The exact date you ought to put your Christmas tree up in 2026 has been revealed, and it's not in December as you may expect.
While the Big Day is still more than nine weeks away, as plenty of people will know, the festive season has a habit of creeping up on you faster than anticipated. When thinking about Christmas, the tree is likely one of the very first things that springs to mind - a tradition that originally hails from Germany.
History of the Christmas tree
Christmas trees were first introduced during the Georgian era, under the reign of King George III. His wife, Charlotte, who was German, is widely believed to have decorated a tree for her family back in the 1790s.
That said, it is Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who are most commonly credited with popularising the Christmas tree tradition, leading many to assume they were the ones who brought it to Britain. In the early days, people kept modest-sized trees perched on their tables, but once larger trees from Norway became widely available, families began standing them on the floor, with gifts piled up underneath.
When should I put my Christmas tree up in 2026?
The question of when exactly to put the tree up can be a surprisingly divisive one. Some go for December 1, while others hold out until the 13th - twelve days before Christmas.
According to tradition, however, Christmas trees should go up at the beginning of Advent, the fourth Sunday before Christmas. This year, Advent Sunday falls on November 28.
On this day, some Christians attend special church services, with certain congregations laying on a Christingle service for children and families. At a Christingle service, every child receives or holds a Christingle. Some people write or send their Christmas cards, while others get busy preparing a Christmas cake or Christmas pudding.
Christmas 2026 trends
Traditionally, Christmas trees are adorned with a red and green colour scheme. Yet in recent years, people have chosen to put their own unique stamp on things.
According to Ideal Home, some of the trends we can expect to see for Christmas 2026 include hand-crafted decorations, tartan and plaid, and extra-large bows.
