Shops have been de-Christmassed

[CharityShopChic]

And it's WONDERFUL. They must have had the elves in over the last couple of days because in both the Asda and Waitrose I was in this morning had no decorations, no festive aisles full of tat, no screeching Noddy Holder on the tannoy.

Fabulous. At last back to normal.

I worked throughout, including Christmas Day, and still feel Christmassy. It’s still Christmassy until January 6th. Nice to still have the decorations up when the DC are back to school. It keeps everything cheery. Also, DH’s birthday is 6th, so always keep decorations and tree up for that, otherwise it’s depressing.

I'm taking my tree down today. It's depressing having them around when Christmas is over.

Beyond grabby.

Next Christmas I’m going to make a conscious effort to only patronise shops who don’t do this and show a bit of respect to the season.

Shall we start making a list of those who still have decorations up/still sell Christmassy things/don’t put out Easter/Valentines things on 26th Dec? Better still, until 31st Dec! Or even Twelfth Night (but let’s not get too carried away!)

I’ve gone through the thread for shop mentions, so I’ll start:

Naughty List:
Asda
Home Bargains
JD Sports
Morrisons
Next
Sainsbury’s
Spar
Tesco
Waitrose

Nice List: just one so far!
Lidl (@Wonnle)

Forgot to add - Please reply with your suggestions and I will update the lists!

You do realise shops are businesses who employ thousands of people and need to make a profit in order to be able to pay their wages.

They are not there to indulge your 12 days of Christmas plans.

I don't know anyone who marks the 12th night, certainly not with a party etc.

I've certainly never marked the 12th night. It's back to work (prior to that) and heads down as it's my department's busiest month. I will be counting down the days until the end of January.

Sure.

So what explains those that don’t rip out the Christmas stuff by 6pm on the 24th?

Agree! I'm not sure why shops think that accelerating at breakneck speed through the seasons boosts sales. It just makes want to shop more on Amazon.

Most of the shops who still have Christmas stock in sell it at reduced prices anyway. So Christmas is over for them.

Why would you sell stuff at full price no one wants to buy after Christmas?

Does anyone know anyone that actually buys Easter stuff now? I've always wondered why the shops put it out so early, surely no one's buying?
But they wouldn't do it if it wasn't worth their while.

Probably not the big eggs etc but I bet there are people who have bought crème eggs/mini eggs already.

Of course, but I don't accept that their business model of forcing the seasons to change before most of the public is ready is a good one.

It sucks the soul out of the season, with retail workers being the collateral who seem to end up hating Christmas as a result, and is counterproductive.

I don't think anyone is arguing that things don't change after Christmas Day.... just that the season evolves and winds down for most, rather than come to a screeching halt requiring decorations to be torn down and any vestige of the season to be obliterated before Christmas Day is even over.

No one is forcing anyone to take their decorations down on a particular date, it’s a personal choice. My US relatives put their tree and decorations up straight after Thanksgiving and take them down on the day after Christmas Day (no Boxing Day there). Works perfectly for them.

Iceland is going on the naughty list. They were taking down massive cardboard baubles and throwing them onto the ground as I was trying to manoeuvre the aisles with a buggy 🙄

Are the anti Christmas decorations brigade so excited about having the full January experience (short days, cold and no money) so much that they want to banish any evidence of Christmas, as if it was a shameful and embarrassing event?

I wouldn’t do a party, but would mark it. December and January are my workplace’s busiest months, and we aren’t allowed to take leave. That’s no reason not to celebrate and mark the 12 Days. Christmas doesn’t stop on the 25th. It starts on that day.

Thank you - noted!
I’m going shopping now and will keep my eyes peeled for naughty and nice listers and will update later!

Yes it’s so odd isn’t it?
It’s almost like they find the celebration of Christmas offensive 🤷‍♀️

Why would I (and others) mark and celebrate the 12 days when it’s not something we believe in ? Some Mn posters have difficulty accepting that not everyone celebrates Christmas in the same way?

"I wouldn’t do a party, but would mark it. December and January are my workplace’s busiest months, and we aren’t allowed to take leave. That’s no reason not to celebrate and mark the 12 Days. Christmas doesn’t stop on the 25th. It starts on that day."

That might be true for you but not others.

For many, including me, the festive season is over when we return to work.

I, quite frankly, don't have time, once we are all back to school and work to plan another celebration. For us, the celebrations finish after New Year's Day. And even that's a push for me as I really dislike new year. And in all honestly by that point we have all had enough and are craving normality.

For Christians, Christmas runs from midnight on Christmas Eve until Epiphany. The four weeks before Christmas are Advent. So it’s ridiculous to take the decorations down when Christmas has barely started.
However, for retailers, who are selling us the food, presents, wrapping etc, it makes sense that they do all that in advance of the 12 day feast period itself, so perhaps don’t see much point in keeping their own decorations up beyond the point where the feast starts.
For atheists it’s just a midwinter bank holiday blowout, so it wouldn’t matter to them what the shops do, or when.

Funny, mumsnet is the only place I know where everyone is a grinch and takes their tree down the moment the first bit of wrapping paper touches the floor.

And it's the only place I know where people leave their decorations up beyond Jan 1st.

I’ve worked throughout, including Christmas Day. The festive season continues, whether or not I personally am at work.