All year Christmas

They have to make room for their other stuff during the rest of the year. But I do hear what you're saying. I used to love to go to Hallmark after Halloween and look at the decorations and the fancy stuff they had. I even bought all my presents there last year. New great grandson and all.

I think it would be better if stores waited until after Thanksgiving, or maybe even December 1st. It makes Christmas less special, for one thing, if it's always available.

I agree with you..it's just gotten ridiculous. It used to be that after Thanksgiving all the Christmas stuff got put out. Then it gradually crept to a little before Thanksgiving which was ok for those that wanted to get an early start but now..we haven't even got through Columbus day and it's already out. It's like pressure to those who can't afford it. I refuse to buy into it. We all exchange gifts but that isn't what it's all about. We don't go overboard on the spending and focus more on the family and friend get-togethers. I love the season but I can't afford and won't go into debt to buy a lot of gifts. My kids were not raised to look at Christmas as a time to get costly things and I told them the truth regarding Santa at a very young age. There was no need to make a big list and get their hopes up and then be disappointed. The gifts they got were from me because I loved them and it was just one part of Christmas that was fun but certainly not the only thing. Far from it!

You are right! It is a shame. They do this so we buy now and later again. I think shoving holidays is wrong but of course businesses do not care. As long as they get our money that is all that matters. It is ridiculous but there is nothing we can do.

I'm someone who spreads the Christmas shopping for gifts, food and drink over a few months to help me budget and not struggle to find a large amount of money in December. So I like it that there are food and drink already in the shops for me to purchase, but I do think that the decorations shouldn't be in the shops until November.

Actually now that you mention it, I have noticed that stores have started to stock up for the Christmas holiday a bit earlier than usual. Normally they don't start putting things up till after Halloween. Just the other day, I went into Bj's and they have their halloween items stocked up and right behind it they also have Christmas, I looked at my hubby and asked him "Isn't it a bit early for Christmas?" Personally I am still shopping for Halloween, my kids still need their outfits. I guess they start putting in shelves maybe last years inventory which they weren't able to sell, that's just my personal opinion.

That is a very good question, and something I've often thought about. I sell products from a catalogue, so my family buys from me, rather than from a store. My catalogue offers all kinds of great holiday decorations, cards, wrap, etc. Before I started selling, we'd all buy sale items on boxing day, thus eliminating the need to buy Christmas stuff, alltogether.

Getting that way with all holiday. August comes out the Halloween stuff, October the Thanksgiving stuff AND the Christmas stuff, and December is the Valentines Day stuff and Feb is Easter stuff. It is annoying as it just drags out the holiday in a bad way. But the time it gets here... I'm tired of it! Granted I like to drag them out to the last minute while actually "having" the holiday...but before is just to much. I like to make the day my family has christmas last to the last minute. Open a present every hour or things like that. But I don't like going shopping in October and seeing all the christmas things. I never buy before the holiday..always on the sales after the holiday and am ready for next year!

I suppose that all that is because where you live Christmas has lost its real meaning and has become a race of who gives more and more expensive gifts. If you get into it, you will start shopping as early as possible and getting into debt for it. The way I see it, I buy a little something in the last days of December for the little ones. The rest of my family and friends receive homemade products. I have an apricot tree and I make jam for everyone. I recycle jars all year and make nice labels for them. This year I will have tomatoes too so I will make some tomato chutney as well. As you see, not much money wasted on unneeded gifts, not much time spent at shops.

There's a store on a ski town near hear which is Christmas-themed. I know for a fact that they have Christmas items on their shelves year round. I know that it would be great to have the Christmas spirit all year. And have people experience helping and gift-giving. But I think market people take this to mean literally, and to sell Christmas items year round.