Traditionally, churches have decorated for Christmas just after Thanksgiving and before the start of Advent. Many of you may remember attending churches with a "Hanging of the Greens" service, where Christmas decorations, especially greenery like wreaths and Christmas trees, were placed around the church. These services, often held at the end of November, led many to decorate their homes the week after Thanksgiving as well.
However, this tradition is relatively recent. Hanging of the Greens services only gained popularity in American churches in the 1950s-60s. Before then, most churches remained undecorated through Advent, only adding Christmas decorations on Christmas Eve. This custom was mirrored in many American households, particularly among families of German descent, who often decorated their trees on Christmas Eve or even kept them hidden until Christmas morning. Celebrations would then continue through the Twelve Days of Christmas, ending on Epiphany, January 6th.
Even more surprisingly, decorating for Christmas wasn’t always a common practice in the U.S. In fact, before the mid-1800s, most families and churches didn’t decorate for Christmas at all. Christmas trees were rare and primarily found in homes of wealthy German families or within German-speaking communities. In certain periods of American history, some communities and states even prohibited Christmas celebrations and decorations altogether!
Today, Christmas decorating has evolved dramatically. Just recently, I visited a Home Depot before Halloween, and the Christmas section was already set up, a Christmas tree displayed next to the headless horseman! Many families, along with stores, now start decorating well before Thanksgiving.
And there’s nothing wrong with that. If there’s one thing we know about Christmas decorations, it’s that the timing is always changing. While people might decorate earlier each year, the celebration remains the same: honoring the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. So, whether someone sets up their decorations in November, or even in July, the heart of the celebration remains centered on that first Christmas morning.