There’s a simple reason why Dianna Chakoutis took advantage of a warm Veterans Day to put up her Christmas decorations.
“It’s about the kids,” said the Pine Hill resident and Lynn City Councilor.
She is by no means alone when it comes to jump-starting holiday decorating in this year of COVID-19 death, doom and gloom.
Chakoutis’ Thistle Street neighbors also put up their lights, outdoor decorations, and window displays. At night, the holidays reign supreme with Santa’s appearance still more than a month away.
Chakoutis’ contribution to the festivities included decorative snowmen and presents and a blow-up husky nicknamed Duke.
“It’s the earliest I’ve ever decorated,” she said.
A growing number of people on a quest for joy have bucked tradition and gone full-on Christmas weeks earlier than they normally would. Some holiday tree sellers fear they’ll sell out by Thanksgiving and parcel shipping companies worry about November gridlock.
Brandon Stephens, president of the professional holiday decorating company Christmas Decor, said early business is up 15 percent to 20 percent compared to the same period last year.
Orders came in as early as April — for April, he said. The company’s franchises serviced more than 43,000 homes and businesses last year around the country and expect a jump to about 52,000 this year. Most of the early activity is residential.
“We knew that it was kind of an emotional response. People were looking for hope. People were looking for something to feel good about while cooped up in their houses,” he said. “Lots of folks are not traveling for the holiday so they are celebrating at home.”
Self-described early decorator Christine Shaievitz of Lynnfield said her family’s holiday labor of love took on extra significance this year following months of pandemic life.
Her Sherwood Forest neighborhood home features an 11-foot tall artificial tree; a Christmas village, and the kitchen’s transformation into holiday mode.
“Everything is green and red,” she said.
Decorating early allows more time to enjoy the holiday spirit and injects, Shaievitz said, much-needed goodwill and cheer into the year’s end.
“Taking the time to enjoy it is more important than ever,” she said.
Three of her four children are adults, but Shaievitz’ 10-year-old helps haul out the decoration boxes and pitches in on the tree assembly. Shaievitz condensed a video of the 12-hour tree decoration process into a 45-second clip. She caught the decorating bug from her mother who started decorating on Thanksgiving night.
That connection to holiday family rituals is important, said Erica Keswin, a business consultant with a new book out in January, “Rituals Roadmap,” describes the benefits with three Ps.
“We feel psychological safety and a sense of purpose, which leads to increased performance,” she explained.
Chakoutis said there is an even simpler reason.
“It puts a smile on your face,” she said.
Material from the Associated Press is included in this report.
