[Brad]

So I thought.

I was driving home from work half an hour ago and what do I hear on the radio?

Christmas music.

It wasn't just a song of two; one of the stations has already switched over to 24-hour Christmas, err, "holiday season" music. Now, I don't mind Christmas music at all, but isn't it a little early for that? We just got past Halloween and Thanksgiving isn't for another three weeks. Christmas is more than half a season away.

What's even crazier? Several weeks ago (early October) I was at the mall and they'd already set up a whole section of Sears with Christmas decorations. Giant inflatable yard stuff, big candy canes, lights galore, trees, nativity trinkets, the whole nine yards.

To quote Seinfeld, "What is it with these people?"

Have you been inundated yet with the Christmas Commercialism Machine? How early do you think is too early for this business?

[Kickaha]

Dec 21 is too early in my book. :P

Pre-Thanksgiving would be a hanging offense in KickahaWorld.

[Brad]

Kick, be sure to tune into 93.9 FM the next time you're in the car. It should pick up out there in Chapel Hell.

[Ebby]

Pre-Thanksgiving is simply too early. I've already blacklisted Ross. Who's next?

[billybobsky]

I hate Christmas-time enough as is...

[L'Angelo Misterioso]

Originally Posted by billybobsky I hate Christmas-time enough as is...

jeez, why?

I love christmas time. It brings out the best in so many people and is just generally a very fun time of year.

I wish my radio had a christmas station already.

[DMBand0026]

I love Christmas, but when my Local Wal-Mart sets up their Christmas stuff in early October (yes, it really was early October) it kind of cheapens the whole thing. I like to get into the whole Christmas spirit, but not until after Thanksgiving. It's sad how Halloween and Thanksgiving get walked all over in favor of Christmas just because the retailers want to make the biggest profit.

L'Angelo Misterioso, check iTunes radio for Christmas music.

[holbox]

Nothing new about this early Christmas promotion!

40 years ago I was a young new Senior Exec with the R H Macy Company and every year sat in on meetings where I took the stance that our customers hated seeing Christmas decor before Thanksgiving. Although I wasn't alone most just sat there and let me rave on.

But ........ the big boys insisted that the trees go up, so up they went.

I still say we were wrong then and they are still wrong today!

I honestly believe that you younger guys are not familiar with the truly "magic time" that Christmas was when it suddenly "sprang up" after Thanksgiving and gave real meaning to the Holidays.

DAMN SHAME!

[sunrain]

Originally Posted by DMBand0026 I love Christmas, but when my Local Wal-Mart sets up their Christmas stuff in early October (yes, it really was early October) it kind of cheapens the whole thing. I like to get into the whole Christmas spirit, but not until after Thanksgiving. It's sad how Halloween and Thanksgiving get walked all over in favor of Christmas just because the retailers want to make the biggest profit. L'Angelo Misterioso, check iTunes radio for Christmas music.

Yup, I walked into a Costco early last month and found they were selling Christmas decorations and had music running. It's just wrong.

[ShadowOfGed]

Originally Posted by Brad It should pick up out there in Chapel Hell.

Hey, there's nothing wrong with Chapel Hill, except maybe their football team.

[709]

It's a sinister plot by the Religious Right. Eventually 'Christmas' will be an all year deal, officially turning America into JesusLand.

[Banana]

Have worked at retail, it's more about posturing than making bucks; if they're first on the block to let everyone sample the offering, they may make more sales when time comes.

Mind you, approximately 3/4 of Target's yearly revenues comes from Christmas season.

Doesn't make it okay in my book though.

[Moogs]

709: you forget, the C in Christmas is for "Commerce".

[BuonRotto]

We have these Norwegian construction workers living in my apartment complex. Around the middle of October, some of them cam home with one of those light-brite reindeer decorations and have had it plugged in on their balcony since. They've since added those tacky icicle lights, candy cane lights and adorned the reindeer with a norway flag scarf. Everyone else has acted like it's cute. They feign ignorance, though I think they're really mocking these Americans. I mean, the fact that they found a tacky Christmas reindeer display in mid-October probably had them laughing through check-out, and I can't say I blame them.

[SonOfSylvanus]

I always used to think of Christmas as 3 days (Eve, Day, Boxing), plus being off school for a few weeks. Now it seems that Christmas is thought of as a season, with Christmas day just its climax.

[Moogs]

Yah. A real orgy of consumerism and material excellence. Even people of other faiths get into it now.

[Naderfan]

I wish I could remember Lewis Black's complete rant about this. But the main point was:
"Thanksgiving used to be Thanksgiving, not Christmas, Part I. And Santa kept his fat ass out of it!"

Anyway, I love Christmas, but not until Dec. 1. Oh well.

[Ebby]

I noticed the last few years come companies have been trying to push "Easter presents" and big 'ol gifts like the Christmas season. Not just eggs, candies, and nicknacks. That is getting out of hand too.

[psmith2.0]

Several things happen to me at Christmas (or in the month or two leading up to it):

1. I get a bit bothered, going to Target or wherever, and seeing Christmas stuff in September (and I did). It seems forced and tacked-on, and only gets more so as the weeks tick away.

2. I get a bit melancholy, but...

3. I get kinda humble and reflective too, and tend to think about "bigger things" than I normally do. Something about it is beautiful, when I think about it and strip the other stuff away.

4. I love watching "A Christmas Story". The new classic, and our generation's "It's a Wonderful Life".

5. I like the closeness and friendliness of it. It's when I connect with old friends (because we're all back in town at the same time), and, following my initial funk, I usually end the month on a super high note, full of cheer and happiness.

6. The geek in me kicks in, because I realize, after Christmas is New Years...and a few days later is MWSF

So, in summary...I like the cozy friendliness and reconnecting. I like what Christmas means/represents. It makes me feel small and like I should be a better person. I don't like the excessive "BUY BUY BUY!" commercialism tagged onto it (and it gets worse every year, it seems).

So it's a happy AND frustrating time for me. But, I'm getting to where I realize/expect that, and do things to downplay the negative and highlight the good stuff.

And there are a few Christmas songs I really, really like...and I wait all year to hear them. So that's always nice. "O Holy Night" is just beautiful, and "Little Drummer Boy" is quite stirring, done right.



It will be my first Christmas in my new house, so I was thinking how - if at all - I wanted to maybe spruce it up a bit? Perhaps get a small, 3-4' tree to put in the window, and maybe a wreath for the door...and string a few lights, just because I can.

[Maciej]

I get really hungry around the holidays. All the memories of Christmas dinner simply make me anticipate eating more.

[curiousuburb]

Good things about the festive season...




Bad things about the festive season...

The same 10 songs over and over and over and over... no matter where you go... for months.
Misbehaved brats

[Brad]

Ah, egg nog.

Definitely.

*goes to the kitchen and pours a glass*

I picked up a carton earlier this week from the store. One of these days I'm going to find a good recipe and learn to make it myself, but the carton stuff tastes fine in the mean time.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Brad Ah, egg nog. Definitely. *goes to the kitchen and pours a glass* I picked up a carton earlier this week from the store. One of these days I'm going to find a good recipe and learn to make it myself, but the carton stuff tastes fine in the mean time.

This page has several recipes. I have no idea if they're any good, nor do I remember it being an alcoholic drink. There are a few more recipes over here (same disclaimer).

[Maciej]

Somehow, I don't think eggnog is one of those drinks made to get messed up, but I am sure that with the right inspiration I'll end up trying it.

[Stone Of Love]

Originally Posted by holbox Nothing new about this early Christmas promotion!

I had a tough choice to make when quoting somebody to start my rant, but this seems like the best choice.

Not trying to slam you Holbox, just the fact that this statement rings too true.

Anything before Thanksgiving is wrong. Kills the spirit I think by over emphasizing the commercial end.

And am I wrong in saying that anybody not a VERY close relative over the age of 18 should not expect a present??

I certainly don't want to get them from anybody not my wife, mother, or child now that I am 43. I've had my time!

Not trying to be a kill joy, but expectation has gotten way outta hand.

I'd rather have a nice meal and some pleasant conversation with people I don't have a chance to spend time with!! There is too much pressure to find the "perfect" gift for that second cousin on the far side of the family because you drew their name and can only spend $20!!! Whats the point?

I could answer that, but it would derail the thread.......

/rant over

[Sauvblanc]

If I might interject, from someone north of the border, our Thanksgiving is the 2nd week of October, then Halloween. Somewhere in between those two days all the Christmas stuff starts going up in the stores. I wonder if Parliament, when they set the date for Thanksgiving back in 1957 were acting under pressure from retailers to set it as early as possible to give people as much run-up to Xmas as possible and boost sales? Hmmmm....

[Banana]

Went to Target last night.

The parking lot was full. And that was 9 PM, and raining hard.

Seems to me that everyone's supporting pushing back the Christmas open season start date.

And, if you ever wonder why Target and other loves to ask you if you would use their credit card; it's because they know that consumer will spend 70% more on a credit card than with cash. Hence the quotas on those new credit applications! Keep them high! Roll out that wad of plastics!

[Sauvblanc]

Oh, yeah, those store-brand credit cards. As Barbara Bush would have put it years ago..."Just say no!". I just deplore the pushy people who stand at the entrance of a shop to bug you about getting one. The only credit cards I have are from my bank, thankyouverymuch.

[Maciej]

I think around now is when the local tv stations start their "who's got the most christmas lights on their house / law" contests... excessive.

[AWR]

I would support a constitutional amendment banning ALL things Christmas-y until 1 December. And although I think THAT's way too early.... Thanksgiving is the mother of all holidays and should be given its due respect.

Eggnog is the anti-Christ. I can't believe that someone is sitting around drinking Harris Teeter eggnog now. That's unsupportable.

I have had to implement a rule in my house: No Johnny Mathis Christmas music before 1 December. Otherwise, I'll listen to it all year long.

(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...music&n=507846)