Is it a little less Christmassy this year?

[lightningrods]

I like Christmas but have to admit, when the ads and shops start with it in early October, I find it a bit too much. Years back, I know some brands wouldn’t start their Christmas promotions until after Remembrance Sunday and to me, that felt like a good pace. But over the years, felt like it was getting earlier and earlier - of course, if you love Christmas, then that’ll be your dream come true! 😂

Anyway, this year where we live it just seems to be much more reserved. Shops are slowly ramping up now it’s the end of November and it feels like a manageable pace to me. A friend who’s in retail management told me that ‘going hard and early’ on Christmas hasn’t actually helped anyone’s profits - it’s just led to people buying earlier but not ‘more’.

Anyway, wondering how ‘Christmassy’ it is near you? Have you noticed a change this year?

No, I don't think so. There are plenty of goods in the shops.

The only change I have noticed is the councils have less to spend on lights. And it is still only November. Who has the energy to start Christmas yet? It loses its appeal if you start too soon.

This doesn't make sense - a month 'shouldn't exist' just because there's an option to start preparing for christmas, if you choose?

We've decorated (and done some shopping), the decorations and lights have cheered our household up - we live really far north, the days ars short and often dull. Each to their own.

There is stuff arriving in the shops but I think it might be me who is less focused on Christmas. All my children are pretty much grown so the magical side isn’t there now. Plus I’m decorating so focused on that.

I think importing Black Friday has changed the dynamic completely and that’s perhaps what you are sensing. Most people are aware that the prices are being inflated from September so they can be dropped in November and so they avoid buying earlier.

We are doing all the shopping this week because of the sales and because our work ramps up in the next few weeks and then it'll be too late.

I am not feeling at all christmassy. It's all a massive pita this year. I have drowning in raffle tickets for various clubs and school Xmas fayres, have long lists of performances to attend, everything is just bloody expensive. Urgh!

Starting to think of Scrooge had married, his wife would be the happiest person around because she wouldn't have to deal with it all.

Why do you want to feel “Christmassy”

Christmas is the end of December

The festive season is longer than that, plus some of us just want to bring light and colour in the dark winter.

Nope, Christmas seems to start earlier every year here.

I feel is gone crazy in my area, I popped into home bargains yesterday to get some washing up liquid & cleaning stuff & there was que to get into the car park, the shop was busy & there were lot's of people Christmas shopping (tinsel, toys etc). Thankfully all the tills were open (which never happens). Urghh

Sounds bliss !

No. I think it’s more Christmassy this year for me.

I have never liked it when shops and adverts start turning Christmassy before November, and I have seen a lot of Christmas related stuff before Halloween this year. While I prefer Christmas only stuff from December, I feel like end of November is ok enough as advent usually begins around this time in some churches.

I hope in the future we go back to having a shorter buildup to Christmas as I agree it ruins the mood a bit.

No, it seems about the same here. Early Christmas stuff doesn’t bother me though - I mostly just ignore it. I don’t feel at all in the mood until about now.

I have noticed the shops haven’t gone as hard or as early where I am either. I don’t really do the modern Christmas thing, more of a chilled out Yule vibe here so it doesn’t really affect me either way, I suppose. It’s nice not to be nominated with annoying Christmas songs when I do need to shop though!

The shops are definitely not as full of Christmas tat by me as they normally are and I'm really appreciating it! Really noticing it's less full on in general this year. Maybe it'll suddenly go nuts on 1st December!

If only! I can’t stand all the Christmas ‘hard sell’ weeks and weeks before Christmas. I just ignore it all and always have a low-key, low cost Christmas. The Christmas threads on here are insane. It’s one day. One day!

I don’t really know, I don’t go into shops that often tbh! Supermarket delivery once a week, dh goes to the butchers at the weekend and I do the majority of my other shopping online. If I ever do need to nip into a shop I’m usually on my own with my headphones on and am going directly to the one item I need and it hanging about so I think festivities pass me by!
Yesterday though dd wanted us to go to the shops together (I suspect she just wanted me to drive my car and save her the petrol and parking money 😂😂) and shops were playing Christmas music and the queues were nuts. I still think it’s a bit early for Christmas excitement personally but at least we’re 2/3 of the way through November now and it’s not the middle of September.

It's more Christmassy then ever where I live - I've never known so many houses with decorations up this early. We had quite a few people foraging in the fields to make their own wreaths and garlands as well which is lovely.

I find 'Black Friday' sales in the UK really annoying. For one thing, they seem to last for weeks on end, which is not the meaning of the thing at all. It is a one day event. Black Friday is the day after Thanksiving in the USA when everyone has gone home for Thanksgiving, and they all have the following day off work. Retailers encourage them to go shopping, and total chaos ensues. Hence the term coined by the American police in the 1950's.

British retailers are simply piggybacking onto a thing from another country's culture in order to get us to part with our money early. It vastly improves their cashflow and moves it forward by a few weeks, enabling them to pay their suppliers for all that Christmas stock.

I have not noticed a difference myself, but if the OP is correct, that is no bad thing. Hope it extends to other events.

Thank you.

I describe it as going through the motions but it’s still November. Christmas usually doesn’t properly start until the schools break up and then it feels more like it.

I’m bored to tears already. I cannot stand it. As the years go by I feel less and less inclined to care. I’d love to see nothing at all Christmas related in the shops until December. The only reason I don’t insist on going away is my mum, who’s on her own. The more I think about Christmas, the angrier I feel.

I’m generous with gifts and I like the time off work with my immediate family but the rest of the season can go away.

So if it’s “less Christmassy”, good!

Hate it. We are only free of Christmas 9 months of the year.
The endless build is so boring and over the top.
Like to see it scaled right back and only see things at the start of December. Christmas ads too, start of December.
Way to commercialised. I hope one day there's a real pushback against Christmas.