Where has Christmas gone?

[coragreta]

Every year I say 'Christmas is getting earlier every year' but this year I feel the exact opposite. No Christmas adverts, hardly any Christmas stuff in the shops, no Christmas films on tv. I am starting to wonder if my perception is skewed or if there really is less Christmas stuff around than this time last year.
I specifically remember last year saying 'can't believe all the Christmas stuff and it's not even Halloween yet' and the John Lewis advert first aired 16th November which seemed like ages after all the others last year. I haven't seen a single Christmas advert, not even a dfs delivered in time for Xmas which started in September last year.
Where has Christmas gone? (Or did I imagine things starting in October previous years)

It's not everywhere, and the places that I've seen it have had a very limited range. I expect they are waiting until November to bring out a full range.

I agree about the films, music etc though. I try to avoid that before the end of November as it just feels wrong!

There's Christmas decorations, advent calanders, food in my store already!

Christmas 24 has been on for weeks, I watched a film today as it happens.

The shops definitely aren't as Christmas orientated right now as they were this time last year but I am pretty certain come the first of November that will all change.

The only Christmas advert I have seen is for Disneyland Paris but I think it's still too early for the ads.

Apparently it's a deliberate retail strategy - aimed at selling as much Hallowe'en tat as possible before the Christmas marketing rush starts.

Retailers are playing it a bit low-key this year -- sales are down and no-one knows what's going to happen after Brexit.

M&S used to bring out their food ordering book the end of August, then it moved to mid then late September and this year it was already into October before they launched it.

It has felt lower key this year so far, but I dont Mind that as long as we can still talk about it to our hearts content in places like this board! 🤶

I agree that it's a bit lower key this year. I've bought most of our treats and presents but I have yet to see a panforte in any of the shops, so I know that Christmas is Not Really On Yet.

Not in Ireland ! The Christmas stuff is beside the Halloween stuff in the supermarket. I bought 4 selection boxes the other day (they're gifts for someone who's celebrating Christmas early) . The TV has Christmas movies showing ages now. The ads are all for smyths and different toys. The tubs of overpriced chocolates are stacked like it's the end of the world. Shops are advertising their Christmas stuff, things like trees decorations etc. Some neighbour's put up Halloween lights and I had nearly forgotten Halloween was still to come with the amount of Christmas things going on.

I feel the same as you OP. I wanted to do DS's first Christmas eve box last week in Sainsburys and managed to get a little Santa mug and a Christmas biscuit tin but there were no Christmas PJs or socks. Lots of Halloween stuff though so it'll all spring up then.

My friend in retail management says her chain pushed back their big Christmas launch because of Brexit factors. Holding extra stock of basics in case of no-deal on 31st Oct has limited the space available for Christmas stock and made logistics more complex so they’ve only launched a small range at normal date and the big launch will be November.

*scratches head

Christmas has been EVERYWHERE for about a month! I've bought and wrapped every present and written all the 'special' Christmas cards 🤣 I have three significant birthdays to buy for in December and I've even got those sorted, wrapped and cards written. Bring on 25th December!

Actually it's a bit odd for me - think I'm over compensating for the fact that this year will be the first time in my life that I've spent the holidays alone - I'm late 40s! My family are scattered about and my adult DC will be spending it with their partners families this year.

Christmas pudding for one??!!

M&S food has been October for at least the last few years, so that's not unusual. And John Lewis has been September for a while too.

It's only the last couple of weeks that I've seen the shops really ramping it up, it has to be said (I wander round a city centre in my lunch break).

I hate all the Chinese plastic Halloween landfill shit....yet more unnecessary blight on the planet

I've finished Christmas shopping and there's no need to have Christmas themed stuff in the shops to buy nice presents. I buy all through the year.

Same here, Blue. All done (unless the Aeropress drops in price before Christmas for DH, though that may be a birthday present as that's 23.12)!

I never really see much christmas stuff until after Halloween.

Still feel like we haven't kicked into full Christmas mode yet. I know it's still only November but I've yet to see a Christmas advert. there are more Christmas decorations up in shops but still not full out.

I'm inclined to agree. I've seen a couple of Christmas adverts and things in shops but it doesn't seem to have gone all-out like it usually does after bonfire night.

I've seen at least Asda and Matalan full on Christmas ads, our local shopping centre is full scale decorations, even the local Morrison's has a tree! The worst thing I e seen is someone on my fb has taken their kids to see SANTA! It's still 6 weeks away. How do you keep the momentum going, you wonder.

Tbf someone on fb has put up their tree. Not sure what my local shopping centre is doing with their lights as the big switch on was cancelled.

I'm an avid follower of christmasuk.org and even they seem a little dialled back this year. They themselves say that the ads are a bit lacklustre. And yes, it was much later getting going in the shops - in previous years I remember DD calling me from Asda to tell me they had their Christmas aisle in at the end of September, this year it wasn't fully in until last week. M&S usually have cards and wrap from late August, this year I didn't see any until early October.

If you go onto Christmas UK they have a search tool so you can see what was happening on any given date in the previous eight run-ups, so you can see exactly how things compare.

Obviously it's got a lot to do with Brexit, and now we have an election to distract us all too. I suppose in the current climate lots of people don't have much stomach for Christmas, which is a shame because this year more than most I feel like I could do with the escapism for a few weeks.

clicky link to Christmas UK

OP quite a few Christmas adverts have been showing for the last few days at least; Asda, M&S, Argos, Amazon, Lidl, Boots and I am sure there are a couple of others I can't think of at the moment.