I'm sure that we've all seen it in some form or another. Early signs of Christmas, whether in stores or on television. Retailers wanting you to buy buy buy. Holiday music in department stores at the beginning of November. TV specials before Thanksgiving.

I'm not sure about you, but I'm not one to get into the holiday spirit at all until December begins. Christmas does seem to happen earlier and earlier and it's stupid. There's no point except to get people to start buying right away for Christmas. And of course (if they haven't already) they'll start playing Christmas music on the radio tomorrow. I don't listen to the radio, but they did that in high school. They may be doing it earlier, like with music in retail stores. Mom heard them playing it way at the beginning of November.

The thing that irks me (because I tend to see it often) is the television stuff. The commercials seem to have really just gotten started since most retailers wanted their Black Friday ads to show. However, there's been specials on all month. ABC is a big offender. They have a countdown to a countdown. That's just silly. They've been playing Christmas specials as part of their "Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas" which in itself is a countdown to the actual event. Of course, they aren't the only channel guilty. Disney's been doing it too, and other channels that I haven't really paid attention to when I flip through the guide.

What do you think about the earlier and earlier holiday season? Do you feel anywhere near in the spirit when you see early signs of Christmas?

I like an early holiday celebration. Means more early discounts...

WishBear2001 wrote:I like an early holiday celebration. Means more early discounts...

Early discounts usually are because of Black Friday sales first, then holiday sales. Early sales does nothing to show the spirit of the holiday season. Even though there is a huge focus on the Christian aspect of the holiday, what it's really about is giving back and giving to others, expecting nothing in return.

It was particularly aggressive this year as decorations were up way before Halloween. I don't mind early decorations but I'm not ready for Christmas music till the day after Thanksgiving or the week of Thanksgiving if the weather is cold and Christmasy.

I don't shop at malls and big box stores alot and when I do am so focused on what I'm getting or who I'm with that it doesn't bother me one bit. I do feel sorry for the employees there though.

It bothers me. I hate seeing Christmas too early. I can't get into the holiday spirit until december, so seeing Christmas already in stores and on t.v. kind of kills it for me

Rainbowbrite84 wrote:It bothers me. I hate seeing Christmas too early. I can't get into the holiday spirit until december, so seeing Christmas already in stores and on t.v. kind of kills it for me

Yeah I know. I always skip the channels that have the movies. I don't feel like watching a movie for a holiday that at the time was over a month away!

Mom doesn't really get into the holiday spirit and decorating much anymore. She says it's because it's more fun as a parent to decorate and create memories for young kids and to bask in the glow of the magic the children feel. She loved buying gifts for us back then. Now that her kids are 19+ (save for my 15 year old sister), it feels pretty different to her. She's still giving us gifts, but it's moreso along the lines of "Here's x amount of money. Buy what you want and I can wrap it. Give me a list of things if you want me to pick from it for you. If you don't use all the money, it's yours to keep."

my mom doesn't like to do christmas decorating early, but oddly enough when I was little I actually felt like her being that way ruined my christmas spirit rather than make it more special. I guess because I was all excited for christmas and her saying "no, its too early" made me feel shot down.

I can't officially get into the spirit of the season, until about December as well. the early Christmas stuff is pretty much a marketing push. It's really sad. Any real meaning to the holiday is lost in the attempt to make money off of it. I find holidays are a great time to spend time with your family and everyone else you care about.

When the right time comes around I can be in the spirit.