It's Your Thing

Santa Jack
@Plethos (13560)
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
22 people like this
24 responses
@MALUSE (69416)
• Germany
5 Nov 18
I think if anyone in Germany put up a Christmas tree in their homes at the beginning of November and the neighbours noticed this, they'd call the police or the warden of the loony bin.
6 people like this
@pgntwo (22412)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
5 Nov 18
There's a reason the Americans observe Thanksgiving - I think this is it!
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
well crazy people do tend to do things that are not normal.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
@pgntwo - i thought it was all about justifying the gluttony with the turkey dinner.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (115908)
• United States
5 Nov 18
There was some news story that everyone was linking to on FB about people having their tree up earlier being happier. I don't think it should go up before Thanksgiving though.
3 people like this
@much2say (53895)
• Los Angeles, California
5 Nov 18
I was thinking of that news story too - just the headline though as I didn't actually read it.
2 people like this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
i think she also got the idea from facebook or at least read about it there. glad im not a facebooker.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157463)
• 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
• 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 (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
trees? how many do you usually put out?
2 people like this
@Plethos (13560)
• 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
@tammys85 (29920)
• 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 (29920)
• 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.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
12 Nov 18
@tammys85 - the other thing that annoys me is the lil salvation army bell.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• 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!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457249)
• Switzerland
6 Nov 18
People who put their trees up early are usually depressed people who try to find joy in a symbol, instead of enjoying life as it comes every day.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (457249)
• Switzerland
6 Nov 18
@Plethos Correct, it's not a seasonal problem, they have the problem all year round.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
those are the people who say they have the "seasonal blues" when in reality, they have it year round but its just the holiday season that brings it out into the open.
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (40825)
• 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 (40825)
• 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 (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
total happiness would then be if a person lived in a tree. lived like a squirrel in a tree eating nothing but nuts.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• 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
• 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
• United States
7 Nov 18
@Plethos we used to but haven't in years
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
do you also do the trim around the outside of the house?
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169567)
• 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 (169567)
• 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 (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
@snowy22315 - yes its jack skellington.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
they must be emotionally unstable deep inside.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53895)
• Los Angeles, California
5 Nov 18
I suppose being festive puts you "in the mood" and keeps you positive, but seriously there are other things that could make a person happier. Even Halloween makes me quite happy - so is it too late to be happy now?
1 person likes this
@much2say (53895)
• Los Angeles, California
6 Nov 18
@Plethos They have Halloween trees now - ornaments and all - and somehow I don't think a Halloween tree itself would make me happy. Plant a real tree - that would better!
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
halloween is my holiday, which is why i tell her, i dont care if she puts up a tree now or later.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (48395)
• 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
• Mojave, California
6 Nov 18
@Plethos I hear you, nether am I but do not begrudge anyone who is.
2 people like this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
i think she was wanting to justify her longing for putting up the tree. she forgets that im not a xmas holiday person like she is.
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
7 Nov 18
@Plethos I have come to realise that that seems to be the norm in America. :)
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
the earliest for me would be the first saturday after thanksgiving.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325255)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 18
I somehow doubt we'll have a tree at all this year. There is only us here and it could well be just us for Christmas too which is fine by us but the expense of a tree is hardly justified.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325255)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 18
@Plethos That's what we should do. It would be a much better idea.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
ever consider just getting a small potted one thats no bigger than a small shrub?
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
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
6 Nov 18
@Plethos Fir or pine?
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
ill admit, the one thing i do love about a xmas tree, is the smell.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• 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 (116860)
• 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 (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
i was never into the whole xmas holiday deal. i do like the old Rankin/Bass animations though.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• 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 (116860)
• 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
• 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
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
instead of smelling the roses, they should snff trees. if it makes dogs happy, why not humans?
• 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
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
i hope its a fake tree.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (18886)
• 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
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
if trees make people happy, maybe they should just plant more trees in their yard or keep potted mini trees at thier residence, somewhere.
1 person likes this
@wunnam (552)
• Ghana
6 Nov 18
I support you just like you said, it is up to her to decide, if she is to fund the money you leave every decision to her.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
its not a financial decision. she just needs to decide
@Icydoll (36717)
• India
6 Nov 18
It's too early to put up decorations here .They start here a week before Christmas.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
seems about right.
@Janet357 (75657)
6 Nov 18
You have a point there. If christmas is the season for giving and so on, why do people have to wait for december? Why they cant do it all-year-round?
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
6 Nov 18
bingo! charity is not limited to a season, it should be year round.