Christmas starts for me on US thanksgiving. We always used to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Kids loved the balloons and naming the characters they saw and it always ended with Santa Claus so the perfect lead in. This would be a Thursday so Friday is one of those sort out days and change out some decorations such as taking down the scarecrow and leaves stickees on the window and putting up our Santa set.

I don't do anything winter (mitts, hats, snowmen, snowflakes) in December as January is a long month otherwise. I stick to Christmas stuff, elves, ornaments, etc. Really there are only 3 weeks to fill in when you figure most are off the week of Christmas and even if they aren't the kids need loads of down time and so do you.