My family doesn't decorate until a week or so before Christmas, and we don't begin celebrating it until Christmas Eve. We observe the Catholic season of Advent in the three to four weeks preceding Christmas, and continue celebrating Christmas into the New Year, since the liturgical season of Christmas continues until the Feast of the Epiphany. Thus, Christmas music and goodies will have to wait about three more weeks. I find it makes the actual day feel more special, but it really depends what traditions you're brought up with.