Is it too soon for the holiday sales, commercials and decorations?
 

I was in my mall within the last week and the mall was already festive. Santa Claus began making appearances on the 11th. I remember the days when Christmas didn't exist until the week of Thanksgiving. I am irked with this hastening of the holiday selling season, even if retailers need to find ways to stretch their margins, et. al. But part of the fun of the holidays is that it comes around once a year and it is special; it doesn't need to be a 8 week long affair. What say you?

I can say that they've successfully brainwashed me. I've been listening to Christmas music for about a week now (and I guarantee I'll be sick of it by Christmas), I'm worried about shopping, and I'm jumping the gun on pretty much everything Christmas.

I hate that they rush the season. It's still 50 out here, and it's ridiculous to think about Christmas when it hasn't even hit Turkey Day yet.

After Black Friday, though - I'm game.

I was kind of shocked upon seeing Santa Claus at the mall the other day. Used to be that they at least let you have Thanksgiving. Now they're cramming holdiday sales down our throats right after Halloween. Its more than a little sad if you ask me, but what can ya do? =\

I personally find it annoying. It means I can't go to the mall without having to push myself through crowds of people for two months. I mean, it's November. I wish there was some kind of a big holiday in November that could place a wall for the early Christmas decorations and merchandises.

Christmas... the peek of rotten capitalism. Just about every major (christian) feasts have become commercial: x-mas, easter, st.valentine...

And yes, decorations have come too early. Heard on november first, on the radio: "It's time to put away your pumpkins and to make your gifts list". No kdding

They've already started playing Christmas music on the radio. In November.

Not entirely in defense of the season, but I know that if I don't make my lists and get shopping done early, I won't have enough money for everyone.

I sincerely have to spread everything out in order to be able to afford everything I have to buy for my people.

I think th industry knows this about people and tries to cash in on it. ;_;

I love Christmas. Christmas has always been a big thing in my family for the longest time. So ofcourse I'm going to be really into it too.

But the way Christmas has been pushed earlier and earlier every year has to stop. It is the only holiday now that pushes itself onto other holidays. First it was Thanksgiving and now it's Halloween as well. Yeah, they had Christmas stuff up in OCTOBER, before Halloween.

It really annoys the hell out of me. I miss the days of old Christmas when you didn't see a hint of it untill Thanksgiving day. When they would have Santa come by in a parade at the very end. Then the Christmas stuff would start going up that week after Thanksgiving.

But no, it's gotta start as early as possible so stores and companies can make their holiday profits as early as possible. I just try to avoid any stores that have Christmas stuff up too early. I'm just glad that for my family and neighbors Christmas doesn't start untill after Thanksgiving.

Wow am I glad the radio stations here in San Diego are too cheap to play any Christmas music untill 1 week before Christmas. D:

I can't complain that the only period of time when The Pogues' A Fairy Tale in New York is allowed to be played is steadily swallowing up more and more of the year, every year. It also means I can break out the Xmas NiGHTS earlier.

There is a house close to work that has its xmas lights on. Where I come from you do not see a single light lit until about 3-5 days before xmas eve.

It's not too early to start shopping, but it's definitely too early to start having Santa in the mall and going whole-hog into the decorations. Waaaay too early.

Can we at least wait until Thanksgiving? Maybe?

Too soon, I think - and yet being the kind of person who knows I'll procrastinate until it's too late, I tend to try to get my Christmas shopping done early. So if they're already having amazing holiday sales, I'm game. Bring on early Christmas festivity, so long as I save money.

I'll be making a number of gifts this year to save on some money, so I won't have to deal too much with the holiday shopping craze.

That being said, what the hell happened to the mad shopping rushses and sales starting on Black Friday?? Holiday stuff is already up, sales are already on, and the shopping malls are already jammed packed every day (forget about even going near that area on a weekend). It used to be that the day after Thanksgiving was the official start of the shopping season, but this year its come early. Makes going out anywhere a pain in the ass.

From a recent journal entry:

And I've not even thought about doing any Christmas shopping yet.

So yeah, I think that it is definitely way too early for the decorations, and music to be coming out.

I don't know about the rest of you, but for a few years now I have noticed seeing shops in my area start their Christmas sales starting anywhere between late September to early November. So, no, it's actually late starting from the looks of it. Luckily this year, it hasn't been so bad so far, but still... :D

I don't really mind about them starting early-october christmas festivities. It gives me more incentive to start buying presents now while I have ideas and money. Although you do start to think "why god why, it's not even been Halloween yet!", and yes, there is a limit to how many times you can listen to christmas songs.

Philippines has holiday preps by late September so I don't see this as surprising.

But seriously though, it irks me out that the holidays should start out THIS early even.

I was walking into Walgreens yesterday, and there were the "holiday" collections. I don't really mind it, but I do think it's a bit early

You know it's bad that the day after Halloween, all of the decorations are replaced with Christmas decorations in malls and stores.

Personally, I love the holiday season, but... November 1st is a little early.

I have gotten so used to November 1st being the first day of everything being Christmas that I don't think its to early for it. Its a very festive season, might as well get it started as early as possible.

Ugh, yeah, I was in the shops the other day and they were drilling Christmas music into my head. You can't escape that, not even in the toilets! They're even selling the bloody gigantic Christmas chocolates, hey look the packaging has Santa on it that makes it Christmas chocolates! IT'S FUCKING SUMMER. Who's gonna buy those now? "Sure hope the kids don't find these stored in the fridge for a month!"

I say let the business be a business. If people in general were truly irked about the decorations and music playing, then the businesses would see a drop in sales of that merchandise.

All that matters is that the people close to me do things the way they should be, in my eyes. Every year is a joy simply because of my family. Stores can't make me unhappy, and an early holiday season can't make me unhappy. All I care about is 24 hour Christmas Story on TBS on the Eve. If that ever changes, I'll be sad then :)

My family's the kind of family that's all about the Christmas season. We start as soon as we can.

Last year Christmas seemed kinda like a second thought everywhere. I don't even remember it at vividly as other christmas seasons. This year i'm very happy to see there's no lack of build to christmas.

Ever since I can remember, my mom emphasized how important it is to shop for Christmas all year. So, in my mind, it's never too early to prepare for the holidays. Still, I always feel bad for Thanksgiving.

I'm not much of a shopper, and my family doesn't do any sort of Christmas decorations or anything. But for some reason the commercials, decorations, and music (in VERY small doses) always cheer me up a bit for however long they're around for.

I think it's fine if it all starts in mid-to-late November, but seeing Christmas stuff in stores in October is completely ridiculous.

As a person who doesn't really observe holidays except for their secular benefits, I find the increasing trend to start holiday seasons early very annoying.

I'm still more on the traditionalist belief that holiday seasons should not interfere with eachother, so that means Christmas time should start right after Thanksgiving. Anytime sooner is just jumping the gun and diminishing the importance of other holidays.

Sometimes a little context goes a long way.

My store had Christmas music playing two Saturdays ago, and had wreaths over the doors and such right after Halloween. Santa just came to the mall on the 9th. :( I'm not ready for another wonderful holiday season in retail.

I haven't done any shopping either. I have no idea what to get people. ;___;

Absolutely...ppl are complete morons when it comes to shopping at this time of year.

Around my place most shops put up a pittance of thanksgiving decorations that quickly disappear and is rapidly replaced with a profuse amount of Christmas decorations the moment thanksgiving rolls over.

Santa was at our mall the day before Thanksgiving, though I'm sure he was there a while before that.

I mean, I guess they do the commercials to prep up for the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday), and the millions of sales going on that day.

I'm getting tired of the Garmin commercials though...



We have a Christmas Store in one of the cities next to mine - obviously the store gets busier this time of year, but I could never understand why people would go to that store in July.

Depends. I personally think its a great time of the year to buy stuff. (Great bundles and what not) But then again, alot of people will wait for the last minute to buy the gifts anyway.

I live in a city now and the decorations in the mall and santa began to show up a few days after Halloween. For commercials and mall decorations I would prefer it start in December.

In my community you would not see a single light lit or tree put up at least by the 21st. That is the way I like it. My brother and his wife put their tree up last night. Mine wont go up till the 21st (i am pagen and I put up a Yule tree)

yeah, these days, right after Halloween is when you'll see Christmas decorations up, the stores and retailers need to start squeezing every penny out. actually, it's even detailed in a Calvin and Hobbes strip once:

http://calvinandhobbes.kabaal.net/?day=19861101

Nowadays, I prefer the tradition of the Holiday Season starting on Thanksgiving, meaning no decorations until Thanksgiving is over. When I was younger though I didn't care, since I had my Xmas List finished by September.

It doesn't make sense that they're pressuring Christmas on us so hard.

I find it funny when Halloween hasn't even ended, and they're already talking about getting prepared for Christmas.

I'm not one to bitch about "being prepared," but its getting ridiculous.

The neighborhoods in my hometown tend to put lights up during Thanksgiving weekend. I know my parents put up their tree after they finished their Black Friday shopping.

Personally I don't mind it but it's still too early to be preparing for christmas. I think they should start around late November.