Twelve months, one porch
The holiday decorating calendar
When each holiday goes up and comes down, how tall a tree your ceiling takes, and how much garland a mantel needs.
The year at a glance
Most homes run on the same rhythm: a long stretch from late September to New Year, then a short holiday every month or two. Put each one up early enough that you get to enjoy it, and take it down while the next one is still a few weeks away.
| Holiday | Goes up | Comes down | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halloween | Late September to early October | November 1 | Porch, front door, party table |
| Fall and Thanksgiving | Mid September | The weekend after Thanksgiving | Mantel, door, dinner table |
| Christmas | The week after Thanksgiving | Early January | Tree, mantel, front of the house |
| New Year's Eve | December 31 | January 1 | The party room |
| Valentine's Day | Late January | Mid February | Classroom, door, window |
| Easter and spring | Mid March | After Easter Sunday | Mantel, table vase |
| Graduation | The week of the party | After the party | Photo spot, gift table |
| 4th of July | Memorial Day weekend | Mid July | Porch railing, front door |
How tall a tree your ceiling takes
Measure from the floor to the ceiling where the tree will actually stand, then leave room for the stand underneath and a topper or a bow on top. A tree that touches the ceiling looks squeezed, and a topper with nowhere to go ends up crooked.
Our trees come in 6 ft, 7.5 ft and 9 ft. The 6 ft tree fits a standard 8 ft room with plenty to spare, the 7.5 ft cypress is the usual choice under an 8 to 9 ft ceiling, and the 9 ft cypress wants a ceiling of 10 ft or more.
| Ceiling height | Tree that fits | Room left for a topper |
|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 6 ft or 7.5 ft | Plenty with 6 ft, a small topper with 7.5 ft |
| 9 ft | 7.5 ft | A large bow or a star |
| 10 ft and up | 9 ft | A 6 ft giant bow fits on top |
How much garland a mantel needs
Measure the mantel shelf and add 1 to 2 ft so the ends can drop over each side. A 5 ft mantel takes a 6 ft garland laid flat or a 6.5 ft one with a little drape. For a staircase or a long run, buy a pair: our plum and lighted maple garlands both come two to a pack.
Planning a classroom Valentine exchange
Ask the teacher for the class list in early January. Most of our classroom sets hold 24 cards, which covers a class of 24, and the crazy straw set holds 32. For a class of 25 to 32, a second set or the 32-card set saves a last-minute scramble.
Write the names on the cards a week ahead, a few a night, and keep the small gifts in their bag until the cards are done so nothing goes missing.
Every height and length on this page belongs to a piece in the Oriental Cherry holiday range.
