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

[Fiis]

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?

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.

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

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

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...

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

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 It also bugs me that a load of the Christmas food they have on the shelves is out of date long before the day itself so you can't really buy it in advance anyway!

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

I remember about 10 years ago, Tesco had buy 1 pack of mince pies, get 2 packs free in 2nd half Sept. Customers were stocking up. Looked at the dates, mid Nov!

The fresh Xmas stuff like stuffing, I will buy and freeze if see a reduced sticker on it if shopping around 10th Dec. Some of the fresh lines are the same all year, but just use Xmas themed packaging. Examples include sausage rolls and cream.

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

Sainsbury’s mince pies in store last week.

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.

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

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.

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 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 .

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 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.

Interesting, which Europe countries are you talking about? I live in a mainland European country and the people here have been complaining for years over premature festive fare on sale.

Agreed! Same with Halloween too.

People that put decorations up at start of November have their decorations up for almost 20% of the flipping year! Which is madness to me.

And those that do that and then rip them all down on boxing day because they're sick of them - how unchristmassy is that!

It’s being wished away in favour of consume, consume, consume.

I spend too much time on Instagram etc and people start talking about “cost season@ in August! It’s absolute insanity.

Meh, I don't know why people get their knickers in such a twist about this. The shops are full of stuff I don't want to buy at any given time. Just walk on by and get on with your day.

I have just bought my first Christmas presents and wrapping paper because I like to spread the cost and the decision making. It's much easier to just buy now than save the money in a separate place and rush around doing it all in December at a time when other people decide I am allowed to feel festive. I don't care if other random people don't like my shopping habits, it's none of their business.

I don't go mad Xmas as it is too meaningless and materialistic.

I am Buddhist anyway.

I hate the stupidly early Christmas shopping.

It’s depressing enough knowing that we are heading towards months of dark and cold without retailers shoving it in our faces in August. Christmas is a difficult time of year for many and it doesn’t help to have it extended. Even when people enjoy Christmas, it makes it less special if you see the associated stuff for 5+ months of the year.

My friend who used to work for Sainsburys said she used to put the Xmas chocolate out around Sept 10th as it’s her DD’s birthday. Now it’s out a fortnight earlier.

I heard of people putting up their Christmas tree etc early Nov. Then moan a month later that they are sick of the tree etc. Why put it up early???