Does anyone know when the department stores put up their Xmas decorations in Manhattan? Have family coming in around Thanksgiving and told them I thought that was too early to see the stores.

It's hard to make a blanket statement but I've seen some retailers put up Christmas decorations right after Halloween. Since the day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the holiday season it's a good bet that many of the bigger stores will be decorated. Rockefeller Center, though, doesn't light their tree until sometime around the 7th of December.

It seems they go up earlier and earlier each year. My guess is you'll be find around Thanksgiving.

I was there the first few days of December last year and the windows were all decorated. The Christmas tree was lit until a little later though.

I'm not sure about the windows, but the store interiors will be decorated by Thanksgiving.

Known in the retail industry as "Black Friday", many retailers have their stores decorated for the day after Thanksgiving shopping. With only 4 weeks of shopping from that date until Dec. 25th, stores will be decorated.

All of the major stores will be decorated shortly before Thanksgiving - as noted the day after is "Black Friday" - the biggest shopping day of the year - when retailers expect to go into profit for the year. Rock Center tree is not lit unti the first Wed (I think) afterThanksgiving - but check on that - it changes each year.