Christmas is right around the corner. But there are many different views on when is the most appropriate time to put the tree and lights.

In a previous Examiner report, we met families and individuals who were ready well ahead of Christmas time with their winter wonderland displays and sparkling fairy lights shining brightly in mid-November.

And last year we reported how the Johnson family in Douglas go to great lengths each year to elaborately decorate both the inside and outside of their home.

Maughold resident Ruth Ward, 45, has her ornaments decorating the halls at home from mid-December.

’This is because I get a real tree and if you put it up too soon it starts to smell and the needles go,’ she said.

’This is against my boys who would like it up sooner.

’We have all the old decorations up each year, otherwise you could spend an absolute fortune!’

She thinks the start of December is early, but acceptable.

’It takes the excitement out of it when it gets nearer the time,’ she added.

Dave Whitten, 36, from Douglas, thinks the beginning of December is prime time to get decorations up.

’There’s no logical reason behind that, I just feel it’s the right time,’ he said.

His partner loves getting into the festive spirit early having transformed their home into a Christmas scene on November 22.

Colby resident Kia Potts, aged 22, said: ’The right time is definitely from December 1 because it’s the start of the Christmas month.’

Her friend, Kiara Watterson, 18, from Peel, said: ’At our home it’s usually the first weekend of December.

’It’s just a tree and lights, but I have to have a real tree. We take them down after the New Year.’

Kia added: ’My decorations are the same every year - I have a real and a fake tree up. Sometimes our lights do stay up all year because my mum says they look nice.’

She thinks decorations should not be put up before Hop tu Naa.

Hannah Murray and Alex Crombleholme, 28 and 27 respectively, plan to have their Christmas decorations up on December 14 this year.

They normally have them up earlier, but never before Alex’s birthday in late November.

’I’d have them up sooner, but we need to have his birthday celebrations before Christmas,’ said Hannah.

’We live in England and we’re visiting family over here, so we’ll put them up as soon as we get back.

’We’ll take them down probably at the start of January. We want to make the most of it.’

Her message to anyone wanting to put their lights up earlier is ’Go for it!’

Alex added that ’it was always mid-december in my family’ when they decorated.

Sapphire Miles, 27, from Douglas has her decorations done on the first weekend of December. She said she ’loves Christmas’ and so do her two girls.

When asked about people having their lights up early, she replied: ’I don’t mind. I’m happy to see it all year round!’

Her decorations come down the weekend after Christmas to make the occasion ’special’.