At least, not yet!
First, a disclaimer: this is in no way a condemnation of those of you who do something different. It is what works for us.
I have a short attention span. If I celebrated Christmas from the day after Thanksgiving, as the retailers would have us do, I would be tired of Christmas before the day ever arrived (specifically about December 9 this year. I have about 14 days of Christmas in me, so 12 days of Christmas are just about right). Consequently, I need Advent to be Advent, and not Christmas. There are no Christmas decorations out in our house right now, and there will not be until December 17, when the waiting, empty stable will first make it's appearance.
We will decorate the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. We have an artificial tree, so there is no ordeal of picking out the perfect tree, bringing it home, setting it up, and watering it. We just get it out, fluff, and decorate. If we used a real tree, then we would probably have to modify this routine. The tree would probably be like the manger scene: empty and waiting.
We have Advent decorations out right now. There is an Advent wreath by the dinner table and a Jesse tree tapestry on the wall. We don't watch TV and avoid listening to radio stations that play non-stop Christmas music. Is this against the culture we live in? Yes. Does it take a monumental effort? Not really. We just let Advent be Advent and save Christmas for Christmas.
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