There is no official city ordinance, but there is a sacred, unspoken rule. Decorating crews treat the calendar like a starting pistol. The moment October 31st ends, they are out there with ladders and extension cords, grumbling about how hard it is to untangle lights while still wearing a skeleton costume.
Major department stores, like the iconic Macy’s, don't mess around. Their window displays are being planned in March, like a secret military operation. But the actual light-hanging? That usually kicks off in early November, making your neighbor’s blow-up Santa look like a slacker.
The Pilgrims of the Peak
Why so early? Tradition, tourism, and pure madness. The city wants to milk every single dollar out of the holiday season. In New York, "the holidays" doesn't start on Black Friday; it starts the second the Halloween candy is 50% off.
There is also the simple fact that hanging 500,000 tiny bulbs on a skyscraper takes a while. We're not talking about your dad's string of sagging lights on the porch. We’re talking about electricians who need to be harnessed like mountain climbers. It’s a serious job, and the weather in December is brutal, so they go up when the wind isn't trying to steal your soul.
