Christmas is coming......... but are we way too early?
By rosie_123
@rosie_123 (6113)
September 9, 2007 11:40am CST
Whilst shopping in the city (London) yesterday, I was pretty horrified to discover that the Christmas Grotto is already open in Harrods! Yes - folks - you too can walk in out of the 25 C sunshine, and meet Father Christmas himself - HO HO HO! Now I appreciate the logic of a store like Harrods, that makes a lot of money out of tourists, wanting to start selling early so that Summer tourists can buy gifts and decoratiossn etc to take home, but they are not the only store here in England already selling Christmas cards, calendars etc! I have already received all my charity brochures selling gifts and cards for the holiday season. In fact Harrods actually opened their Christmas Grotto a few weeks ago, on 21st August before the school holidays were even over! http://www.harrods.com/Cultures/en-GB/News/020807xmasGrotto
So at the risk of sounding like a killjoy, - am I the only one to be horrified by this? Christmas is great, but in my view it should be kept to the month of December - I don't want to hear Christmas carols when I'm still eating outside in the garden!! It just makes it so horrid and tacky and commercial, and kills the spirit of Christmas completely in my opinion. So what do you think? Is it the same where you live?
6 people like this
14 responses
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
9 Sep 07
Yes it's the same way here and a lot of people hate it just as you do. What's the rush? I don't know but it ruins it for the lot of us because it's too soon and it makes us feel like we're missing out on the Thanksgiving holidays and by the time New Years comes around, it's like ENOUGH ALREADY with all the Christmas decorations.
2 people like this
@rosie_123 (6113)
•
9 Sep 07
LOL! Well- we don't have Thanksgiving, but we still think "enough already!" Thanks for your answer!
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@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
9 Sep 07
Yeah I knew you didn't but we do and with all the merchants decorating so early even a month before Thanksgiving, it really ruins things and it's all for the almighty buck.
2 people like this
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
10 Sep 07
Auwww Rosie, so early? I haven't seen anything for and about Christmas as yet in the shops here in The netherlands and would hate it and find as stupid as you do... What do these "merchants" think actually? That all they have to do is shove their stuff in front of us, and we will be ready as sheep to go and buy way before we ever would do it before?
Not me though, as i will hate it, and will not do it before the last possible date, a few weeks before Christmas is early enough :)
2 people like this
@rosie_123 (6113)
•
10 Sep 07
Yes - me too, but the problem is (especially with a big London store like Harrods), they make a lot of money from tourist shoppers who like to buy their Christmas decorations or whatever with a genuine Harrods label - and most tourists are here in the Summer season. Just commercialism I'm afraid. Thanks for your answer.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
10 Sep 07
A very good friend of mine works in a shop where they play Christmas carols from October onwards day in day out and then when it's Boxing Day the carols stop! That is ridiculous. I hate seeing selection boxes in the shops in September, who buys them? And do they sit on the shelves from September till December! It's all so commercialized now and it really irritates me. It's not the same and by the time Christmas eventually does come round you are so sick to the back teeth of listening to carols seeing adverts on tv, in the shops that it takes the fun out of Christmas! Yes I agree with you whole-heartedly on this one my friend!
@rosie_123 (6113)
•
10 Sep 07
LOL! If I was your friend I would probably have killed someone by Boxong Day! Thanks for responding here.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
11 Sep 07
Rosie I know what you are saying they spoil Christmas by doing this and it is not fair
I hate it when I see the Christmas Stuff this early why can they not go back to start selling it middle of October I really do not understand and it seems that they are getting earlier every year maybe next year they will start selling it in July I think it takes all the looking forward away as you see it for so long by the time Christmas comes you are glad it is over it might just be me feeling like this but that I was think
@rosie_123 (6113)
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11 Sep 07
No it isn't just you. I am so bored with Christmas by December, that I just want to close my eyes and imagine it's February or something - LOL!
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
10 Sep 07
Christmas is SO commercial now Rosie. I really feel like trying to get everyone to boycott Christmas till as late as possible but it would not be achievable.
I was horrified a few years ago to notice in the 2 weeks leading up to Christmas, children playing with new bikes and scooters etc. It seems many families don't even wait for christmas to arrive now.
Another thing I've noticed is some companies trying to promote Christmas in July as a commercial venture with gift giving and all the trimmings!! Christmas in July is done by some social clubs as a way of celebrating traditional Christmas in the cold months so the traditional Christmas fare can be better appreciated like Roast Turkey and alll the trimmings and hot pudding served aflame etc. Our Christmas is in the hottest part of summer and though many stick to the traditions, lots are turning to bbq's and salads and lovely cool desserts like pavlova and fruit salad.
I think Christmas is becoming more and more commercial and the true meaning of it is becoming lost.
@rosie_123 (6113)
•
10 Sep 07
I have often wondered what it was like to have a barbecue on the beach for Christmas Day! My partner is also from the Southern Hemisphere with your funny upside-down seasons (LOL!), - I can never get used to him calling Christmas the middle of Summer, and one thing that always surprises me is how people from his part of the world still send Christmas Cards with all the snow scenes etc - half of them have never seen snow! Do they do it in Australia too? Thanks for your great response by the way.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
10 Sep 07
Isn't it strange? Christmas for me includes snow and snowmen, sleighs with bells, carolers dressed warmly, tobaggons, fireplaces, colourful red, green and white jumpers/sweaters, all the lovely hyms and Christmas songs like Rudolph, and a jolly bearded man, warmly dressed in red with fur trimmings. We can buy "snow" trimmed plastic Christmas trees, and snow in a can to spray on windows.
The funny thing is...I've never even seen snow. LOL.
As for Christmas cards, we buy what is available. There is a small selection of predominately Aussie cards with koalas in swimsuits and such but these are expensive.
I'm one of those silly creatures that insists on a Christmas tree with decorations, the house decorated with tinsel and pinecones and roast turkey with all the trimmings, I forgo the dessert part of things. It's usually just me for Christmas
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
10 Sep 07
ha ha....and people laughed at me for talking about a Christmas list? Your right though they do start the season too early!
@Stiletto (4579)
•
10 Sep 07
For years now I have completely refused to even think about Christmas until the first week of December. This dragging it all out from August onwards is tedious and really destroys the fun of it. I have no religious beliefs so to me Christmas is a celebration of things like peace and love and .. "goodness" I suppose. It's not meant to be a celebration of consumer spending!
I have friends that organise Christmas like a military operation - their presents are bought and wrapped by the end of September, the menu is planned and food ordered by the end of October .. ridiculous! Where's the fun in all that? Last year I read a magazine article about the "stress of Christmas and how to relax". I'm never stressed about it at all and I'm usually still buying presents on Christmas Eve lol! I prefer my own chaotic version of Christmas.
1 person likes this
@rosie_123 (6113)
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10 Sep 07
On that I totally agree with you. I have no religious beliefs either, so Christmas for me is just a few extra days off work, and I hate all the razzamatazz and commercialism, and stress to make it into something about 4 months before the event. I never think about it until the beginning of December either - and preferably not at all - LOL!
@nmw2005 (1197)
• United States
9 Sep 07
Over the past few weeks stores have started putting out Christmas suppiles and decorations. I think it is ashame because people can't get into the holiday spirit in August/September. In a few years I can see them keeping the decorations on all holidays out year round. It seems to be more marketing than remember what the holiday is really about.
1 person likes this
@rosie_123 (6113)
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9 Sep 07
Yes - sadly it is all about the money nowadays. Thanks for taking the time to respond.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
9 Sep 07
Here in the Stated they would love to put a Christmas tree up before Labor day, the first Monday in September.But the customers are buying back to school items.But the Christmas comericals start around Halloween, Oct 31st.I agree with you.It makes Christmas too comerical. i don't even think about Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving, the last Friday in November.That gives me a month and that is all I need.I can see if you are shopping by mail and you need time for shipping but Christmas in August?Way too early.
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@rosie_123 (6113)
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9 Sep 07
Well I guess to start at the end of October isn't so bad - but the current trend to have Christmas almost all year round is ludicrous. It ruins the special magic of itin my opinion. Thanks for your response.
@michelledarcy (5220)
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9 Sep 07
I have seen cards in charity shops too already. I think it is much much too early. If you start seeing things around so early you build up for so long that when Christmas comes around it is a big let down. Also the kids start asking for presents already and if I buy them early they change their mind before Christmas.
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
9 Sep 07
I think its one thing to have craft stores putting out Christmas stuff because right now you can go into any of the craft stores and they have their Christmas isles full--no trees yet though. Since it does take a while to complete crafts. But to already have stuff up in the stores. That does seem a bit much, but then again. I have already done some Christmas shopping and Hallmark does have their ornaments out, but they should keep the carols for after Thanksgiving at least!
1 person likes this
@rosie_123 (6113)
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9 Sep 07
Yes I agree with you about the craft thing, - but I think it is just a way for them to make easy money from the tourists and it just seems wrong to me. Thanks for responding.
@paidreader (5143)
• United States
10 Sep 07
LOL, I know how you feel. Here in the states, Christmas sales have been known to start as early as July. I know it's hard to conceive why they start so early, but when I was young I worked in a fabric store and finally understood why a store like that had to start so early. It was only by putting out the fabrics & christmas craft instructions out that early that the crafters would have time to complete their projects in time. Not many take the time to make their gifts now though, it seems like everyone would prefer to just buy a ready made gift & store it until December, hoping that the person they bought it for will still like it, lol.
@rosie_123 (6113)
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10 Sep 07
Yes I understand the craft thing, but I'm not sure so many people do crafts much these days. Certainly not here in England. Thanks for your response.
@sephrenia (567)
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9 Sep 07
I live in leeds in the north of England and thankfully we havent seen anything christmassy yet. I can't believe that harrods would already have their grotto out at the end of august/beginning of september. Thats flat out taking the mickey, not to mentioon confusing to the kids!
I can understand that they want to get a lead on the christmas market and get the stuff up early so that they can begin making profits, but that really is just the height of stupidity!
1 person likes this
@rosie_123 (6113)
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9 Sep 07
Perhaps I should move to Leeds then! Yes - it must be very confusing for the kids, and certainly makes it harder for parents keeping the Father Christmas myth alive, when they can see him in Knightsbridge for 5 months of the year! Thanks for responding.
@elemental69 (1561)
• Ireland
9 Sep 07
Oh christmas is the biggest money maker of the year!!! I totally agree with you. And big and small businesses alike are going to make sure that they can cash in as much as they can and try to be the first to do something before everyone else does. In a couple weeks time you will see more and more department stores following suit, trying to keep up with the trend!! They dont really care about father christmas, or kids, or even the festive season. Christmas seems to be all about money.
1 person likes this
@rosie_123 (6113)
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9 Sep 07
Sadly you are right. Christmas isn't about the true spirit of it anymore - just about commercialism, and that is sad. Thanks for your answer.
