It's Your Thing
By PLETHOS
@Plethos (13581)
United States
November 5, 2018 3:25pm CST
Over the weekend my GF asked me for my opinion if its too early to put up the christmas tree. I told her, "I dont care, the tree is your thing". If she wants to set it up, no one is stopping her. Then she proceeds to tell me how people who put up their trees early are happier and in a better mood. I found that sad to hear. To know that it takes a tree adorned in ornaments and lights on its branches and with gifts laid at its base is what makes people happy.
Why cant these seasonal people of merriment be cheerful and full of happiness that way all year?
Why cant they look at the singing birds in the trees bring joy to thier hearts?
Why cant the colorful multitude of colors in the evening sky with the setting sun bring peace to thier souls?
Why cant a new morning bring a spiritual meaning into thier life?
She just stared at me blankly then proceeded to say to me, " So... Is it too early ? "
Once again I say, " I dont care, the tree is your thing ".
Photograph- Taken/Owned by me, Plethos
21 people like this
23 responses
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
5 Nov 18
I do not have much room so I do not do an early tree. I am, however, itching to hang my wreaths out front. I have seven for the front of the house that I bought last year, plus some garland for the little fence.I like wreaths and would like to have some form of them out all year long. For me, having my tree or trees out would be too much.
2 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
6 Nov 18
@Plethos my sister in law outta one in each room except the bathrooms and baby room one year I think I counted five. Most if not all were artificial.
2 people like this
@Plethos (13581)
• United States
6 Nov 18
@MarshaMusselman - is she the type of person that will either spray pine scent onto them or have pine scented cones hidden in them? or the pine air freshner in the outlet or mini crock pot for scented wax?
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180743)
• United States
6 Nov 18
A festive Christmas tree tends to make people smile I think. I have known people who keep their tree up all year.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180743)
• United States
6 Nov 18
@Plethos Or very stable, they know who they are and what makes them feel good.Is that Jack Skellington?
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13581)
• United States
6 Nov 18
@snowy22315 - yes its jack skellington.
1 person likes this
@tammys85 (30066)
• Baltimore, Maryland
8 Nov 18
Sometimes it just takes a little thing, such as a Christmas tree, to brighten someone's spirits. It's one of the reasons I get annoyed when others try to rain on their parade. "You're decorations are up too early!" Okay, then don't look. I know the holidays can also make people sad, that's not forgotten on me, but I'm also a "live and let live" type of person. I'm glad you're good with your girlfriend putting the tree up, if she wants to.
As for us, the tree goes up after Thanksgiving, as not everyone in the house is ready before then. Plus, we need to actually make room for it. We do every year, but then that space is taken by other things afterwards lol.
1 person likes this
@tammys85 (30066)
• Baltimore, Maryland
12 Nov 18
@Plethos Lol. We don't put any of it up before Halloween, but we do start in November (aside from the tree, which is after Thanksgiving). Welp, don't stab me with a candy cane haha. 
We have the movies/music on, but not constantly until after Thanksgiving. The only movies we watched so far were Home Alone 1 and 2, as my little niece loves them as much as I did at her age. And outside of today, the few times I did put Christmas music on was with headphones.
I try not to shove it down anyone's throat, as I know it can be a tough time for some people. It just annoys me when people act like you shouldn't even say the word "Christmas" before Thanksgiving because THEY don't like it, or when they make a fuss because someone they know online (and will never visit) decorated their home early.
We have the movies/music on, but not constantly until after Thanksgiving. The only movies we watched so far were Home Alone 1 and 2, as my little niece loves them as much as I did at her age. And outside of today, the few times I did put Christmas music on was with headphones.
I try not to shove it down anyone's throat, as I know it can be a tough time for some people. It just annoys me when people act like you shouldn't even say the word "Christmas" before Thanksgiving because THEY don't like it, or when they make a fuss because someone they know online (and will never visit) decorated their home early.1 person likes this
@Plethos (13581)
• United States
9 Nov 18
me: hey aint your xmas things up a bit early?
gf: thats why theyre my xmas things.
me: expect halloween in may next year
thats true, to each their own. i dont mind, but the music gets to me . right now, for some reason everywhere i go, the tvs are on the hallmark channel and its just a bunch of xmas themed movies playing, all the fkn time ! its making me want to stab somene with a candy cane! 
thats true, to each their own. i dont mind, but the music gets to me . right now, for some reason everywhere i go, the tvs are on the hallmark channel and its just a bunch of xmas themed movies playing, all the fkn time ! its making me want to stab somene with a candy cane! 1 person likes this
@xander6464 (44245)
• Wapello, Iowa
6 Nov 18
If trees really do make people happier, why don't we find an excuse to have them all the time. Maybe it would decrease things like mass shootings and child abuse. That would be great but I have trouble believing it would have any effect at all.
2 people like this
@xander6464 (44245)
• Wapello, Iowa
6 Nov 18
@Plethos That would be perfect for me. I love treehouses and nuts. I don't think many others would like it, though.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13581)
• United States
6 Nov 18
@xander6464 - who cares as long as your happy. dont let society change you, just be yourself.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
6 Nov 18
i like the lights.and i do find them cheering..but yea,it's a bit early.
i'd just put up some light strings but not the tree yet.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
7 Nov 18
@Plethos we used to but haven't in years
1 person likes this
- and somehow I don't think a Halloween tree itself would make me happy. Plant a real tree - that would better!
@crossbones27 (49463)
• Mojave, California
5 Nov 18
Haha, "So.... is it to early?" If you have to ask, then yes. Is that not how it usually gets answered. Just do it or don't and who cares what people think if that is what she is worried about. What every makes her happy and pretty sure you are a smart man. You know if she is happy you will be more happy. Women. 
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (49463)
• Mojave, California
6 Nov 18
@Plethos I hear you, nether am I but do not begrudge anyone who is.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
6 Nov 18
It's too early.
It's also too sad that trees make people happy like that. It should be going out in nature, enjoying it.
Of course it's a mad, mad world out there.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
6 Nov 18
I love Christmas but have never seen the point in putting up the decorations too early. Anybody who puts them up before November's end is bonkers, and even the very beginning of December is too early for me. I want to savour the run up to my favourite time of year, not start it so early that I'm p!ss bored of it by the day itself!
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
7 Nov 18
@Plethos I have come to realise that that seems to be the norm in America. :)
1 person likes this
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
5 Nov 18
No. WAAAAY too early! I might not even put one up this year at all.
1 person likes this
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
6 Nov 18
@Plethos Fir or pine?
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13581)
• United States
6 Nov 18
@cindiowens - either, i live in the lower desert of so.cal. the different tree smell is much appreciated here. other than that, the only foresty tree smell i get would be from the pine tree shaped air freshner that you can hang in your car.
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
6 Nov 18
A couple weeks of the dusty fake tree and I am good, not really into the spirit of Christmas anymore.
I prefer birds and blue skies and.....warm sunshine and the garden, and dirt, and children smiling, running around playing.
Merry Christmas.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13581)
• United States
6 Nov 18
@andriaperry - i know i saw those in the stores when it was popular, but i dont believe i ever heard it sing. does it sound like its gargling when it sings? or gargle when its drowning in oxygen?
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
6 Nov 18
@Plethos I was a few years when I was younger, I finally bought a fake tree so its easier now, except people expect me to kill myself cooking to give away food, cookies and pies. Maybe that is why I hate to see it come.
The singing bass? I have one of those somewhere. LOL.
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
6 Nov 18
My daughter put up our Christmas tree last year and never took it down. She said it was too much trouble putting it up and taking it down in our cramped apartment. So she left it. Bit now the rule is we can't turn the lights on until the day after our Thanksgiving holiday. I wouldn't mind seeing the lights right now. But my kids are like "Mom! Don't even think about it!"
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
6 Nov 18
I agree with you. I heard a discussion about that very same thing on the Christian radio today I thought about calling and suggesting that the decorations never come down if that's what it takes to keep people happy.
Happiness is external where joy can effervesce from the inside from noticing the things God created for our enjoyment and from thinking about him and his son and his words.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (19949)
• United States
6 Nov 18
For me it's too early. My great-aunt is putting hers up this week. I usually decorate after Black Friday. But yes, I think people should be happy all year not just decorating for Christmas.
1 person likes this
