West Aussies putting up decorations early in bid to bring Christmas cheer amid tough times for many

Christmas might be more than a month away, but for many West Australians the decorations have been up for weeks. Halloween had barely finished when some Perth neighbourhoods were festooned with fairy lights as residents sought some festive cheer. Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre senior research fellow Daniel Kiely said the cost-of-living crisis was driving people to tap into the feelgood festive spirit earlier than usual. “Decorating for Christmas and immersing oneself in the holiday spirit can serve as a form of sublimation — a way of channelling stress or anxiety into a socially acceptable and constructive activity ... the holiday season becomes a symbol of hope and renewal,” Dr Kiely said. He compared the early dusting off of Christmas decorations to the “lipstick effect” — a form of retail therapy seen during the global financial crisis in which lipstick sales surged as people sought an emotional boost in hard times. “For many in our society, this time of year is about giving, and purchasing things for the people you love can give you the serotonin and dopamine you’re after despite hard economic times,” Dr Kiely said. He said November was critical for the retail sector, but that data showed spending was down compared to the past two years, suggesting people are being cautious with their spending. “We now refer to November as ‘Black November’ because we have noticed that people who buy things for Christmas no longer wait for Black Friday,” Dr Kiely said. “But overall, spending is down, and people might be putting trees up and decorating early because they’re seeking the emotional boost from that instead.” Karen Riches had her towering 2.7m Christmas tree up in her Hillarys home on November 1, saying her children were wondering what was next once Halloween was done. “The tree goes up basically straight away. They love it and it gives them another thing to look forward to,” she said. “Being separated and having two children, it’s nice to have something that brings us a bit of joy. “Our family lives interstate, so we go visit them, which means our tree goes up early and comes down late, too.” A PerthNow poll of more than 2500 people found over two-thirds of readers thought it was fine to put the Christmas tree up now, citing the positivity it can bring. “It’s such a miserable and joyless existence with the cost-of-living crisis,” one person commented. “I think you should do anything that brings you joy. “If you have the decorations already, at least it’s free.” Another echoed that sentiment, adding, “it puts you in a good place when its up”. “We spend so much on decorating, and I feel we should enjoy it as much as possible. Mine is up.” Others cited FIFO and other remote work commitments as reasons why they sought the joy of Christmas decorations early.