Overview
- There is no single correct date to decorate, as households weigh religious calendars, local customs and practical needs.
- For natural trees, horticulture advice favors installation from late November into mid‑December, with many experts urging purchases after December 1 and consistent watering away from heat sources.
- Artificial trees decouple timing from freshness, so many families decorate in early December or right after Thanksgiving to extend the festive period.
- Regional markers shape choices, including December 12 and the start of Posadas on December 16 in Mexico and the early‑December Constitution holiday period in Spain.
- Psychologists, including Deborah Serani, note that decorating earlier can lift mood by triggering nostalgic joy, and safety guidance stresses checking lights, avoiding overloaded outlets, trimming the base of real trees and keeping them hydrated.