Like all good things, the time for a diverse set of celebrations ranging from Christmas to Kwanzaa, decorations ranging from mistletoe to menorahs, toys like nutcrackers and dreidels, a ton of Mariah Carey, and a lot kids at the mall rushing to see Santa Claus and find out on what list they’ve landed on has ended. You might already be eager for next year’s holiday festivities as you wait to rush down to your basement and get the decorations in place while your relatives bust out the Santa hats as family tradition dictates. Don’t get too eager though. Sometimes it’s wise to hold off on your temptations and wait just a little bit longer for the festivities to commence.

While it certainly isn’t illegal (as far as I know) to put up Christmas decorations too early, I might just judge you for it, and others certainly will too. However, when should we consider it to be “too early” for holiday decorations? Senior Thomas Mitri holds a bold claim to the timing of Christmas decorations. “If you even put up a single Christmas ornament before Thanksgiving, you’re a psychopath and a scum of the Earth,” Mitri said, adding, “I will say that anything after Thanksgiving is acceptable.” 

While Mitri takes a more vocal and extreme position in a hotly debated subject, I normally would share his philosophy of the erection of Christmas decorations: hold off on such decorations until after Thanksgiving. This year was different, however.

Supply chain shortages have hit everything, including the beloved freshly cut Christmas tree. WYSO reports that a series of factors including heat waves and wildfires, aging farmers, long growing times, and simply being an industry that is inflexible to sudden changes like the pandemic or even the Great Recession from over a decade ago created a perfect storm to hit the fresh Christmas tree industry. Keeping this in mind, I can see why those who prefer a fresh tree may have started their shopping particularly early this season.

Regardless of whether your preference lies in a fake tree or a real tree, does it really make sense to add the Christmas wreaths, ornaments, and mistletoe sooner rather than later? Does it really make sense to hang the stockings when you have yet to remove the cornucopia from the dinner table? If you’re in a household that embraces multiple religions or traditions and celebrates more than one holiday, you would likely set things up for the next holiday as that holiday approaches, rather than set it up during the current holiday you’re celebrating.

Of course, I want to reiterate that the key takeaway is to take anything I said lightly. If Easter seems like the ideal day to bring out the dreidels, who am I to stop you? If you want to celebrate Christmas as early as July, go for it. I won’t condone it, and I’ll likely judge you for it just a bit, but if you’re in the holiday spirit, go decorate to your heart’s desire.