Readers Respond to Pre-Thanksgiving Holiday Decorating Query

HARTFORD/TOLLAND COUNTIES, CT — Thanksgiving Day is now behind us, and many people spent the 4-day break preparing for the upcoming holiday season. However, in this year of turmoil, trials and tribulations brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, Patch editors in Hartford and Tolland counties noticed a number of folks decided to get an early start on their seasonal decorating.

We asked readers to tell us if they planned to start decorating earlier than usual, and here are some of the responses.

• "I had my fall decorations out by August, Halloween just after Labor Day. Skipped right over to Christmas, November 1st. Yes, it’s been a very strange year. But decorating is definitely keeping me sane." - Shelby Robson
• "Yes, for the first time ever we have decorated before Thanksgiving. With so much uncertainty, sadness, illness and the position that COVID-19 has put us all in. if it's something that makes someone feel better, why not join them. I know it has put smiles on many faces already." - Deb Ashworth
• "It's definitely a stranger year. I'm usually against decorating before Thanksgiving but being we all need to be uplifted, I'm ignoring the fact that others have already decorated. However, I would prefer it to be done after Thanksgiving. I think too many have forgotten this holiday and just skip it. Granted the weather can make a difference as well." - Carrie Topolski
• "I normally start decorating only the weekend before Thanksgiving. I like the aesthetic of Christmas and would love to experience it longer than the fairly short time given. Especially this year, I've been longing for the Christmas aesthetic a lot more." - Kyle Schambach
• "BEFORE THANKSGIVING!?!?!?!? I 'started' with lights in MARCH after the pandemic broke and folks needed a boost, and it gave me time to practice sending 'data' and upscaling to over 10K lights, and a 19' tree in the yard now." - Tom Turner
• "I think putting up Christmas decorations early this year is a great idea. We all need some good cheer!" - Lori Bilodeau

Patch editor Chris Dehnel contributed to this story.

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