To wonder why does Christmas start so early in the UK and are you happy with that

[TheFateofOphelia]

I was in John Lewis yesterday and a huge part of the ground floor was taken up with Christmas trees and decorations. My heart sank because, much as I enjoy the festive season, I want it to start mid Nov not end of August as it does in supermarkets.

Anyday now they'll be blasting out "Do they know it's Christmas." The what shall we do with Uncle Stanley on Christmas Day threads are popping up on MN. Do you like it starting in Autumn or will you join my pointless 'Let's keep Christmas in December' campaign?

I’m with you.
It’s a retail thing, they started it.
It never used to start so early. It’s all about trying to extend the time to get consumers to part with as much cash as possible by making them think they need to start in September. That way they keep spending for 3 months, forgetting what they’ve bought, adding extras, buying new things as more and more items are launched in the run up, it’s all about the money.

I'm just ignoring it....absolutely love it from mid November. However, I may be doing pigs in blankets with todays roast.... But just because they are delicious but because of Christmas!

I thought the same in Aldi yesterday. I know Christmas things start to come early, but this year there is a whole aisle to Christmas stuff already!!! Normally it would be a little section and then grow, but this year that seem to have gone full on already. I was tempted to buy a Christmas pudding for dinner but luckily held off 🤣

You don't have to do things just because shops tell you to. It's mildly annoying but not that hard to tune it out.

I have started buying gifts, but that's actually so I can enjoy Dec and not spend my evenings amd weekends trying to source three teens' presents. I agree on the overkill of Christmas paraphernalia in the shops already.

1. Because it is our main holiday / holy day if you're christian
2. I don't mind especially, and do enjoy the "can you believe it? Mince pies? In OCTOBER?!" threads and chats we get to have in the run up. Just nice to know we are going to repeat the same things every year, down to the annual mince pie and wham outrage 😂

Christmas starts on 25th December, and ends on 12th night (and in the church, the Christmas season ends on Candlemas in February).

I’ve learned to tune out all the many winks and nudges that are thrown at us every day: adverts in general, retail “seasons”, royal propaganda (I did not watch platty joobs or the coronation), political propaganda, internet propaganda, mumsnet propaganda. I make up my own mind about many things.

This. Just don't engage.

I hate it, I really do. I used to like Christmas but this feels like a giant nightmarish juggernaut heading full speed towards more more more

Perhaps its because I don't have the money to spend on thoughtful, one off gifts. Perhaps it's because I'm involved in looking after elderly family members and at least one suffered dreadfully due to lack of resources over Christmas - all of December and the first few weeks of January are tied up with "but it's Christmas" .

I'm not religious but I think I'd rather the Christian elements outweighed the drive for consumption

And I'm not a grinch, I love my family and cosiness and old fashioned wrapping paper patterns and gifts and decorations and the break from the norm. It just feels too much.

More more more more more more more

I hate it this early, I just refuse to engage till mid November.

I agree. Christmas stuff should be out on 1st Nov. After Halloween. I love seeing the Christmas stuff and getting festive but 7 weeks is plenty of time for shopping. Having it out for for nearly 4 months means you get fed up with it come Christmas.

Because people need several pay days to spread the cost of buying things.

I just ignore it until late November.

1. Because of excessive commercialisation

1. No not happy with It!

This.

It doesn't bother me. I like to get everything sorted early so I can properly enjoy the Christmas vibes through December.

I don't particularly like Easter or Mother's Day so I just ignore everything to do with those once they start appearing everywhere. Why can't Christmas haters just do that?

I liked it when Christmas started in November as in the shops stocked things later, Light switch ons were more likely late November. Some people shopped early but that’s it.

I ignore it all till December. I love Christmas but my tree goes up in December and comes down early Jan when i’ve a shift off work. I get why people go early because Winter can be depressing but not for me.

I was in john Lewis recently and seen all their Christmas trees/lights/decorations etc too. It felt far too early!!

Some people need to spread the cost so they might start getting things earlier than you. Don’t look if it bothers you.

I will join your campaign@TheFateofOphelia, but i agree, it unfortunately does feel pointless 😕

Yes it feels a bit early but means people who need to can spread the cost, we buy when we chose too but just because I think it is early does not mean I think it should be banned i get tired of this 'i am against it so it shouldn't happen' thing i jiat ignore it till I am ready

I’ve usually just ignored it. This year I’ve been having a crap time of it and am actually grateful for something to look forward to

I don’t hate it as much as Halloween. That can fuck right off.

I agree with you OP retail has destroyed all holidays for pure greed.
They do it with every seasonal holiday have Halloween and Christmas stuff out in August in most shops these days and then by December not even before Christmas is over they get all the Easter stuff out.
I use to love Christmas songs and decs now I get fed up of it all by December because it’s been over used before Christmas has even begun.

Due to the cost of living we can't afford to do a western Christmas even though we're Christian so we just ignore it. We'll just have a roast chicken and the adult dcs will get a few sweets in a stocking. I don't know how anyone can afford a typical Christmas anymore tbh.