Is this the earliest Christmas ever?

[MichaelB]

I was a Costco this morning and they are in full Christmas mode. Artificial trees, ornaments, lights, and an endless display of food and chocolate gift boxes.

It seems so early. If sales per sq. ft. are important I just can’t see how this generates meaningful sales this early. Maybe I’m becoming sn old curmudgeon.

 

[statsman]

At the rate we're going, stores are going to implement permanent Christmas displays in their stores. Not really, but it certainly feels like it.

 

[Aerides]

Went to Costco today, now they've turned the music on the display items that have it.

 

[Koolau]

Costco has had holiday stuff up for weeks - perhaps as soon as labor day? They usually trend earlier than other retailers though, and their holiday stuff disappears often a few weeks before the event.

You cannot roll up on 10/31 and expect halloween candy to still be there, unlike, say, Publix.

Same at our Costco. Earlier every year.

 

[MichaelB]

Last night watching an ad-based streaming show, a Verizon commercial based on a Christmas carol and promoting an iPhone as a Christmas present.

 

[Kings over Queens]

I do not want to hear any holiday music until Thanksgiving,

Thanksgiving Morning, during the Macy's Parade, when Santa hits Macy's. THEN que the Christmas music. Not a second before.

 

[EastWest Gal]

I’m in community band, and we’re rehearsing for Christmas concerts. I don’t mind the stores starting early, since if you are doing Christmas, you need to buy stuff before Christmas. I don’t need to buy anything though.

We do a few presents, and put lottery ticket scratchers in our stockings. No little kids in our life right now. Christmas with kids 10 and under is a delight.

 

[pacergal]

Hallmark has had Christmas movies on even in July!

A couple radio stations here have already started Christmas music. At least they waited until after Halloween!

 

[athena53]

I just listened to a podcast interview with the CEO of Starbucks. He'd been in one of their stores yesterday or the day before (11/1 or 11/2) for the beginning of the "holiday" season so all the staff had red aprons. Yeah, we all know what "holiday" means. Out with the Pumpkin Spice, in with the Gingerbread Chai.

I remember when the newspapers used to post the number of shopping days till Christmas starting the day after Thanksgiving. They'd have to start a lot earlier now.

 

[MichaelB]

Hallmark has had Christmas movies on even in July!

This is wrong on every level.

A couple radio stations here have already started Christmas music. At least they waited until after Halloween!

I remember when thinking Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving was early.

I just listened to a podcast interview with the CEO of Starbucks. He'd been in one of their stores yesterday or the day before (11/1 or 11/2) for the beginning of the "holiday" season so all the staff had red aprons. Yeah, we all know what "holiday" means. Out with the Pumpkin Spice, in with the Gingerbread Chai.

I remember when the newspapers used to post the number of shopping days till Christmas starting the day after Thanksgiving. They'd have to start a lot earlier now.

Last night I watched a show on Amazon Freevee. First commercial was Starbucks Christmas edition.

After 3 years of ad-free tv viewing I’ve started watching a bit of ad-supported tv and am finding it unbearable.

 

[MichaelB]

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, this past weekend at Whole Foods Market I saw Christmas trees for sale. I don’t know who buys a tree this early, in most cases it wouldn’t make it to Christmas.

 

[Ronstar]

decorated my workshop for Christmas yesterday. That is the earliest that I've decorated.

 

[Gumby]

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, this past weekend at Whole Foods Market I saw Christmas trees for sale. I don’t know who buys a tree this early, in most cases it wouldn’t make it to Christmas.

There are trees for sale outside my regular grocery, and they've been there for at least a week.

 

[aja8888]

I'm being a bit Bah, Humbug this year as it's my first holiday period without DW and her kids/grands in a long time. Plus, I kind of moved away a bit and everything is new, including my new dog. So, I will not decorate at all. My daughter will decorate her house and that's where I will visit Xmas day.

 

[Gumby]

We have de minimis decorations inside the house, because we have feline criminals living with us. I will put out a string of simple white lights outside on the big wrap-around porch, just to light up the neighborhood during the winter darkness. A lot of people on our street do the same and it always improves the mood.

 

[Car-Guy]

I was "told today" that the outside Christmas Decorations go up this Friday. That means I'm putting them up. (There goes two naps) And next Wednesday we are getting the tree. That means I'm driving ~100 miles (round trip) to pick out a tree. (There goes another couple of naps) Then I've got to drag all the tree decorations out. (That's another lost nap)

I measure lot's of "honey do's" these days in lost naps.

No sense in saying anything. Just grin and bear it or I might miss a few more naps.

 

[Walt34]

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, this past weekend at Whole Foods Market I saw Christmas trees for sale. I don’t know who buys a tree this early, in most cases it wouldn’t make it to Christmas.

Who else but the federal government? Well, to be accurate the tree is donated, but there was an article yesterday in the local paper about the national Christmas tree stopping in Harper's Ferry, WV for some sort of ceremony. I just glanced at the headline & photo. Then it goes on to the mall.

 

[audreyh1]

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, this past weekend at Whole Foods Market I saw Christmas trees for sale. I don’t know who buys a tree this early, in most cases it wouldn’t make it to Christmas.

I thought that these days (last few decades) people bought and put up their Christmas trees on the weekend after Thanksgiving.

 

[Badger]

We haven't had a Christmas tree in about 20 years due to no kids at home anymore and to cats living with us. But last year I tried again and bought a tree. I was shocked at the prices. I wound up with a tree that was no more than 4 feet tall at a $40 price tag. I wanted a 6 foot tree but they were at least $100. That won't happen anymore.
As much as having some decorations in the house for the holidays was always a nice way to celebrate I am no longer inclined. It has just become another day. Even gift giving has lost it's meaning when it is no more than exchanging lists of what you want people to buy for you. The grown children and grandchildren are all grown adults so we just give them a check. How unChristmas does it get.
After giving the Christmas checks to the kids I'll celebrate by donating to abused women's shelters and animal rescue shelters.

Cheers!

 

[hausfrau]

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, this past weekend at Whole Foods Market I saw Christmas trees for sale. I don’t know who buys a tree this early, in most cases it wouldn’t make it to Christmas.

Sounds about right. We always get our tree the Friday after Thanksgiving (regardless of the calendar date). We buy a Frasier Fir and they last until at least New Year's Day when I take it down.

 

[athena53]

I'm being a bit Bah, Humbug this year as it's my first holiday period without DW and her kids/grands in a long time. Plus, I kind of moved away a bit and everything is new, including my new dog. So, I will not decorate at all. My daughter will decorate her house and that's where I will visit Xmas day.

I'm that way, too, but not bah, humbug. I have a door wreath and that's about it. I'm a practicing Christian so I do observe Advent and Christmas- in fact, I'm preaching on Advent 2 (December 10). I'll be with DS, DDIL and the kids on Christmas.

Advent calendars- a pet peeve. Advent begins on Advent 1, which is Sunday, December 3 this year, NOT on December 1 which is when all the calendars start! ( I did get the kids one with chocolate anyway.)

Inflatables: they're crazy-expensive! I look at some yards surrounding modest little houses and do the mental math and wonder if they've saved for their retirement and their kids' college. The grandkids like to drive around and look at them, though.

 

[audreyh1]

We don’t decorate for Christmas. Last year we got a couple of large poinsettias and they looked great in the courtyard, but the prevailing winds eventually tore them up. This year I think we’ll pass. DH and I are just not into holiday traditions.

 

[ERD50]

We have de minimis decorations inside the house, because we have feline criminals living with us. ...

Solution:

-ERD50

 

[hausfrau]

We have de minimis decorations inside the house, because we have feline criminals living with us. I will put out a string of simple white lights outside on the big wrap-around porch, just to light up the neighborhood during the winter darkness. A lot of people on our street do the same and it always improves the mood.

Our cat is older, so not an issue anymore, but I'll never forget when I came home and our large tree was on the ground and most my glass ornaments were smashed. I'm still not sure how she managed to do that. I wish I had some video footage.

We always leave our porch lights up until the snow melts. Usually that's around Easter. Most of our neighbors do the same. I've always liked that.

 

[pacergal]

Neighbors put up their holiday lights and decorations last week--I can always time it, the first sunny, dry day after Halloween, up they go! At least they don't turn them on until after Thanksgiving.
Saw my first Christmas tree tied to the roof of a car yesterday, and a bunch of garland and wreaths in the floral area of the local grocery store.

Our lights and decorations go up after Thanksgiving. This year, our tree will need to be up on a table due to the puppy.
Fall and winter holidays are my favorite time of the year.