These people have their Christmas Trees up - here's why

No sooner had the Hallowe’en pumpkins been consigned to the bins and people all over Derry started to erect their Christmas Trees and decorate their homes.

Shannon Rankin from Lettershandoney put her Christmas Tree up earlier this week but according to Shannon, she has a “very good excuse”.

“My first baby is due in four and a half weeks time so I have a really good excuse.

“I don’t trust anyone else to put the decorations up the way I like them so I decided this year to get it out of the way.

“To be honest with you, I am all about Christmas and with my baby due soon, this year is going to be extra special - it’s never too early to put your Christmas decorations up.

“I am really looking forward to having my baby and coming home to the house, it all nice and Christmassy.”

Derry woman Charmaine Allen puts her tree up on November 1 every year to remember a loved one who passed away.

“The reason I put my tree up so early is because my brother-in-law passed away on November 1, 2004.

“My son was very young at the time and wanted to do something in his uncle’s memory so that’s why we put our tree up on November 1 every year.”

Whilst the vast majority of us will hold off until December before putting up our trees, Drumahoe woman Katrina Miller erected her tree in October.

“I take my Hallowe’en decorations down and put my Christmas decorations up on October 31 every year,” confessed Katrina.

“I absolutely love Christmas - I have been doing it for years and people know me in the street as the woman who puts up her decorations really early.”

Katrina said her love for all things Christmas had trick-or-treaters feeling a little perplexed as they called to her door on Monday evening.

“When the children knocked on the door and saw the Christmas decorations I don’t think they knew what to say.” she laughed.

“I have two little grandchildren and seeing their wee faces light up when they call round to see the tree makes putting the decorations up early completely worth it.”

John McGinley from Bishop Street said the reason he puts his decorations up so early is simple - he adores Christmas.

“I just love Christmas, I be thinking about it all year until I feel it’s acceptable to put up my tree. Between the decorations and the tree, to the music and the films it’s my favourite time of the year,” he said.