When will yours go up?

**Butterfly Dawn** · November 15th, 2012, 10:40 PM

Tfb - love the math work! smart cookie

I was going with Dec1 and down 30th but... This weekend feels right too.
What is Advent? I.know the calanders but it was never explained to me.
We watched "Arthurs Christmas" tonight so now the boys are in the swing of things

**Ca Plane Pour Moi** · November 15th, 2012, 10:47 PM

"Advent" is the lead-up to an event. So when most people say Advent, they're talking about the lead-up to the birth of Jesus Christ - but you can have the advent to moving house, that time with all the boxes cluttering up your home and that thing you NEED is packed and under another 3 boxes. Like our tree last year (why we have two this year!).

In the Church calendar, there are four Sundays in Advent, four weeks to think about Christmas things basically (and four bonus big stars for my tree). There are 6 Sundays in Lent, which is the run-up to Easter, indicating that Easter is actually more important (you know, with our sins being removed and Christ rising from the dead and all that). But no fat man, jolly tree nor presents, so less celebrated.

**Butterfly Dawn** · November 15th, 2012, 11:07 PM

Ahhh ok

How did we end up with choc eggs at Easter? is it new beginnings etc?

**Ca Plane Pour Moi** · November 15th, 2012, 11:11 PM

Some say it's to represent the stone rolled away when Christ rose.

Most accept that Easter is a hijacked festival celebrating Oestre, a fertility godess, and eggs are a symbol of fertility. The Easter Bunny also comes from here (yup - we celebrate the time of year when they're at it like rabbits, if not like Easter Bunnies).

Others say "who cares it makes no sense - it's a chocolate festival!"

eta - makes more sense if you're in the Northern Hemisphere and Easter is in the springtime when it is starting to get warm.

**Butterfly Dawn** · November 16th, 2012, 12:02 AM

Yes, most of the festivals we celebrate make more sense in the northern hemisphere

I always felt silly singing "white Christmas" cause I was used to pavolas and sunburn, bbqs and the beach for Christmas. Not egg nog and snow.
Still haven't had a white Christmas but its below zero around then.

Thanks for the info. My grandparents were catholic but mum rebeled hard and became a sufi so I never really got the full story about these things

**Aussiegirl777** · November 16th, 2012, 04:57 AM

Ours will go up as close to the 1st of December as possible. I'm really excited about it this year because although DS will be 20 months old at Christmas and still not really 'get it', he will love the tree and all the sparkly things on it!

**Tinks** · November 16th, 2012, 05:10 AM

1st of December here too.

**MummyNaomi** · November 16th, 2012, 05:33 AM

Ours is up! Here in Adelaide it's a bit of a tradition to take the kids to the Christmas pageant (usually the 2nd Saturday in Nov) then come home and out the tree up

**Nai** · November 16th, 2012, 05:38 AM

Nothing Christmassy happens until after my birthday, before that it's all about me!

so generally 6th dec at our place.

**Amity** · November 16th, 2012, 05:43 AM

In my house, with a plastic tree, it's Dec 1st.

At my folks' house, with a real tree, it's the week before Christmas so that the pine smell is still there and the tree doesn't fall apart.

**~ Zarava Flutterby ~** · November 16th, 2012, 05:56 AM

1st December here too for all decorations including the tree.

**Mother Goose** · November 16th, 2012, 06:40 AM

DH likes the week before Christmas. I like Dec 1st. Being due on the 27th dec this year, I win... Unless he wants to decorate the tree on his own. Which je doesn't

**Mother Goose** · November 16th, 2012, 06:46 AM

DH likes the week before Christmas. I like Dec 1st. Being due on the 27th dec this year, I win... Unless he wants to decorate the tree on his own. Which je doesn't

**No.5** · November 16th, 2012, 08:12 AM

Generally Dec 1st here too. I'm buying a new (black) tree this year. I'm not buying it until the 28th otherwise I'll be too tempted (& DS will want to) put it up as soon as its in the house.

**Sopdet** · November 16th, 2012, 08:25 AM

December my two trees will go up, but nothing else because I'm not home for Xmas this year, I'm going home (first family xmas in nearly 10 years).

**nothing2lose** · November 16th, 2012, 08:32 AM

"Advent" is the lead-up to an event. So when most people say Advent, they're talking about the lead-up to the birth of Jesus Christ - but you can have the advent to moving house, that time with all the boxes cluttering up your home and that thing you NEED is packed and under another 3 boxes. Like our tree last year (why we have two this year!).

In the Church calendar, there are four Sundays in Advent, four weeks to think about Christmas things basically (and four bonus big stars for my tree). There are 6 Sundays in Lent, which is the run-up to Easter, indicating that Easter is actually more important (you know, with our sins being removed and Christ rising from the dead and all that). But no fat man, jolly tree nor presents, so less celebrated.

For me, Easter is a much more holy time. Easter Day is a celebration but the lead up is much more sombre and reflective.

**toomanyshoes** · November 16th, 2012, 08:32 AM

Generally Dec 1st here too. I'm buying a new (black) tree this year. I'm not buying it until the 28th otherwise I'll be too tempted (& DS will want to) put it up as soon as its in the house.

We have a green tree with blue, white and silver deco's. I really want a white tree with all the bright funky colours, lime, purple, aqua etc and I want a black tree (really tall and slim) with old gold, deep red and forest green deco's!

Have room for a second tree in this house so I'm very very tempted to get another one this year.

**No.5** · November 16th, 2012, 08:35 AM

We have a green tree with blue, white and silver deco's. I really want a white tree with all the bright funky colours, lime, purple, aqua etc and I want a black tree (really tall and slim) with old gold, deep red and forest green deco's!

Have room for a second tree in this house so I'm very very tempted to get another one this year.

You definitely should

Gold, red and green on black sound lovely

The white would look pretty funky and awesome