Yule: When do you decorate and how long do you leave decorations up?

[PhantomQueen]

I am thinking about my Yule decorations and just started thinking about how others decorate their homes and altars. Do you tend to decorate for a season or holiday a few weeks prior to the celebration, then take down or change the decorations a few days after? Or do you decorate a few days prior to the holiday or celebration, and keep them for several weeks or months or until the next holiday?

I tend to decorate about a month prior to a holiday, and take down house decorations about a week or two after the holiday (sometimes I leave my altar decorations up a little longer.)

But, I'm starting to think that I should be, for my altar at least, decorating closer to the holiday, and leave it up for several weeks or until the next holiday... so the decor is up for the entire season until just before the wheel turns again.

I'm curious to know what other people do! :

 

Growing up we put up the tree on the first Sat of Dec. and take it down by Jan 1st so there won't be any bad luck.  I do have a tree but don't put it up-one of my cats is a jumper and I don't feel like putting it back up every five minutes when he decides to go treeclimbing.  I did consider putting up on top instead of the silver star but decided against it in the end... I have a few winter themed ornaments around the place and have a Christmassy candle or two around for meditation.  Haven't found an incense I like enough to burn just for the holidays.  Silk pointsettas are taken out though and scattered around the place and a bouquet of them for my altar. Ad a few pinecones.  I don't really collect Santas/nutcrackers or anything like that for this holiday.