Growing up, Christmas was very simple due to finances,but my mother was great in making us believe in the spitit of Christmas.
For years when I was raising my famiy, Christmas started right after Thanksgiving. I have a Santa collection and that was the first to be put out,. Closer to Christmas, fresh greens were put over doorways and down stair railings. The tree was always fresh. Lots of baking and for years my children and I would make our gifts for neighbors etc. My girls still do this.
Now times have changed. We are only home for two weeks at Christmas so I'm not too sure how much we will do this year. Next year all our kids will be here so we will go back to some of the old traditions.