Does having Christmas stuff in the shops for 4 months of the year cause Christmas to be a letdown

Fiis · 2025-08-28T17:30:36+00:00

I think it does. Those tubs of inferior chocolate like Roses, are not Christmasy as places with a moderate Muslim population have them on sale for Eid. Visited 5 or 6 European countries in Sept and Oct and their shops had nothing! These countries celebrate Christmas. If these countries are able not to have Christmas crap in the shops in Sept. Why can’t the UK?

MyDadWasAnArse · 31/08/2025 09:53

DryAndBalmy · 30/08/2025 19:24

I don’t mind if shops have a Christmas section for people who want to spread the cost and effort. What I object to is Christmas music droning on and on from far too early. Gives me a headache to just think of it. There are only so many songs and I’m sick to death of them by the time Christmas comes.

Heard this from before Halloween and it's so annoying.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 30/08/2025 19:46

I think there’s something in your title about specifically Christmas stuff, and Christmas themed displays and adverts being up really early.

I don’t agree with you OP re cheap chocolate being available for Eid being part of the problem. But those aren’t part of my Christmas in any special way tbh.

DryAndBalmy · 30/08/2025 19:24

I don’t mind if shops have a Christmas section for people who want to spread the cost and effort. What I object to is Christmas music droning on and on from far too early. Gives me a headache to just think of it. There are only so many songs and I’m sick to death of them by the time Christmas comes.

noworklifebalance · 30/08/2025 19:17

I really enjoy the long build up to Christmas - it (literally) lights up the winter for me and puts a positive spin on the cold dark days. Love the decorations, the parties, music, carols, concerts, meeting up with friends, uplifting mood, food, drinks, warm cosy jumpers, scarves etc.
I only buy presents for my children and DH. If I spot something that I think would be perfect for someone else, e.g. a sibling, then I will buy it but there is zero pressure to buy for everyone.
I am not bothered by Christmas Day, itself.

ETA: I appreciate all of the above is possible due to having a certain amount disposable income, although my DC are happy with books and small bits for Christmas. They have never asked for computer games, tech or designer gear so I am lucky in that sense.

ILoveWhales · 30/08/2025 19:01

Mikart · 30/08/2025 13:23

I ignore it. I don't decorate the house or buy traditional Xmas food so don't get sucked into the expense. We enjoy ourselves but not with Quality street or turkey!

I never like turkey. I'd rather a plate of just the trimmings. Actually thats what im having this year

Mikart · 30/08/2025 13:23

I ignore it. I don't decorate the house or buy traditional Xmas food so don't get sucked into the expense. We enjoy ourselves but not with Quality street or turkey!

Needmorelego · 30/08/2025 12:40

Christmas Movie TV Channel.
Starts September 4th 🎄

Does having Christmas stuff in the shops for 4 months of the year cause Christmas to be a letdown

FitatFifty · 30/08/2025 11:57

There’s a Christmas radio station already! Usually it’s October before they appear.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 30/08/2025 11:40

Yes

TaborlinTheGreat · 30/08/2025 11:18

Not for me. I mean... it's silly and unnecessary and I'd rather they didn't do it, but I love Christmas and I don't let it spoil it for me. It doesn't spoil it unless you let it. Anyway, a bit of a moan about Christmas stuff being in the shops too early is now pretty much a UK Christmas tradition in itself . I don't start Christmas shopping until late November and our tree goes up around the 15th December. Before that, I breeze past the Christmassy aisles in the supermarket and I never bought those giant tubs of shit chocolate anyway.

Needmorelego · 30/08/2025 10:41

Fiis · 30/08/2025 10:19

Not in the supermarkets where I live. Just Ramadan, Eid and from mid Aug to end of year. When I worked in retail, we only had them in those times and got asked all the time outside these times.

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The thing is there's two Eid festivals and it moves date every year.
If shops are purposely having stock for Eid then it's likely another festival will be happening at the same time.

Needmorelego · 30/08/2025 10:39

Fiis · 30/08/2025 10:19

Not in the supermarkets where I live. Just Ramadan, Eid and from mid Aug to end of year. When I worked in retail, we only had them in those times and got asked all the time outside these times.

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That's unusual to be honest.

ToadRage · 30/08/2025 10:30

I used to work in retail and i hated seeing all the Christmas stuff coming in in August as much as I hated seeing all the Easter eggs coming in in January. As a retail worker all Christmas means is extra hours, angry customers, busier than any other time of year, having to plan my Christmas shopping and family visits months in advance, arguing with my boss cos she wants me to do a 12 hour shift in Christmas Eve and by the time we get there I would rather cancel it and sleep all day. This year I am actually looking forward to it. I am not working so i can shop whenever I want and I don't have to work my family around my hours. My husband is a December birthday so wherever possible we don't start Christmas til after that.

Original poster

Fiis · 30/08/2025 10:19

Needmorelego · 30/08/2025 09:16

I saw massive piles of them in Morrisons yesterday. Just a price on them - no mention of any festival they could be used for.
So I don't understand what point you are making with this in connection with your thread title.
Edit : I mean I know they are sold ALL YEAR ROUND. Not just for Christmas and Eid.
Easter, Halloween, Diwali, Bonfire night, Hanukkah, Football season..... name a festival and they're there. Always there.

Edited

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Not in the supermarkets where I live. Just Ramadan, Eid and from mid Aug to end of year. When I worked in retail, we only had them in those times and got asked all the time outside these times.

OP posts:

ILoveWhales · 30/08/2025 09:19

Snowdropsaremyfavourite · 30/08/2025 08:38

I always think it's a shame when I see people panicking over presents for adults. I've heard of a lot of people cutting down this year. The cost of living has brought it all into question I guess.

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This is my partner's family.

His parents are in their late 70s. His brothers and sisters range from late forty to fifty. Youngest kids are 16.

It's grotesque the way they trip over themselves arranging several presents each for adults of that age. No sign of it cutting down.

Needmorelego · 30/08/2025 09:16

Fiis · 30/08/2025 06:17

Some people think those tubs of Roses are just Christmas things. They are not. These tubs are not sold all year round. Just Ramadan and Eid plus Christmas.

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I saw massive piles of them in Morrisons yesterday. Just a price on them - no mention of any festival they could be used for.
So I don't understand what point you are making with this in connection with your thread title.
Edit : I mean I know they are sold ALL YEAR ROUND. Not just for Christmas and Eid.
Easter, Halloween, Diwali, Bonfire night, Hanukkah, Football season..... name a festival and they're there. Always there.

MyDadWasAnArse · 30/08/2025 09:12

Snowdropsaremyfavourite · 30/08/2025 08:38

I always think it's a shame when I see people panicking over presents for adults. I've heard of a lot of people cutting down this year. The cost of living has brought it all into question I guess.

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We buy token presents among my girlfriends, a book, packets of seeds, candles, decent jam or chutney, we make a list of a few things we'd like and nothing can cost more than not more than £10.

Snowdropsaremyfavourite · 30/08/2025 08:38

Fiis · 30/08/2025 08:28

Remember a colleague at one workplace where she was panicking about what to buy her sister’s fiancé’s gran. I said to her - don’t buy anything as you are not related.

Then just buy for immediate family. She was buying for her step grandad’s DC - who were 10-15 years older than her DF. Plus her Nan only married step grandad when she was 73. Only knew the step grandfather’s DC for 5 years

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I always think it's a shame when I see people panicking over presents for adults. I've heard of a lot of people cutting down this year. The cost of living has brought it all into question I guess.

Original poster

Fiis · 30/08/2025 08:28

Snowdropsaremyfavourite · 30/08/2025 08:08

This 👆 The materialistic side of Christmas is what lets it down for me. I've been cutting down on family presents for the past couple of years due to a low income and no-one wanting gifts filling their home with unnecessary clutter. My family welcomed it. So much so, we've decided not to buy for any adults this year. The relief is incredible. I might actually enjoy Christmas this year 😊

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Remember a colleague at one workplace where she was panicking about what to buy her sister’s fiancé’s gran. I said to her - don’t buy anything as you are not related.

Then just buy for immediate family. She was buying for her step grandad’s DC - who were 10-15 years older than her DF. Plus her Nan only married step grandad when she was 73. Only knew the step grandfather’s DC for 5 years

OP posts:

ILoveWhales · 30/08/2025 08:26

@Fiis you don't have to post on social media you know.
Not you specifically let me clarify. You in the general round as in people do which is what we both mean.

I very rarely post anything on social media at christmas. Maybe I posted a picture of the walk I did but it was just scenery.

Original poster

Fiis · 30/08/2025 08:22

@ILoveWhales people feel pressured into buying stuff that nobody wants, all for showing off on SM.

I love the traditional things of Christmas - decorations (no pink or rainbow trees) but not OTT. Carols - I never tire of them. It’s the same old tired 40 songs of Wizzard, Slade, Mariah, Jonah Laurie (Stop the Cavalry) that are played to death for 6-8 weeks of the year. Especially in shops - which I have worked in retail.

The original concept of playing Xmas music was to make people cheery and spend more. Now the psychological effects have been reversed. Xmas music makes people grumpy and spend as little time as possible in the shops. It also makes the staff more exhausted. As well as being crazily busy, they use more energy to block out the music. Then when a customer made a comment about the music such as “does this music get on your nerves?” Then my brain hears the music!

The music played at my retailer employer was done centrally- so all the shops had the same song playing at the same time. They even played it 4 hours either side of trade hours! We had a solution - tape somebody’s phone onto the tannoy button playing either streaming or stuff uploaded. Oh it was lovely hearing heavy metal, rock, punk and indie music! We asked the managers could we do this permanently. No was the response. Would have loved to see the reactions of the old dears on playing Metallica etc

OP posts:

Snowdropsaremyfavourite · 30/08/2025 08:08

NoSoupForU · 28/08/2025 18:33

No. I don't think being able to buy a tub of chocolates (which are available all year in a bag or box) makes Christmas crap.

I think people putting their decorations up the second halloween passes and putting ridiculous amounts of pressure on themselves to have a mountain of expensive presents, fill every moment with activities to "make memories" and have a picture perfect table and dinner are what does it.

This 👆 The materialistic side of Christmas is what lets it down for me. I've been cutting down on family presents for the past couple of years due to a low income and no-one wanting gifts filling their home with unnecessary clutter. My family welcomed it. So much so, we've decided not to buy for any adults this year. The relief is incredible. I might actually enjoy Christmas this year 😊

ILoveWhales · 30/08/2025 07:14

There are christmas chocolates and my local sainsbury's, and some of them have expiry dates before christmas. You can't freeze them. I just don't see the point

I don't see why anyone bothers with christmas.To be honest, it's just a massive amount of food and a waste of presents. For what reason exactly.

I know religion is absolutely derided on here. Well let me correct myself christianity is. Muslims, fine, you know, let's not criticize them. But I am a Christian, and I would quite happily, just go to all the church events, the carol concerts, the volunteering events leading up to it at my church and spend christmas day itself in church and then have a nice meal during the day. To me that's christmas. My family never went over board with presents, and we were actually christians.

All the cards and presents and waste is just neither here nor there i don't actually know why people bother
The pressure you put on yourselves for no reason is ridiculous

BusWankers · 30/08/2025 07:09

Fiis · 30/08/2025 06:17

Some people think those tubs of Roses are just Christmas things. They are not. These tubs are not sold all year round. Just Ramadan and Eid plus Christmas.

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They're sold at end of school year... Easter etc

LlynTegid · 30/08/2025 06:50

I wish that Christmas stuff was not on sale until at least the autumn school half term. What I would do is have double VAT on early sales of goods and other items that are Christmas themed, in January and February on Easter eggs, for example. At least then some money could be raised for public services or to reduce taxes elsewhere.

It doesn't take anything away from Christmas for me though.