Does it matter when exactly they decorate? Not really. The point is the feeling.
New York skips fall. It goes straight from pumpkin spice to eggnog with zero transition.
That’s what makes it magical and slightly insane. You can be walking to work on November 10th, grumpy, and then you see a 10-foot-tall reindeer made of white lights, and you smile.
It’s a defiant act of joy. A middle finger to the gray November sky.
So, the real answer is: New York starts decorating for Christmas when it feels ready. And that is usually before you are.
Just go with it. Grab a hot pretzel and stare at the chaos. It’s the most wonderful time of the year—starting in mid-November, of course.
