness when and wherever you can.”

EMMA SANSOM: “According to Sainsbury’s, last month!”