Some people decorate for every holiday like they are competing for a prize. This One Gotta Go card puts four big decorating habits on the block: full exterior lights on every surface, a Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving, an over the top Halloween graveyard and an elaborate 4th of July lawn display.
Three habits stay in your neighborhood, and one disappears. Think about the houses you love to drive by, the decorations that make you smile and the ones that make you wonder about the electric bill. Then pick and share the best decorated house you have ever seen.
The 4 choices on this card
A. Full exterior lights on every surface
Full exterior lights on every surface turn a house into a neighborhood attraction. They are joyful to see. They also take hours to put up, a lot of power to run and a ladder that makes everyone nervous, which makes them a fair cut.
Keep it if: You love driving around to see the lights and you are the house everyone slows down to look at.
B. Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving
A Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving gives you more weeks of holiday cheer. Fans say why wait. Others feel it skips right past Thanksgiving, which is why the early tree is one of the most talked about decorating habits.
Keep it if: You love the holidays so much that you want your tree up as long as possible every single year.
C. Over-the-top Halloween graveyard setup
An over the top Halloween graveyard with tombstones, skeletons and fog machines makes a house the spooky star of the street. It is fun for trick-or-treaters. It also scares little kids sometimes, which makes it a candidate for the cut.
Keep it if: You love Halloween more than any holiday and enjoy giving trick-or-treaters a good scare.
D. Elaborate 4th of July lawn display
An elaborate 4th of July lawn display with flags and red, white and blue decorations celebrates the summer holiday. It is festive. It is also the least common, since many people decorate for July 4th lightly, which makes it the easiest cut.
Keep it if: You love showing your spirit every summer and think the 4th deserves decorations as much as Christmas does.
Our take
We would cut the elaborate 4th of July lawn display. The holiday is fun, but it is mostly about cookouts and fireworks, while the other three habits turn whole neighborhoods into seasonal events. The most fun debate usually comes down to the Christmas tree before Thanksgiving, since some people love the early start and others think it should wait. Ask everyone when their tree goes up and see how many different answers you get. Bonus round: who has the most decorations in storage?
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which decorating habit is more about the neighbors than the holiday?
- When is the right time to put up a Christmas tree?
- What is the best decorated house you have ever seen?
- What decorating habit would you add to this card?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
Holiday Decorating: quick answers
When should you put up a Christmas tree?
There is no rule. Many families put up their tree after Thanksgiving, while others decorate in early November or wait until mid December. The best time is whatever makes your household happy, which is why this question sparks so many fun debates.
How do you hang outdoor Christmas lights safely?
Use lights and extension cords rated for outdoor use, check for damaged wires, and use clips instead of nails. Have someone hold the ladder, avoid power lines and use a timer to save energy. Never overload outlets, and turn lights off when you go to bed.
