Numerous individuals frequently ponder the appropriate moment to activate their lights for the festive season. Traditionally, the weekend following Thanksgiving has marked the informal beginning of Christmas decorating season, with many waiting until December 1st to light up. Nevertheless, there’s been a recent trend of individuals deviating from tradition by choosing to brighten up their homes earlier.

Though lighting decorations post-Thanksgiving remains prevalent, the past few years have witnessed a significant uptick in early light-activation requests, especially for commercial properties. In states like Florida, where we carry out professional installations for several hundred commercial clients, we’ve noted a considerable increase in requests for mid-November and even as early as November 1st. For residential displays, turning on lights too early is generally frowned upon, but more homeowners are igniting their Christmas lights by the second week of November.

The timing for when you can switch on your Christmas lights often hinges on your location. In regions with more traditional and conservative attitudes, early decorations might not be well-received. Conversely, in areas populated by younger demographics or lots of children, early November light-ups tend to be acceptable and even encouraged. However, turning on lights before November 7th or 8th might still be deemed too early.

Many Christmas aficionados nowadays, investing in LED technology, seek to extend the lifespan of their lights throughout the festive period. This often means starting the holiday season a bit sooner. Personally, I suggest activating your lights slightly earlier, but not before November 15th. If you also have other visual decorations like garlands, wreaths, or yard displays, it’s best to wait until the Thanksgiving weekend to put those up.