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?

@Onetimeusername1 I never understand that argument & I save for christmas.

I have a cousin who has her tree up and is fully decorated in November. And then she takes it all down on boxing day.

It must work for the shops and increase sales.

And I really don't understand people who decorate for Christmas in November but want it packed away on Boxing day.

@Unpaidviewer x post!

I hate it in October

I BLOODY HATE IT!! Let’s just wait until December at least

I’m not particularly well off so I start shopping as soon as it’s available in the shops that way I only spend a couple of hundred a month over 4 months and it’s not so noticeable.
I don’t tend to look at it as how many months away but how many pay days away.

I save up small amounts all year for it and we do the best we can. Yours sounds miserable @smallglassbottle.

Well I only get paid another 2 times before Christmas so it helps me.

It doesn’t in my house. I don’t really ‘go shopping’ as an activity so I don’t ‘see’ Christmas in shops either. We observe Advent and then celebrate Christmas from the 24th. Our tree goes up on Christmas Eve. I’m sure our Christmas looks very similar to the Christmases of my ancestors 50 years, 100 years, 150 years ago.

It is what you choose.

I think there’s two things coming together.

1. Increased commercialism, meaning shops are encouraged to bring the Christmas decorations and displays out earlier and earlier to increase spending. If everyone saved up and did the spending in December, they’d see how much they were buying more easily and spend less. Instead, buying bit by big makes it feel like you’re not buying as much
2. People being less inclined to look forward to things. Delayed gratification isn’t a thing for some people any more. They put up their tree in November, because why should they wait for the enjoyable thing? Which means they’re looking to buy decorations earlier, so shops are making sales, so the next year the displays go up earlier again.

@stargirl1701 I wish I didn't have to food shop but I get hungry. Not everywhere does online delivery

Im fine with it being in shops early so there's lots of time to get organised and enjoy all the more fun activities through December. Halloween gets in the way, I'd support cancelling that.

So you put the money aside until nearer the time..I never understand this argument.

Yes! This is the other thing I hate. Ppl who've had their decorations up since November announcing on Boxing Day they're taking everything down because they're fed up with them and Christmas now.

Been to at least 6 different countries in Europe that celebrate Christmas in Oct and hardly any Xmas stuff in the shops.

If these countries can do this, why can't we?

I believe having mainly crap Christmas stuff in the shops for 4 months, starting with cards, makes the day itself a letdown

Christmas paraphernalia and advertising should be banned in retail outlets until 1st December.

I don't understand spreading the cost. I buy late Nov early Dec. If I can't afford it at that point I don't buy it. Yes I do have kids and even they don't get the commercialisation of it. Our Christmas is happy, we just don't buy endless gifts and tat

I don’t like it, no.
I absolutely agree with the poster who said you end up spending more if you start buying things early. Whenever I’ve done this I’ve ended up buying twice. Forgetting what I’ve bought, being convinced to buy more etc etc.
It’s all a marketing ploy to spend spend spend.
We haven’t got through Halloween yet, nor bonfire night.

I have heard people who say that they are sick of the Christmas tree before Xmas when they put it up early Nov.

Don't put up the tree that early then!!!

@lampshadez

I live rurally in Northern Scotland but can still get online supermarket shopping delivered. We do buy from farm shops and some local shops deliver too - the fishmonger and the greengrocer.

Wham is currently playing, as it happens, in my shop this morning. (Wake Me up before you gogo)

@stargirl1701 Aldi and Lidl don't do it.

It’s only the retail/marketing that starts this early.

I still remember going with my auntie on Christmas Eve to buy presents. The memory will stay with me forever. It was magical. I seriously doubt any child would get the same feeling doing it today, on a sunny autumn day.