To think it's absolutely ridiculous that the Rotary Santa sleigh was out in my local town today

[Xmaswoes]

Ffs- it's the 22nd of November not December yet the Rotary Santa sleigh was being dragged around at lunchtime today playing 'It's Christmas' at full volume with a very crap looking Santa.

I have very fond memories of this sleigh from my childhood but it was always lit up on a dark night just before Christmas Day.

It it me or does this just take any magic away from Christmas?

[Eebahgum]

Wondering if you're in the same town as me - saw it in my town centre today. However, I had 2 year old ds with me and got very excited and pointed out Father Christmas. November is a bit early for it though I guess.

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

YANBU.

Our letters from Santa courtesy of the NSPCC arrived today.

A little early I think!

[Rollermum]

Same in my town today - maybe the same place?

[Fabulous46]

I think it's a bit early. Santa's sleigh for our Rotary is currently in our barn and in need of a power wash before 2nd December when it'll have it's first outing. It's never been anywhere in day time and he's stored it here for as long as I remember.

[RedToothBrush]

Its unreasonable for them to be out collecting for charity and doing a community event? Hmmm.

The local rotary club to me does a hell of a lot of good round here. The more they get Santa out, the more they can raise, is the long and short of it.

There are loads of purely commercial Santa's grottos that have been open since the start of November. SOMEONE is booking tickets in November to see Santa at those.

So it strikes me that there is a demand even in November, and as Eebahgum points out, it brought joy to her two year old. Given that not everyone can afford to go to a grotto with their kids, then maybe this might be the only time they get that excitement.

Sorry, but I think there's more than a whiff of Scrooge on several levels going on here.

YABU.

[Xmaswoes]

Its unreasonable for them to be out collecting for charity and doing a community event?

Yes.

It's November- it's not Scrooge at all- in December it's fine but now is ridiculous.

[CatKisser]

Ok. I have a confession. This might out me but hey. I was once forced (by my mother!) to BE the rotary club santa. I had to sit and wave through the villages while pulled along by this weird bloke on a tractor. It was mortifying. At one point I had to run into a pub to use the toilet due to the flask of heavily brandied mulled wine I'd accepted as a bribe from my mum much to the patrons' amusement. Later on we got stuck in a narrow cul de sac and had to do a 38 point turn while residents pissed themselves and took videos on their phones.
I still remember a teenage boy's comment of "why's Santa got boobs?"
Then to top it all off, the weird tractor driver asked me out at the end of the night in front my parents, sister, the other people on the collection.
It was truly horrific. And to make it worse there;s still a picture of it on Facebook, courtesy of my vile sister!

[MissBattleaxe]

I don't get all this "thy shalt only be Christmassy in December " stuff. It's about the festive season, not just one day. Bring it on I say! It's hardly hurting anybody.

[MissBattleaxe]

Oh YABU by the way.

[NorksWar]

YABU

(Crying with laughter at CatKisser's 38 point turn!)

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

YABU. There's Christmas stuff all over the shops, and some towns have their Christmas lights on. I can't see anything wrong in taking the chance to earn more money for charity.

[LouiseBrooks]

YANBU the way Christmas starts so early is absurd. Okay it's nearly December but it's isn't December!

[ShatnersBassoon]

They're doing it for the right reasons at least. They know people will be out Christmas shopping, so can't really waste the opportunity to fundraise.

[melmo26]

YANBU

In my local town today Santa came to visit with his reindeer, I couldn't believe it, it's November.

I didnt take my kids to see him as I think it's far too early and it was dd3 birthday today and don't want her birthday to be overshadowed by it all.

[HappyAgainOneDay]

I suppose IABU to point out that they are volunteers who probablyt go to work so their available time is limited. To get round the local towns / villages etc, they'd have to spread out the time to fit everyone in, wouldn't they?

How does Santa Claus get round to every home during one night? The Rotarians cannot do that

[BramwellBrown]

It is a bit early, but the one in the shopping center has been there for nearly 3 weeks and the lights were switched on here last week.

on the upside CatKisser, Father Christmas has a beard to disguise you a little bit, the hideous elf costume my Dad (who is our Father Christmas) forces me to wear every year does not and no one ever offers me alcohol, i do get to stay in a warm grotto in a church hall rather than be dragged round town though.

[SisterMoonshine]

Lots of towns had their lights switched on today.
I don't see how it 'takes away the magic'.

[MissBattleaxe]

Christmas shopping starts earlier than December, otherwise you'd be buying everything from one pay day in one months. There is nothing wrong with shopping centres getting Christmassy before then.

I don't get this "but its November" thing at all. Our town had its lights switched on the other day and people have been Christmas shopping for a while now.

It just wouldn't be good business sense if all the shops hid all the tinsel and selection boxes until December 1st just to please a few grinches.

[poolomoomon]

I agree. I think every town should switch their lights on on the first of December and no earlier. I also think grottos, reindeer parades and Christmas markets shouldn't be allowed until the 1st but it's money making init. There's weirdos who don't mind taking their kids to the grotto in November, going to see Santa and his reindeer in November and all the rest. I love Christmas but even I think it starts too soon, it takes away from the beauty and excitement of it and cheapens it somewhat IMO.

[CatKisser]

BramwellBrown that elf costume sounds fairly horrific but yes, it does seem better than being carted about the villages!

[WooWooOwl]

As the people doing this are volunteers, and there's probably a lot of time and effort involved in organising the sleigh to go round, they are probably doing it when they can instead of not doing it at all.

I expect the rotary member have their own plans and families to work around during December. They probably also want to cover more than one area to collect as much as they can for their charities, so it has to be spread out a bit.

I can see why you'd prefer it to be closer to Christmas, but their aim really isn't to provide a bit of extra magic for your children, it's to raise money for charities that need funds.

[Hatespiders]

Our local Rotary Club do a super Christmas Dinner for 200 elderly people who live alone. They buy all the turkeys, puddings and other food and pay for entertainers etc. They have to get the funds together well in advance to have this all organised in time. It costs about £3000. So I expect they have to start early, as there aren't many weekends left before the Big Day. It's not like the big stores trying to make loads of profit by starting early. This is a genuinely commendable charity effort.

[ALittleFaith]

YANBU. I agree with amicissimma, these things should start in advent. However I went to Birmingham 2 weeks ago and the 'November Christmas parade' was on. The first weekend in November! The streets were packed! So clearly there's demand for it....