Lets Pretend Its Christmas

It is confusing when there is Christmas stuff and Valentine's Day stuff and St. Patrick's Day stuff AND Easter stuff al on display at the same time. It would be nice if the stores showed better taste, but apparently those days are over, and happily, the high prices went out with the stylishness. I have noticed that the stores that seem to be worst in shoving holiday junk in are faces are the discount stores, so there is a trade-off. I'll take a low price over good taste any day, although I do agree it has gotten way out of hand.

Earlier the stores used to spefically target all communities as per their festivals to market their products, and the various religions and their cultures,practices and dogmas was way beneficial for the stores as a ready made marketing strategy. Now they target the psyche of the innocent child , compelling the parents to buy even when it is far beyond their budget.

Yes, I know exactly what you mean! One year my son's winter coat became so small on him due to a growth spurt that he was miserable wearing the coat. Next the zipper broke and we were forced to replace the coat in February. Guess what? There were no winter coats to be found!! Not even on the clearance racks. All that was in the few stores that we have in this small town was the "New Spring Merchandise!" Here I was searching desperately for a winter coat and it was 20 degreess outside and on the racks were swimsuits, shorts and sleeveless shirts! Grrrrr....

Of course this is ridiculous. At my local grocery store they too are selling easter eggs. I guess some people like to start early and prepare for holidays before the rush starts but yes, it's deifnitely overkill. It's sad to think that these big corporations are taking something as sacred as Easter and putting dollar signs on it. I think people just shouldn't buy any of the prematurely-placed stock so the stores won't bother putting it out early anymore and maybe these special holidays could go back to being just that- special and magical.

Definitely! There were easter eggs in the supermarket before we even got to New Year and that really bugs me! Apart from anything else I think the real reason for the holidays are lost and it is all about what you can buy - how many of us have been in debt as we don't want our kids/friends /families being without proper gifts? Sorry I was about to start a rant all of my own there but I think I caught myself in time! xxx

I understand your point re: Christmas, as it is generally REALLY far away when they start up. But Easter? That is next month. The important religious holidays (to my faith) I decorate for a long time (i.e. Christmas-1 1/2 months, Easter-1 month). However, the "fun" holidays, not so long (Valentines-1 week, St. Patricks's-1week, July 4th-2 weeks, Halloween-2 weeks, Thanksgiving/Fall-segeues from Halloween, 3 weeks). I try to make the other holidays seem not as important, but with their proper place. Personally, I like "Christmas in July". It is one tool that frugal people, like me, can use to save loads of money. I not only purchase inexpensive items, but start creating things as well (actually I start in January). This small beginning of a beautiful season also takes some of the dullness and drudgery out of some people's lives and gives them something to look forward to. It shows them a glimpse of the magical season to come. I know it can be completely looked at from your point of view, as more promotional. I simply choose to look at it not so commercial, but as a reminder that there ARE good things in this not-so-good world. Sometimes we need a reminder.

You are preaching to the preached here my dear friend. I hate all the greedy commercialization that goes on, I was practically up in arms in January when Woolworths had easter eggs stacked up in their shops! Crazy, a few weeks after Christmas, I know Easter is early this year but that's crazy! No I don't want to see Christmas stuff on the shelf the day after Easter Monday! Please NO, spare us. Time goes by far too quickly. It's all greed and the true meaning of holidays has long been forgotten thanks to greedy companies jumping in on the act.

I hate to see things from a previous holiday on display. It seems to get sooner and sooner that they start displaying the Christmas things. You have the Halloween things on display and right in the next isle what do you know there are Christmas items. The stores push the holidays to much. What it is in my book the money that the stores are thinking of. I think the promotion of the holidays has taken all the specialness out of them.

As I work in the retail business, I can say that it is annoying to us too. However, we do it as the companies require us too. However, Easter is actually only 5 or 6 weeks from now so it is necessary to put it out now. I just don't like the fact that Christmas starts in July as we are burned out by it by the time that everyone else seems to be enjoying it. However, take advantage of the sales from the previous season and think of Christams gifts or gifts for that holiday next year. It is nice to get a good deal on something.

In England we have had easter eggs in the shops for about 2 weeks or more, it gets me down because its just another reminder that I have yet more money to spend, and with 4 children of my own and then 4 nephews and nieces it can be quite expensive. It really annoys me how early these things are put on the shelves, it takes the fun out of it all.

I spent three years working in a card store and every august, yes august, the collectible christmas tree ornaments were put up on display, taking up half the side wall of the store with their "buy one get one fifty percent off" sign proudly attatched to various places on the wall. It drove me absolutly completley INSANE, especially when customers would get mad at ME, little old highschool me. I was just the messenger there was no reason to yell at me about the ornaments being put out so early! And even so, the people who always complained about the earliness were the ones who would look at them and then take a catalogue and then come back a week before christmas wondering why there were no "baby's first christmas" ornaments left. Same goes with cards, people comming in fifteen minutes before closing complaining to me 'you ain't got much of a selection dis year have ya?" I totally agree that there is absolutly no need to have merchandise out so early for many of the holidays but it is also not the store clerk's choice to put them out. You have to take it to head office to find out who is to blame for trying to exploit the holidays. That being said, the smart people bought the ornaments and cards they knew would sell out very quickly (baby's first chrismtas, mom and dad cards etc) as soon as they came out and they had it done and over with with no hassle and most likley got a sale on the items.

I agree Katherine, they just seem, to flow from one Holiday to the next, at our local Walgreens the easter stuff is in the display Isle, ready to go. Myself I just waite for the sales to come, because in order to get that next holiday in they have to push the last one out. Usually means 50% to75% off. But I have to agree it really has gotten rediculouse.