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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

143 replies

Fiis · 28/08/2025 18:30

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?

OP posts:
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.

ShowOfHands · 28/08/2025 18:33

It's part of a Capitalist society. Back to School stuff is in stock in July, Easter eggs in December. Businesses need to make money and people need to spread the cost.

Doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I like it.

hattie43 · 28/08/2025 18:34

Not a let down necessarily but it definitely reduces the excitement when you see it all for so long .

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 28/08/2025 18:34

No, I think Christmas becomes a letdown because people have ridiculously high expectations over what is essentially just another day.

ilovelamp82 · 28/08/2025 18:35

Nope. Some people enjoy spreading out the build up. The people that don't should just go about their lives until they're happy to get more involved.

Is it strange having Christmas stuff out while it's sunny? Yes. Does it actually matter? No.

FourTop · 28/08/2025 18:35

I've just pre ordered an advent calendar mentioned on another thread. It won't arrive for ages and I obviously won't use it til December, but it's nice to look forward to.

Lmnop22 · 28/08/2025 18:36

I don’t think so! Christmas stuff in my home makes me feel festive but seeing advent calendars in Asda in September doesn’t. So I just put my tree up and decorate the house when I’m ready to lean into Christmas

ILoveLukeAlderton · 28/08/2025 18:37

I hate it and I never get the ‘people need to spread the cost’ thing - obviously I know they do but why can’t you just save a bit each month instead of buying presents early? I’m sick of Xmas by the time it arrives - I work in retail so I understand why it happens but I don’t like it.

FourTop · 28/08/2025 18:37

Also, Eid isn't always at the same time of year (moves forward), so not sure how that's relevant except it's also a religious celebration.

Gloriia · 28/08/2025 18:37

It does not bother me at all. Many people are short of funds and like to spread the cost by stocking up early. So easy to avoid the 'seasonal aisle' if it becomes too overwhelming.

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 28/08/2025 18:38

ILoveLukeAlderton · 28/08/2025 18:37

I hate it and I never get the ‘people need to spread the cost’ thing - obviously I know they do but why can’t you just save a bit each month instead of buying presents early? I’m sick of Xmas by the time it arrives - I work in retail so I understand why it happens but I don’t like it.

Because if the money is in savings, it can be spent on other things, whereas if you've spent it on gifts, it's gone and you don't need to worry, I guess.

user764329056 · 28/08/2025 18:38

Most definitely

LimbOnTheBranchBranchOnTheTreeTheTreeInTheBog · 28/08/2025 18:38

I start my Christmas shopping in January, I start making decorations in June, I put my decorations up in November.

I still absolutely love the whole thing, I don't think having things in shops early dilutes it at all, it's just there for those of us who like it, and easily avoided at this point because it's just one aisle for everyone else.

menopausalfart · 28/08/2025 18:40

I can't stand Christmas or Halloween. The next months for me are unbearable.

Pippapotamus · 28/08/2025 18:40

Ive just been moaning to DH about b&m having Christmas things out already. I love Christmas but not in August. Even the Halloween stuff is too early. I think its because we dont always distinct seasons anyway and now the shops are merging them, let me enjoy summer and autumn for they are!

pinotnow · 28/08/2025 18:42

I don't understand why people care so much about this. The shops are full of stuff all the time that I don't want so I just ignore it all and go about my business. I do think if I put my tree up in November would spoil it for me so I don't do that. I don't care about people who do though, even when I have to drive past them.

Lavenderandbrown · 28/08/2025 18:44

Every year in the USA there is aome
news article or some television news commentary about Christmas spending being down or not as expected and every year I think well it’s because it’s been out since September and people are not interested

hmmnotreallysure · 28/08/2025 18:46

I hate it!
I went in to Tesco today and saw the Christmas chocolates and it really pissed me off! We're still on our school summer holidays. I don't mind seeing the autumnal decor as I'm feeling like I'm ready for a season change but not 2 season changes! I'm trying to get over the expense of summer without having to think about the impending expense of Christmas!

WonderingWanda · 28/08/2025 18:46

I just don't go down the seasonal aisles until I'm ready. We already have decorations , I don't feel the need to replace them every year and I don't begin to think about Christmas till after dc's birthday in Nov.

In fact I care very little about what the shops are doing. Things I love in the run up to Christmas are making my Christmas cake, making a wreath (going for a long foraging walk for greenery), buying a sparkly outfit and maybe visiting a national trust property. I do most of that (not the cake) and my Christmas shopping in Dec. We have lots of family traditions for Christmas and it's always a lovely time.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 28/08/2025 18:47

I agree with you BUT

Eid stuff should be marketed as eid stuff

So roses etc should be marketed as 'Eid Mubarak' buy your tubs now

I myself love when eid comes around, i always stock up on big bags of rice 🤭, I also love seeing the girls with their henna done

Then christmas should be advertised as such from November

I also plan to buy myself 8 days worth of presents for Hanukkah this year - so would welcome 8 days worth of bargains 🤗

Christmas stuff should be advertised after Halloween x

Edit, I hope 8 days of bargains isnt rude? Apologies if so x

Needmorelego · 28/08/2025 18:48

When I worked in a shop and Christmas was in my face almost every day from August onwards - I hated Christmas with a passion.
Now I don't work in a shop and I am just there to buy things I ignore most of the seasonal products.
I didn't even realise there was a dedicated seasonal aisle in an Asda I sometimes go to because it was next to aisles I have no need to go down (pet food and booze).
It's easy to avoid if you don't want to look at it.

OonaStubbs · 28/08/2025 18:48

Christmas should be banned in shops until 25th of November at the very earliest. And preferably until 1st December. It's just one day.

Jeschara · 28/08/2025 18:49

I love Christmas, but in December, real tree, getting the presents and buying the food. I use my Nectar at Christmas only so the food is paid for by that.
The only exception I make is I buy my son and Grandson, at their request, football shirts in August.
I ignore all the Christmas things in the shops until December. Makes it more magical.

SisterMargaretta · 28/08/2025 18:50

I do think it can make people feel fed up with Christmas by the time it comes. No wonder some people seem to take all their decorations down on Boxing Day.

I find it annoying how the shops always seem to be so far ahead of the calendar. I went to a shopping centre at the beginning of August to get some holiday clothes for DD and it was full of knitwear and winter coats, I could hardly get anything she needed. Went to France for two weeks and everything in the shops was still summer based - swimming things and sun cream everywhere, not a woolly jumper in sight. Got back to the UK to find the shops full of Halloween and autumnal decorations. Who are these people buying special cushions for autumn?

CountryMouse22 · 28/08/2025 18:50

I thought it was bad having Halloween stuff in Dunelm Mill in the store today!