What I think when seeing Christmas decoractions in stores and on shelves when Halloween is barely over (or even before Halloween)

[Ryan H 3,812]

[indiana_sweetie 120]

me too

[TBoneTX 45,287]

Si, man.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

Stared in late Sept here....

[Darnell 8,478]

I blame the Chinese Exporters.

[canada_socks 97]

I at least understand stores like Micheal's to have stuff out early (our local store had Christmas stuff out in August). Christmas crafting is serious business and lots of things take time to make.

That said, starting next week, after returning from a trip, and before Thanksgiving, I plan to start my Christmas baking and start making our annual pepper jelly, that my husband gives out at work each year. I have too much on my plate with school that I need to start baking early! Since I won't be going home for Christmas this year, I won't be able to eat all the goodies my mom bakes, so I must replicate! I already started buying stuff a month ago (both for the jelly and the goodies, as it is best to spread the cost out).

[Caryh 5,206]

It has long been the tradition in the Philippines to begin celebrating Christmas very early. I think it starts on October 1st? I'd have to double check with my wife. Whoever says Merry Christmas first after said date, gets a gift from whoever they said it to. I just remember my wife waking up one morning and saying it. Needless to say, our home already has Christmas decorations going up. You know the saying, if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. Maybe I can manage to sneak in a turkey somewhere in the mix.

[SAT 9,609]

Ah the power of greed.......

And the largest land owner in NYC is......

The Roman Catholic Church.

[Pooky 3,784]

I'm not so worried about the decorations, as we have a number of friends who decorate early, inside and out, then add the Christmas-specific flourishes once Thanksgiving has been properly digested. Mostly, they want to get the outside stuff done before the snow flies, and it makes no sense to them not to decorate inside at the same time.

Me, I just worry about letting the wife loose among the musical toy section at the store.

[canada_socks 97]

I'm not so worried about the decorations, as we have a number of friends who decorate early, inside and out, then add the Christmas-specific flourishes once Thanksgiving has been properly digested. Mostly, they want to get the outside stuff done before the snow flies, and it makes no sense to them not to decorate inside at the same time.

Me, I just worry about letting the wife loose among the musical toy section at the store.

When I lived in Canada still, I put up the outside lights right after Halloween. I didn't like putting them up in the snow! I didn't turn them on that early though. I made a point to leave the extension cord in the shed until I felt it was time to turn them on!

[NikLR 13,227]

I work in retail. If people did not buy anything Christmas related until December, then stores would not stock it.

Had a lady once who came into my place of work on Easter Sunday. Well in Canada, Good Friday is the holiday. Our assistant manager (who was leaving in a month to work for his church instead) was stopped by a woman waiting in line at the till. She told him it was sad that we were open on Easter Sunday and that day should be for families. Well he said to her, "I understand, I would like to be with my family as well and with my church community. But instead I have to be at work because people like you are here to buy things." And then he walked away. She was flabbergasted of course and wanted to make a complaint when she got to the cashier, but no one had any sympathy for her.

I totally agree with Canada socks too about the crafting supplies. If you were to make homemade cards and gifts, it takes significantly more time than normal store bought.

[100JH 129]

My wife is from Colombia and she just started buying decorations for our first Christmas together a few weeks ago. Since they don't have Thanksgiving there, I guess it is alright? hahahaha They love Halloween and it is more than just one day, people love to party and celebrate in Colombia. They have more holidays than any country I have ever been to, and that is a lot! So? I guess that it is ok to buy Christmas things after Halloween in Colombia.

I am looking forward to my two trips in the next two months. Going to Bogota to be with her for 6 days over the Thanksgiving weekend (I already know we are going to be shopping for Christmas decorations). But the BIG news? My boss told me "Go spend a few weeks with your wife over Christmas break". I booked a 3 week trip, and he approved! "You can work remotely" he said (wink wink). I wont be burning vacation time. So I go down for 6 days, come back to DC for two weeks and then go back to Bogota for three weeks over Christmas and New Years!

I am sure I will contributing to the US, Colombian and Global Christmas economies.