mairead
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When should Xmas begin officially.I noticed the first decorated trees in shop window as early as the first week in November just after Halloween.
I also remember a time when festive street lights were lit just two weeks before Xmas.
Do any of the rest of you think Xmas is coming a mite too early these days?
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Jimbo
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Re: When should Xmas begin officially. | mairead wrote: | I noticed the first decorated trees in shop window as early as the first week in November just after Halloween.
I also remember a time when festive street lights were lit just two weeks before Xmas.
Do any of the rest of you think Xmas is coming a mite too early these days? |
You bet it is. Back in March someone came into my wife's shop and told her that ASDA had a sign up proclaiming '300 shopping days left till Xmas'.
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Reluctant Hero
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Think it is all to do with money.
There is no big event for the shops to push in November, so they start advertising Christmas early.
January / February - advertise St Valentine's Day
February/March - advertise St Patrick's Day (which is inexplicibly more popular than St Andrew's Day) and Mother's Day
March/April - advertise Easter
April/June - advertise Father's Day
July/August - everyone is on holiday
September/October - advertise Hallowe'en
November/December - advertise Christmas
Probably missed one or two events, but I'm sure the shops will let me know what I should be buying when the time comes around 
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kathyv
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I once went into a store that was setting out Christmas decorations in AUGUST! Terrible!
It doesn't feel 'special' and there isn't any anticipation when things start hitting you so early, even if it's before the middle of November, it all feels too soon and just serves to annoy me. I don't like being annoyed by Christmas!
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mairead
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It must be a nightmare for mothers of young kids who keep on asking in November,
"When will it be Xmas mam"
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carol
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I'm not a fan of christmas, only make the effort for the kids, there's too much hype and too much expense surrounding it these days.
I remember getting a walkie talkie doll and a tangerine one year  kids nowadays expect far far too much
my boys age from 4 - 14 so christmas is still special for the youngest
I've banned console and mobiles from their christmas list, consoles the kids have a strange addiction too, and mobiles they think they can change like water (think that's the saying  )
Carol
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mairead
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Well done in controlling the Xmas list Carol.
I know a single mum of 4 who went into debt to the tune of £2000 just to make sure her kids got everything they wanted, like £75 trainers play stations etc. The following Xmas she was still paying up the previous one.
If more parents took a stand, there would be less per pressure on the kids.
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ladyinthemists
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I definitely agree with all of you. Shops begin putting out their Christmas stuff right after Halloween. That's the time, at least here in the States, that the Thanksgiving holiday should begin being promoted. Christmas advertisements, decorations and so forth ought to begin no sooner than November 30th. I think that kathyv is absolutely right....when it starts so much too soon, the anticipation and "special-ness" is lost. And Christmas has really gotten far and away too commercial for my taste....and often times downright tacky. I have already seen one home locally that has all of their Christmas decorations, including fully decorated tree and lawn ornaments, up. Now that's just waaay too danged early.
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Celtic Indian
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12 days before and finishing 12 days after.Isn't that suppose to be the traditional way ?
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mairead
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Aye Celtic Indian. You are right there. It would be so much nicer if shops, TV company's etc. stuck to that
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sgmillerton
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christmas is now just a prostitute. the greedy get greedier, the smug get smugger and the unhappy and lonely just get sadder and more lonely. a disgusting time of year.
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Holebender
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In defence of early Christmas promotions... we send cards and some presents to relatives in Australia and Canada and these need to be posted away in November to get there in time, so it's good to be able to buy some Christmassy stuff before the post office deadlines.
All our Christmas decorations went up (though nothing plugged in) a week ago because I was leaving for work in west Africa and not due back until the week before Christmas.
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mairead
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Oh my SG,
You sound like a very lonely person. While I hate to see it come so early, I do love the bustle, the noise and the light etc. I love to listen to the Salvation Army bands too.
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sgmillerton
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| mairead wrote: | Oh my SG,
You sound like a very lonely person. While I hate to see it come so early, I do love the bustle, the noise and the light etc. I love to listen to the Salvation Army bands too. |
i'm not lonely i can just see through the selfishness of what x/mas has become. i have actually requested to work through x/mas and boxing day and new year as well, which i'am, it has been confirmed and i can avoid the whole festival of greed.
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Celtic Indian
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| sgmillerton wrote: | | christmas is now just a prostitute. the greedy get greedier, the smug get smugger and the unhappy and lonely just get sadder and more lonely. a disgusting time of year. |
100% with you on that one.It nothing more than a big marketing ploy in order to extract our hard earned money from us by making us feel guilty,or cheapsakes for not taking part (the 'bah humbug' Scrooge mentality enforced on to us).It amasing how many people are not actually practicing Christians who celebrate it.And the worst thing is,is that the marketing ploy uses ours kids to get the money from us.
Personally,I don't buy any xams presents for anyone and I don't want anyone to buy any xmas presents for me.I rather give the money to charity as thats what St. Nicholas's original done.Gave gift to the needy.
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Holebender
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A midwinter festival long predates Christianity. We all need cheering up in the darkest days of the year and that's what Christmas is all about. I'm an atheist and I celebrate and enjoy Christmas for what it is; a time of good cheer in an otherwise dreich time of year.
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Celtic Indian
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The question asks 'when should xmas begin ?' My answer is it shouldn't.Get rid of it.Its a load of tosh.It shloud be replaced with something more appropriate.It should be given the same attention as Easter.Or even less.Should only be celebrated if your practicing Christian.
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Blackadder
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We celebrate Yule in the Blackadder Mansion. My father was a ver good friend of Mr Brynner!
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mairead
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Do you buy your serfs a gift at this season of goodwill then?
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Blackadder
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You are showing a very high stupidity quotient today, Mairead. Have you had a head trauma recently?
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mairead
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No my dear BA, simply matching your own intelligence quotient. One has to repond to others in the language and tone they understand.
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Blackadder
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Well ... you missed again there, didn't you? The only thing we have in common is the number 400. The first is the figure of my IQ ... while the second is your weight in in Imperial poundage!
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