to think that 26 November is too early for a Christmas dinner?

[Mobilette]

Nipped out for impromptu local dinner with DH, to find local pub rammed with paper hat-wearing festive diner. WTF?! It's still a month to go. What's going on?

[Mobilette]

'diners', of course (not just the one, on his/her own). That WOULD be sad (der).

[wanderingcloud]

My Nan used to go to the "Turkey and Tinsel" faux Christmas in the summer. Properly odd behaviour IMO but then again I'm not the greatest fan of Christmas dinner even at Christmas!

[Icimoi]

I refuse to have Christmas dinner before Christmas Day, I think it spoils it otherwise. But presumably an awful lot of people must think differently, otherwise there'd be no market for it.

[CromerSutra]

It is early but in my experience getting people together for a work dinner can be a nightmare. Maybe it's the only date they could agree on.

[DollyMcDolly]

I'm a chef and our place has been doing Christmas parties since November 1st. We have done 4 so far. It's not that unusual now tbh. If we do a Christmas party now, they get huge discounts if they come back in December. It's profit. I think it's ridiculous.

[OraProNobis]

I think this sort of carry on is an actual thing. I strayed onto QVC one sleepless night in the summer and it was, apparently, 'Christmas in July'. I suddenly found sweaty tossing and turning all night an enticing prospect

[Tobyjugg]

Some people who work over the Xmas period tend have theirs early.

[Zucker]

Could be a workplace getting the Christmas "Do" over with early maybe?

[Peepants78]

I'm attending one next week and thought that was bad enough. I find it hard to get in to the spirit of it all so early, but understand that getting large groups together can be difficult.

My inlaws do the turkey and tinsel thing. Considering their moans over the actual event I'm amazed they do it twice.

[tshirtsuntan]

Way to early, imo, my ds school have done annual panto trip today however....cue lots of father Christmas isn't true chat......NOOO, THEY'RE ONLY SIX!!!!

[ThereIsACarInTheKitchen]

I know a couple of places have started doing this already, including the place where I work. I do think it's a bit too early for myself...that's why I haven't had one yet.

It does seem to be the norm though IME.

[Lucyccfc]

My Dsis is having her Xmas party next weekend. She is a paramedic and they are too busy to have a party later in December as they are too busy on shifts sorting out people who over-indulge at their Xmas parties.

[SconeRhymesWithGone]

Maybe they were American and celebrating Thanksgiving. I did that once in London many years ago with American friends.

[cogitosum]

My work Christmas party is on the 19th but team nights tend to be earlier. It's difficult to get everyone together in December so I see nothing wrong.

Better than the alternative of having a Christmas night in jan. IMO

[Minerves]

yep, bet it was thanksgiving which is tomorrow

[PinkSnowAndStars]

I work in A&E - our Christmas party was on the 14th of November......!!

We are just too busy to leave it any later....

[SarahCraine]

My family always has dinner before Christmas, but not one of those Christmas dinners yet. We only have one Christmas dinner and it happens always on Christmas eve. It is a big dinner party because that's the time when all family members gather for a get together. We also bring foods to the venue.

[Bulbasaur]

American Thanksgiving it tomorrow. Maybe they were celebrating that?

Over here Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season.

I have my tree set up already. But that's because my parents have DD for a bit, and it's the only time to set it up and rearrange the room without her getting in the way.

[GamoraStarlord]

I am free of it now, but I was a manager for a retailer that just got horrifically busy in the last week of November and then got worse until about 11pm on Christmas Eve. If we didn't have our works party by mid November then we could not have it until January when everyone has no money. Post Chrismtas work do's are grim. We always had a fantastic time in November, because we knew when everyone else was having a good time we would be working flat out.
Retail is hell.