This morning (November 1st) I spotted my first Christmas tree in the window of a local charity shop. At the station there were Christmas themed magazines on the bookstand including ‘30 Christmas Finishing Touches’. (Unbelievably we’re onto finishing touches already …)
When I was a child - which, admittedly is a fair while ago, we didn’t use to decorate the tree until Christmas Eve so the thought of seven more weeks of non-stop Christmas merchandising (then 2-3 weeks of the sales after that) really freaks me out. But maybe some of you welcome the prompt to get organised early rather than leaving everything till the last minute?
For me it’s made Christmas a little less magical but what about you? Have you started your Christmas preparations yet?
Far too early, deprives us all of the 'magic 'of Christmas. With careful planning all can be sorted in the 2 weeks before the event, and it remains special. Enjoy it when it arrives, best wishes, David
Even the idea that you won’t get a delivery slot or a turkey if you don’t book by mid-November has got a bit out of hand! But yes, I will enjoy it nearer the time
Christmas toys and chocolates have already sneaked their way into my local supermarket in France, am trying to blank them out! Luckily our daughter's birthday is 15th December so Christmas never starts before then...she insists on it and she's right!
I kind of hate it. All the holidays elide into one massive, continuous marketing spree, and then Christmas is this huge END instead of a beginning. Home wise, we’ve been much happier with old-school Advent/12 days of Christmas (in keeping with our religious tradition, not to put it on anyone else) because that way we’re still excited about Christmas on Christmas, and it winds down naturally instead of ending abruptly.
Way to early. What happened to Thanksgiving- it’s been abandoned! I never do anything for Xmas until after Tday. It’s become tooooo commercialized. Instead of enjoying the season - I’m frazzled, as well as the little ones. Stop -breathe -reflect. What is this holiday really about?
It gets EARLIER EVERY YEAR. Retailers have xmas products heavily discounted AND on sale, early in December SO as to make as MUCH money AND PROFIT as possible from the EVER increasing gullible public, WHO CONTINUE TO THINK THAT IF ITS IN A SALE OR THE PRICE IS REDUCED, IT MUST BE CHEAP.
THE retailer's ARE STILL MAKING A PROFIT EVEN AT THE SALE OR REDUCED PRICE.
WILL PEOPLE NEVER LEARN???????
CHRISTMAS IS JUST ANOTHER OVER COMMERCIALISED SCAM, JUST LIKE EASTER AND VALENTINES.
Try not to think about Christmas too soon, though do get in some early goodies and drinks especially if they are on offer. Unfortunately they often get consumed before Christmas so I end up having to buy them again. Not very cost effective!
I'm fine with it starting around 1 December especially when people put up lights - it's often getting so dark then I appreciate it lifting my spirits on walks. Any earlier and I also get a bit 'but it's not Christmas yet' - I was the same this month with Halloween. However, I think with postal strikes it might be a good idea to start preparing early if people are getting new things, or if sending gifts.
Things I'm grateful from going up in the States - you don't see a ton of holiday stuff until after Thanksgiving! But for me 1 December is the day I'm allowed to play my Feliz Navidad playlist and start eating mince pies.
Yes, riduculous that christmas sweets, cakes, mice pies etc started appearing in shops in september many with BBE dates in nov! Always used to be after bonfire night bht now its even before Haloween. Bristol Christmas market started yesterday too, replete with Santas, carols etc (though it was a nice thing to visit on last day of our trip admittedly). I think the extendes buildup just takes away from the actual event
Finishing touches made me laugh out loud. I’m a huge fan of Christmas but not until mid December
I KNOW! Nuts!
Far too early, deprives us all of the 'magic 'of Christmas. With careful planning all can be sorted in the 2 weeks before the event, and it remains special. Enjoy it when it arrives, best wishes, David
Even the idea that you won’t get a delivery slot or a turkey if you don’t book by mid-November has got a bit out of hand! But yes, I will enjoy it nearer the time
Christmas toys and chocolates have already sneaked their way into my local supermarket in France, am trying to blank them out! Luckily our daughter's birthday is 15th December so Christmas never starts before then...she insists on it and she's right!
Always thought that France was rather better than the UK in that respect but maybe not, nowadays?
I kind of hate it. All the holidays elide into one massive, continuous marketing spree, and then Christmas is this huge END instead of a beginning. Home wise, we’ve been much happier with old-school Advent/12 days of Christmas (in keeping with our religious tradition, not to put it on anyone else) because that way we’re still excited about Christmas on Christmas, and it winds down naturally instead of ending abruptly.
Love an advent calendar, I must say, but again it doesn't kick off until December 1st
Way to early. What happened to Thanksgiving- it’s been abandoned! I never do anything for Xmas until after Tday. It’s become tooooo commercialized. Instead of enjoying the season - I’m frazzled, as well as the little ones. Stop -breathe -reflect. What is this holiday really about?
precisely. Should be about family get togethers not a mega two month spending spree!
I saw mince pies in the shops in September! My wife banned me from buying them 😂
Quite right too! 😂
It gets EARLIER EVERY YEAR. Retailers have xmas products heavily discounted AND on sale, early in December SO as to make as MUCH money AND PROFIT as possible from the EVER increasing gullible public, WHO CONTINUE TO THINK THAT IF ITS IN A SALE OR THE PRICE IS REDUCED, IT MUST BE CHEAP.
THE retailer's ARE STILL MAKING A PROFIT EVEN AT THE SALE OR REDUCED PRICE.
WILL PEOPLE NEVER LEARN???????
CHRISTMAS IS JUST ANOTHER OVER COMMERCIALISED SCAM, JUST LIKE EASTER AND VALENTINES.
Hi all
Try not to think about Christmas too soon, though do get in some early goodies and drinks especially if they are on offer. Unfortunately they often get consumed before Christmas so I end up having to buy them again. Not very cost effective!
All the best
I think that’s what all the retailers are hoping!
I'm fine with it starting around 1 December especially when people put up lights - it's often getting so dark then I appreciate it lifting my spirits on walks. Any earlier and I also get a bit 'but it's not Christmas yet' - I was the same this month with Halloween. However, I think with postal strikes it might be a good idea to start preparing early if people are getting new things, or if sending gifts.
Fair point! And I must admit I put up my Christmas tree earlier than I used to too. But not now!
Things I'm grateful from going up in the States - you don't see a ton of holiday stuff until after Thanksgiving! But for me 1 December is the day I'm allowed to play my Feliz Navidad playlist and start eating mince pies.
Love a good Xmas playlist!
Yes, riduculous that christmas sweets, cakes, mice pies etc started appearing in shops in september many with BBE dates in nov! Always used to be after bonfire night bht now its even before Haloween. Bristol Christmas market started yesterday too, replete with Santas, carols etc (though it was a nice thing to visit on last day of our trip admittedly). I think the extendes buildup just takes away from the actual event
Totally with you there, Steve