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A Veranda report says 65% of the magazine’s editors recommend putting up Christmas decorations after Thanksgiving or during the first week of December. Others prefer waiting further into December or starting as early as Nov. 1, underscoring that the timing remains a personal choice rather than a fixed rule.
Most editors surveyed by Veranda say Christmas decorating should begin after Thanksgiving or in the first week of December, according to a report on holiday decorating timing. The result offers a broad seasonal guide, not a formal rule: editors’ preferences ranged from decorating as early as Nov. 1 to waiting further into December.
Veranda reported that 65 percent of its editors favored decorating right after Thanksgiving or during the first week of December. The editors cited giving Thanksgiving its own place on the calendar and creating a clear changeover into the Christmas season. The report described that timing as consistent with tradition and the start of Advent, though it did not specify a particular date for Advent.
Another 15 percent agreed with waiting until after Thanksgiving but preferred to begin later in December. The remaining 20 percent said they were comfortable decorating well before Thanksgiving, including as early as Nov. 1, the day after Halloween. Veranda did not provide the number of editors surveyed or the dates when the survey was conducted.
The report included two examples of early decorating outside the editorial survey. It said the Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park decorates on Thanksgiving Day, and that Christmas at Biltmore begins Nov. 3, 2026. Those examples illustrate different schedules; they do not establish a recommended date for households.
A Decorating Window, Not a Rule
The figures give readers a sense of where the surveyed editors landed in a familiar seasonal debate, but they do not establish a universal standard. More than a third of the editors preferred a schedule other than the after-Thanksgiving-to-early-December window: 15 percent wanted to wait longer, while 20 percent were ready to decorate earlier.
For households deciding when to put up a tree, hang garlands or decorate outdoors, the practical takeaway is that there is no single date endorsed by everyone in the report. Family schedules and traditions can shape the decision as much as the calendar. Starting earlier may give people more time to enjoy decorations, while waiting can keep Thanksgiving and Christmas feeling distinct; those are considerations, not findings measured by the survey.
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How Editors Split on Timing
The Veranda report framed its survey around complaints that Christmas decorations seem to appear earlier each year. It asked magazine editors when they consider it appropriate to start, then grouped their answers into three broad preferences: soon after Thanksgiving or in early December, later in December, and before Thanksgiving.
The report said the largest group linked its preferred timing to making room for Thanksgiving before moving into Christmas. It also cited the start of Advent as a point of reference. The early decorators had a different rationale: the report quoted some as saying the work involved in decorating made them want to enjoy the displays for longer. Veranda’s conclusion was that timing depends on personal preference, household schedules and family traditions.
“This timeline gives Thanksgiving its well-deserved due, and thus creates a clean transition into the yuletide season.”
— Veranda report, summarizing the editors who favored decorating soon after Thanksgiving
Survey Details Not Provided
The report does not state how many editors took part, how they were selected or when their responses were collected. It also does not provide individual responses beyond the quoted comments, so readers cannot assess how closely the survey represents editors beyond the group Veranda consulted.
The percentages describe those editors’ preferences, not public opinion or evidence that one schedule is better. The report offers no measured comparison of cost, stress, enjoyment or other outcomes associated with decorating earlier or later. Its reference to Advent is general and does not identify a specific calendar date.
Households Choose Their Dates
Veranda’s report does not announce a follow-up survey or a new decorating standard. The next decision is left to households: some may follow the largest group’s lead and decorate after Thanksgiving, others may wait until December, and some may begin earlier.
The cited Biltmore schedule is for Christmas at Biltmore beginning Nov. 3, 2026; the report does not provide further details about that event. For readers planning their own decorations, the report’s guidance remains a matter of preference, family routine and how much of the season they want their displays to cover.
Key Questions
When do most editors in the Veranda report recommend decorating?
Sixty-five percent favored starting right after Thanksgiving or during the first week of December.
How many editors preferred decorating before Thanksgiving?
Twenty percent said they were willing to decorate early, with some comfortable starting as soon as Nov. 1.
Did all editors agree on a date?
No. Fifteen percent preferred waiting until later in December, while 20 percent favored decorating before Thanksgiving. The report presents a range of preferences, not a consensus date.
Does the survey establish the best time to decorate?
No. It records the preferences of Veranda editors. The report says timing depends on personal preference, family schedules and traditions; it does not compare outcomes for different start dates.
Source: rss
