But actually… when is Christmas?
Between the chocolates and decorations that take over the stores from the end of October (sometimes earlier!), and the “Merry Christmas” that rings out throughout the month of December, it’s not always easy to find your way around!
To determine when to start decorating the house, let’s start with a little reminder: we celebrate Christmas on December 25 (and not the 24!). Originally, it was a Christian religious festival, marking the birth of Jesus – symbolized by the nativity scene in some regions.
Decorating the house for Christmas: what does tradition say?
December 25 is preceded by a period of waiting, which begins 4 Sundays before Christmas: Advent (from the Latin adventus, which means “arrival”). The precise duration of this period may therefore vary from one year to the next. Traditionally, we decorate the house for Christmas when we light the first candle, on the 1ster Advent Sunday.
The Advent wreath seems to make its appearance on the 16thth century: it includes one candle per Sunday. Over time, we see a variation appear with one candle per day – small ones for the days of the week, and a large one for Sunday. This type of wreath is intended to teach patience to children, who can’t wait for Christmas morning.
The Advent calendar opens the festivities
From the 19thth century, we see the appearance of the Advent calendar, which replaces the crown or which coexists with it. It is primarily intended for children. Every day, they open a box revealing a pious image at that time. This is gradually replaced by small gifts or treats.
Today, the Advent calendar is intended for adults and children alike. It has been standardized to have 24 boxes, from 1er to December 24. With this standardization, the 1er December is also gradually being imposed as the commonly accepted date for decorating the house for Christmas!
So: when to put out the garlands?
In theory, you have the choice between two dates to start decorating the house for Christmas:
- 1er December ;
- 1er Advent Sunday (December 3, this year).
To wait until then, you can start making your own Advent calendar, by purchasing a template to fill in or by making it from scratch. And for a 100% traditional Christmas, you can continue with the design of your DIY Advent wreath!
In practice, the month of November has the reputation of being the most depressing month of the year! And the good news is that there are no decoration police ready to fall on you if you decide to take out your garlands now to fight against the winter blues that are creeping up. Ring !