To think Christmas has started earlier than ever this year?

[whirlygirly]

House round the corner has had decs and flashing lights up since October half term. Fb feed now full of peoples decorated trees. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas - in December!

Someone's just posted on our local selling site that their wrapped presents were nicked from under the tree early last week (and obviously that's shit) but in honesty, I was really wondering who is organised enough to have everything wrapped and plonked under the tree by mid November?

I really don't remember ever noticing this before this year. Maybe I'm the odd one though

Well, it is the first Sunday of Advent already but no, I don't know many people who put up their Christmas trees and wrapped presents in mid-November! Are you sure the poster is genuine and not one phishing for gifts/money?!?!

I think we always reckon it's getting earlier but this year I think you may have a point. Was in Homebase today getting drain cleaner and the car park was really busy. When I got inside, the Christmas department was heaving, while the rest of the store was as you'd normally expect on a Sunday. In a lot of the trolleys and baskets that I saw, there were lights/decs in them. It's not even December yet.

It's less than a month now. I think it's always in full flow by now, although years when the first few days of December are week days always mean more trees at the end of November (people seem to put it up early rather than late and no one seems to build a tree on a work night!)

we were talking about this earlier and I just think that so many people have been filled with differing worried emotions this year, first the brexit and then Trump.

Christmas is just something that "promises" to bring everyone together. I know that in reality it doesn't but it's the idea that people cling on to.

I think we'll get the decs down for a stocktake next weekend. Every year I buy more because I can't remember what we own. Same with wrapping paper. That would be an advantage to starting early.

Rabbit, that's a really good point, I think many of us can't wait to see the back of 2016. Funny old year from start to finish.

Yes. Yes it bloody has!

Today is Advent Sunday, so that is the start of the Christmas season for many.

Before Advent Sunday always seems rather premature to me.

I think it's because it's been such an awful year, with Brexit, Trump, food banks and so many worries. Pretending it's Christmas in November is probably just a way of forgetting all that's gone on.