Decorating traditions sure have changed. I remember being a kid and begging my mom to start hauling out the attic boxes of holiday cheer. When I was small, she always had the same reply: "Not until December 7th. Not until Saint Nicholas Day is over!" As the years went by, she relented and let me start decorating earlier in the month.

Undoubtedly, when she was a child, the date was even later, and traditionally, decorating for Christmas only occurred on the twenty-fourth. But nowadays, it's time to get tree shopping before all the decent examples are gone. To help you get in the mood, listen to Marian and Jim Jordan perform their beloved radio characters of Fibber McGee and Molly. In December of 1943, they waited last minute to get a tree, met with rude results, and ultimately saw a wondrous sight (on their own porch). Enjoy!