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

I saw Xmas stuff in the supermarket yesterday and it made me smile. I don’t really understand how it being there makes Christmas a letdown. Things are what you make of them. Just avoid it if you feel like that.

The festive stuff starts so
early that despite finding it surreal when I see it, I also feel a bit of withdrawal when it’s over. It’s like I am bludgeoned into Christmas submission (people with their trees up since November 1st, Slade playing in every shop, barely an item of clothing for sale that isn’t sparkly, and lobster in the supermarket, for two solid months).

But even though it’s still dark and freezing on 3rd January it’s like ‘fuck you, here’s some kettlebells, 6000 articles about intermittent fasting and a Creme Egg.’

Frankly I don’t want to have to raw-dog January. I feel like a re-entry period (we keep the LED candles in the windows and the white twinkly lights, and maybe, I dunno, a long weekend round about the 22nd where we sit all day in PJs and eat discount Stilton and fruitcake) is in order.

I was literally about to mention my thread 🤭. It absolutely is about budgeting and the shops know that if they don't put it on the shelves early then canny shoppers will be buying it online , to get ahead.

@smoulderingmould some people are so poor shit at budgeting that they may not have the £50 or whatever amount now, let alone in December so they need to be reminded that something has to give , whether it's cancelling a subscription for a few months or buying cheaper food .

I don’t really have an issue with stuff being in the shops early, as it helps people budget. I don't go in supermarkets much because i shop online.

I do however have an issue with those who put up decorations mega early. it means they build up Christmas so much that the day itself is a disappointment and they rip the tree down on Boxing Day because they bought it in early November and its now half naked.

For me, delayed gratification is where its at.

I went to the garden centre last week and they have all their Christmas displays up and a German Christmas market. It’s 28 degrees and school holidays. Let’s get the D.C. exited four months in advance.

Also New Year’s Day the summer holiday adverts start.

I hate Christmas. Absolutely detest it. Not because I'm a grinch but because it is full of sadness for me. I don't get worked up over the supermarkets though. I just don't go down that aisle. As for Christmas music, when they start playing that in shops, I just wear my earphones and listen to my own music.

Sainsbury’s mince pies in store last week.

Yes it completely dilutes it
And its also managing to get bigger and bigger every year in terms of expectations

I don't buy my food till near the day (preorder some stuff). Half of the stuff goes off before Christmas other wise.

Personally I don’t want it mentioned until the 1st of December and then it can be everywhere and music everywhere and it would be great. I fully expect it to be in the shops from Easter next year and honestly it’s just so boring now.

I hate it and I would love to ignore it all but if you wait until December there is nothing left! It also bugs me that a load of the Christmas food they have on the shelves is out of date long before the day itself so you can't really buy it in advance anyway!

@Gingernaut I don't understand the budgeting argument. Rather than spending £50 now why not save that till later?

The problem is that, as someone pointed out in another thread, there are only three or four pay days to Christmas

People on a budget have to prepare...

No because I dont have to buy it till I want too

There is no law forcing anyone to buy anything before December if they don't want to...

Well the fact there isn't stuff left

I find it depressing to see Halloween and Christmas stuff advertised in August which is still the summer holidays. I like to enjoy living in the current season, however, it feels like my life is being wished away.

I find it depressing to see Halloween and Christmas stuff advertised in August which is still the summer holidays. I like to enjoy living in the current season, however, it feels like my life is being wished away.

I've had this conversation with my daughter, who is 10, and she feels it is less special because by the time Christmas gets here you're used to it. I agree with her.

This!!! Over-commercialised bollocks. The true meaning of Christmas has been lost amongst the tat and forced fun.

I would truly love a more basic Christmas, in my head I envision something like 'Kirsty's Homemade Christmas' where I dedicate an afternoon in front of the fire to making decorations from walnuts and glitter.
I would go on a glass making course to make my baubles and spend three days foraging for the perfect pieces for my Christmas wreath.
My children (now 18 & 15) would be dressed in middle class victorian attire and be immensely grateful for the satsuma and little frivolous trinket in their stocking.
Christmas Dinner would be fresh, organic and homemade (down to the stuffing, yorkshires and gravy) followed by a piece of fruity homemade Christmas cake.
In reality, I work full time so don't have hours to devote to making decorations and my kids have certain expectations when it comes to their gifts (my fault entirely) so being able to pick bits up from now until Christmas is handy. I reuse decorations every year but I do buy a few extras most years so being able to pick them up when I have the money makes things much easier. I don't think it takes the excitement away, like everything else in life, if it doesn't float your boat just don't participate until you are ready. There is no law forcing anyone to buy anything before December if they don't want to...

Those 9 children weren’t expecting the gifts children today request and the social pressures were far less. Many people need time to spread the cost, prep time and that’s ok too.