New York’s Early Christmas Decorators Aren’t Crazy, They’re Coping Smarter

I have a friend whose birthday falls just days before Halloween and while most people might ask for a nice dinner or a fall weekend getaway, she asks for the same thing every single year: to decorate for Christmas early.

Her husband gives her that classic “You’ve officially lost your marbles” look. But she swears the second those lights go up, something inside her shifts. She feels calmer. Happier. More herself. And as strange as it may sound to anyone who still believes Christmas belongs strictly in December, science actually agrees with her.

Stop Waiting for Permission to Feel Joy

I get where my friend is coming from. The leaves hadn’t even completely changed colors across Upstate New York in 2023 when I dragged my Christmas bins out. My son hadn’t even settled on his Halloween costume yet, and there I was, lights up, stockings hung, and tree fully decorated by October 17. People thought I’d lost it. My phone buzzed with messages. Friends sent photos captioned “Too soon?” and a few even joked about scheduling an intervention. But that year had been a really heavy one. Exhausting. Lonely. And by the time fall rolled around, I was done waiting for permission to feel joy.

READ MORE: The Iconic Christmas Poem You Love? It Was Born in New York!

I spent decades waiting until Black Friday to decorate. But I don’t play by that rulebook anymore. My husband and I don’t have family nearby, so Christmas has always been just our little unit anyway. Which means there’s no one standing in my living room judging me if I decide October is basically December, just with crunchy leaves instead of snow.

If We Celebrate Fall Early, Why Not Christmas Too?

Think about it, fall gets to start in September. Nobody blinks when pumpkins hit the stoops before Labor Day. Stores break out the apple cider donuts while we’re still wearing flip flops. So why do we act like Christmas has to sit patiently at the door until Thanksgiving packs up and leaves? Christmas isn’t just a date. It’s a feeling. It’s warmth, light, nostalgia, cinnamon, and hope rolled into one. And if something brings that much magic, why limit it to a measly 31 days?

Science Says Early Decorators Aren’t Eager, They’re Healthier

If you ever find yourself defending your early décor to that one cousin who thinks he’s the mayor of holiday scheduling, try this line: “People who decorate early are scientifically proven to be happier so take it up with psychology, not me.”

Research published by CORDIS shows that holiday decorations actually trigger dopamine, the brain’s natural “feel-good” chemical. The bright colors and warm lighting act like visual therapy. Meanwhile, Psychology Today reports that early decorators experience more nostalgia, which helps reduce loneliness and stress. The American Christmas Tree Association even found that nearly 80% of Americans feel more cheerful when they decorate sooner rather than later.

So no, early decorators aren’t rushing things. They’re protecting their mental health.

New York’s Winters Make Early Cheer a Survival Strategy

Winters in Upstate New York aren’t exactly known for being gentle. Whether you’re dealing with lake effect blizzards, howling winds, or freezing rain, darkness shows up early and overstays its welcome. That’s exactly why early decorating makes so much sense here. When your home starts glowing before the outside world catches up, it feels like you’ve built a little fortress against the cold. A flicker of light becomes a tiny reminder that joy still exists, even when the forecast says “wintry mix.”

Your Official Permission to Start the Joy Now

So whether you’re like my friend making her annual pre-Halloween birthday request… or like me shamelessly assembling a tree while fun size Snickers are still in the candy bowl, consider this your permission slip. Science supports it. Your sanity supports it. And frankly, life is too short to wait for a socially acceptable start date for happiness.

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Don’t Rush the Season, Stretch the Joy

If decorating early makes you smile, do it. Don’t wait. Don’t apologize. Don’t dim your sparkle just because someone else prefers to sit in the dark. You’re not rushing the season, you’re expanding it.