Saw The First Christmas Decorations In Shops Today
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
September 16, 2012 11:40am CST
I don't mean Christmas decorations that the shop uses for decking their shopping areas out, I mean they are actually SELLING Christmas decorations, everything from baubles for the tree to naff illuminated snowmen to go outside.
Why?
Why are they starting so early with this? Don't they realise we're all skint and the last thing we're thinking about right now is Christmas? It's bad enough seeing the Hallowe'en crap everywhere without having the Double Whammy of Christmas AND Hallowe'en rolled into one giant, tacky OTT display.
The most annoying thing about all this is that most people (the normal ones) want their Christmas decorations at the last minute and you can be sure that there will be none in the shops come December! Then the Sales start in January and the decorations that were "sold out" will be out then instead!
Why are they starting so early with this? Don't they realise we're all skint and the last thing we're thinking about right now is Christmas? It's bad enough seeing the Hallowe'en crap everywhere without having the Double Whammy of Christmas AND Hallowe'en rolled into one giant, tacky OTT display.
The most annoying thing about all this is that most people (the normal ones) want their Christmas decorations at the last minute and you can be sure that there will be none in the shops come December! Then the Sales start in January and the decorations that were "sold out" will be out then instead!2 people like this
17 responses
@dogsnme (1264)
• United States
16 Sep 12
When I was a child(I'm 44) you never saw or heard, best I can remember, anything concerning Christmas until after Thanksgiving. It's become so commercialised anymore. I know Christmas has different meanings for different people but for me it is for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ first and foremost. When we are exposed to it so early it's no wonder that some people get so burnt out, stressed out, and depressed about the holidays before Christmas even gets here. I know that's not the only reason but it certainly doesn't help.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
It puts added pressure on the parents, especially if they are out and about with their children, exposed to all this "stuff."
It was the same over here. I found it more exciting and magical when there was a smaller build-up (in days) rather than the "in your face in September" treatment we get now.
1 person likes this
@savak03 (6684)
• United States
17 Sep 12
Every year it seems the stores start putting out holiday stuff earlier and earlier. Used to be you had to wait until the last holiday was over before you started selling the next ones trappings. Now it is not unusual to see half the store set aside for seasonal things. This year they have halloween, thanks giving and christmas all displayed at the same time.
@savak03 (6684)
• United States
17 Sep 12
IDK some people like to get all their shopping done early. So for this minority they are probably really grateful that it is all in the stores at the same time. Plus they probably figure that they are getting it before anyone else gets a chance to pick over everything.
I think the stores are putting the stuff out earlier because they are trying to sell everything at full price. Those after holiday sales don't make them as much money and I'm not really sure that many people will buy stuff they have to pack away for a whole year.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Sep 12
That's one way of looking at it, for sure. Another way of looking at it..why bother at all? Go down the 'bah, humbug' route.
Mind you, I don't have kids so I couldn't be like that with them around. The pressures on parents must be enormous.
Mind you, I don't have kids so I couldn't be like that with them around. The pressures on parents must be enormous.@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Sep 12
Yes, I noticed the Hallowe'en and the Christmas stuff too..not necessarily together but it's definitely the first time I've seen all these items in-store at the same time. I'm sure that anyone who buys a Hallowe'en outfit for their kid isn't going to suddenly exclaim, "Oh, I really MUST buy some baubles!"
Haha!
@GardenGerty (157615)
• United States
16 Sep 12
I really have no clue how seasonal merchandising is figured out. I must say we are in the same place as you are, with the added pleasure of "back to school" items and Thanksgiving decor as well. Who cares about regular merchandise when we can overwhelm people with all the holiday and "occasion" promotions. The decor is out here as well, and all the summer stuff is gone, or on clearance. Do they not realize that we are just as likely to see 100 F again before the holidays.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Sep 12
It has been here too..but only around 14 degrees C!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
We NEVER get 100 F but I see what you mean. I remember the stores stocked up with "summer clothing" in advance of the summer that never actually materialised. This is why many clothes stores have lost money as people wanted to buy rain macs and thick scarves, not shorts and t-shirts.
Put it this way; there are a LOT of barbecues and sun loungers for sale at greatly reduced prices at the moment!!
I remember the stores stocked up with "summer clothing" in advance of the summer that never actually materialised. This is why many clothes stores have lost money as people wanted to buy rain macs and thick scarves, not shorts and t-shirts.
Put it this way; there are a LOT of barbecues and sun loungers for sale at greatly reduced prices at the moment!!1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
1 Oct 12
The same thing is happening here. I saw christmas stuff and halloween stuff. Its all a money thing. They want people to spend their money, that why the rich stay rich. They don't spend a dollar, they rely on us to spend our money. I think it is way too early to be selling christmas decorations. let Halloween finish first. At least thats the way they used to do it.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
1 Oct 12
Hallowe'en wasn't such a big thing here until recently, so it's even more annoying that it's now in competition with all the Christmas stuff.
I didn't see anyone buying at the time though so that cheered me up.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
3 Oct 12
I remember when I was a kid, they used to start selling Halloween stuff around the end of September. And they never put Christmas stuff in the stores until November sometime. Now they start with all the holidays right after LaborDay here in America. That is the beginning of September. Then the kids go back to school. It is all about the money.
@baddkabee (115)
• Singapore
17 Sep 12
Hi as what my fellow countrymen said, Christmas decorations are a common sight starting on the month of September until the second week of January. Christmas mood is everywhere wherever you go in the Philippines during the -BER months.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Sep 12
Oh, I don't know about that. I guess it comes with the hot weather over there, does it?
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Sep 12
I don't mind the music actually but I resent it being early. I mean I have a Christmas CD with all the "hits" on it and I don't dig it out until about 2 days before Christmas Day, sometimes on the day itself to get us in the mood lol.
@BarBaraPrz (45511)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
16 Sep 12
And ya can't buy a bathing suit in summer...
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
That is so true..not that we have the weather for that anyway..but it would be nice to buy one just in case we ever go abroad.
Fat chance!
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
17 Sep 12
"Christmas already"?
Oh I hated that when I worked in a stationery story, and the Christmas things came out. And Hallmark puts their Christmas ornaments out starting in June. Glad I don't work there any more!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Sep 12
June? That must be some kinda record lol. I take it the Hallmark you mean is the same as over here (and probably worldwide) as we have cards made by them.
I've got Christmas wrapping-paper from the time I worked some 5 years ago. It's good quality stuff but I reckon it will never run out because I'm so skint and can't buy as many presents as I used to.
It's good quality stuff but I reckon it will never run out because I'm so skint and can't buy as many presents as I used to.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
17 Sep 12
I never know why they have to start with the Christmas decorations before Halloween. It makes not a bit of sense to me. Especially that now they will be so expensive where if you wait till right before Christmas they start going down in price. It is so annoying to see them so early in the stores especially at this time when the economy is so bad everyone is wishing Christmas could be skipped this year. 
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
20 Sep 12
The other day I was in a large department store here called Big W buying a birthday gift for my niece and they had this huge area with empty shelves. We walked through it to get to the checkout and I said to my kids. "Have a look at all this, you know what is going to be here soon?" Christmas decorations! And they went "Whoa!"
It was such a big area that they were shocked and I think surprised that Christmas stuff was going to be out already. Halloween is something that has only just taken off here in the last decade or so. I refuse to have anything to do with it. It is even tackier than Christmas!
Bah Humbug!
It was such a big area that they were shocked and I think surprised that Christmas stuff was going to be out already. Halloween is something that has only just taken off here in the last decade or so. I refuse to have anything to do with it. It is even tackier than Christmas!
Bah Humbug! @Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Sep 12
It's another import from the good old US of A, God love 'em!
Personally, I cannot stand Hallowe'en. It's a totally meaningless, stupid excuse to buy tacky, overpriced outfits for kids that stab you if you don't give 'em money at the door lol. Obviously, we ignore them when they come round, usually ON THEIR OWN. They're locked away in front of their X-Boxes the rest of the year to keep them safe and this one night..anything goes. It's crazy!!
I love Bonfire Night myself. But Hallowe'en has overtaken it due to health and safety making it a nightmare to actually set anything on fire. What I'd do is get my hands on a load of tacky, Hallowe'en stuff and burn that..on Bonfire Night!
Personally, I cannot stand Hallowe'en. It's a totally meaningless, stupid excuse to buy tacky, overpriced outfits for kids that stab you if you don't give 'em money at the door lol. Obviously, we ignore them when they come round, usually ON THEIR OWN. They're locked away in front of their X-Boxes the rest of the year to keep them safe and this one night..anything goes. It's crazy!!
I love Bonfire Night myself. But Hallowe'en has overtaken it due to health and safety making it a nightmare to actually set anything on fire. What I'd do is get my hands on a load of tacky, Hallowe'en stuff and burn that..on Bonfire Night!
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
17 Sep 12
The Christmas season starts at the first day of September in my country. You'll surely see a lot of Christmas decors for sale everywhere. We even hear Christmas songs on the radio early in the morning.
That's how early we celebrate Christmas here. That's why months from September till December are called the -ber month!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Sep 12
It's unbelievable really, when you think about it. Kids will be growing up having no idea what day Christmas Day actually is, as it seems every day from 1st September is that day.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16539)
• China
17 Sep 12
Christmas is about three months off, the Christmas decorations have actually appeared on the market.Obviously,the store tried to have the head start in business.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Sep 12
Well..no-one is buying because they're thinking about Hallowe'en, a "tradition" that has been imported from the US and I really wish it hadn't because it's NAFF!
@changjiangzhibin89 (16539)
• China
20 Sep 12
Did you mean All Hallows 'Eve observed on October 31 ? Is it your yearly holiday?
@mrswhitfield (2044)
• Indonesia
17 Sep 12
Very funny indeed. The actual sale prices they display when it is not December is actually the original price of the decoration items. Entering december christmas decoration prices will be soar 3x than the price during the time when December was still far from our mind. I'm not interested in buying Christmas decorations if we have not yet enter the month of December. You are right, we are sometimes very keen to buy Christmas decorations just at the last minute before Christmas.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Sep 12
Years ago I remember buying some awesome shiny red Christmas wrapping paper from WH Smith and I'm sure it was on Christmas Eve. A long time ago but I do remember fiddling with the silly bag you get that is absolutely no good for rolls of wrapping paper. It went a long way though, 10m I think per roll.
A long time ago but I do remember fiddling with the silly bag you get that is absolutely no good for rolls of wrapping paper. It went a long way though, 10m I think per roll.
@maclanis (2357)
• Belgium
16 Sep 12
Really? Already? That's strange. I don't think I've seen any christmas decorations yet! But then again, in my country people don't use that many christmas decorations. Usually just a christmas tree and maybe a couple of other little things and that's it. I can actually get annoyed by flashy reindeers and santa's, because it's jusst a little tacky in my opinion!
I agree with you that it's just way too early to be selling christmas decorations.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
I couldn't believe my eyes when I walked in the store. Silver baubles everywhere. I had to pretend they weren't there, plus the fact they are sacrificing space for items people actually WANT!
@jugsjugs (12967)
•
16 Sep 12
I am all ready for christmas already, as in got all the things that I need to decorate and the tree as well as vouchers for all the gifts, but I find that I still like to buy a few bits that I see to add to the collection of things that I have already.
I also have all the sweets I need for halloween so that way I do not have to worry nearer the time.
I just hate it when they play all the same old songs in the shops in November for christmas, crazy really.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
When did you buy it all, January? Some bargains are to be had in January!
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
16 Sep 12
Hi Janey! Here they usually start in October. Well October is just about two weeks away. It's amazing how Christmas is all over TV and in the stores for so long until Christmas day.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
I should imagine any couples with children..once they saw all the deccies in the store - back in the car they went if they had any sense.
