Bah Humbug

[Elaine]

Going into a card shop yesterday, wanting a birthday card for my Dad, I was faced with a whole wall dedicated to Christmas cards.
Consequently, the range of cards for Father/Dad was considerably reduced. I have got used to buying a card for my November born son in the summer for this reason but it now seems I will have to buy a card for anyone who is born after July, much earlier than before.

Is there really any need for Christmas stuff to be in the shops this early?

I know I'm a bit "Bah Humbug" but there is a limit! Next weekend, all the Christmas chocolates and selection boxes will be on our shelves at Morrisons and it really annoys me to have the Festive Season thrust upon me so early in the year.

Am I the only one to feel so strongly about it?
Surely not...........
Cheers

[Piglet6]

No, I know you're not the only one to think that way. I don't mind it, but it does seem to be getting earlier and earlier.

Maybe it is earlier this year because the shops think people want to spread the cost of Christmas even more.

[alan refail]

A merry Christmas from Wales to you old humbugs

[glallotments]

I hate early Christmases too when the garden centres seem to forget what they really are and move out the gardening stuff to make room for Christmassy things and Santa's grotto!!

If you can find some gardening things you have to browse to the strains of Hark the Herald!

[Johnboy]

I just dislike Christmas.
JB.

[glallotments]

I hate to say it but I'm with you there JB.

[pongeroon]

Me too

[lizzie]

And me...........I hate Christmas and New Year. I wish I could go and live on a remote island somewhere from about November until it is all over and done with. Just can't be bothered with it at all

BAH HUMBUG

[Mike Vogel]

I don't mind Christmas etc; it's the vulgar commercialism that annoys me and the rowdy moronising that passes for entertainment these days. And yes, i agree: it all starts far too early. If we are Christmasizing from August onwards, then what's so special about the day itself?

[alan refail]

Hi Humbugs

Let's apply a little logic to the situation.

If you think of all the businesses - large and small - which have gone bust over the past twelve months or so, is it any wonder that those that remain are pinning their futures on Christmas trade? As for garden centres, there isn't a great deal of garden trade till the new year. If santa's grotto and christmas lights weren't there to make them money in the dark days, how would you feel if they went bust and weren't there for you the rest of the year?

Oh, and while I'm at it, the winter/solstice festival has been hijacked by the churches for far too long, so it's only fair that commerce should have a turn to cheer us through the dark days to come

[oldherbaceous]

You must all like mistletoe, don't you!

Now they could start selling that earlier without me minding.
Then that would keep the pharmaceutical companies busier each year selling cold remedies.

[Stephen]

I'm not against Christmas per se but it is supposed to be seasonal for crying out loud! We need to get Halloween and Guy Fawkes night out of the way first, then it is time for Christmas. I would like to confine the thing to the Advent period, but know this won't happen.
Regarding the commercial imperative, surely the apparently endless spread of it over the calendar diffuses its impact? Would the shops not do better to compress their effort into a smaller period to obtain a greater "high" from it?

[Elle's Garden]

I am with Stephen on this one, I personally love Christmas and spend lovely evenings in Autumn planning this years decorations and homemade gifts (gosh that does sound a bit sad ) - but, I don't think there should be any sign of Christmas in the shops until mid - November at the earliest. Autumn is a lovely season with falling leaves and frosty mornings, and the way the shops go it feels like it is purely a run up to the January sales!

[glallotments]

Garden Centres start Christmas long before the dark period - often it coincides with spring bulbs appearing. The large garden centres sell all sorts of things that are not seasonal so I'm not sure why they need Santa in October! It's just so frustrating when things that you go to buy have been moved aside for baubles and lights and as Elaine said not being able to buy appropriate birthday cards for people with winter birthdays.

To be honest I often avoid garden centres when the Christmas stuff is in as I know I'll be wasting my time visiting. I order online instead.

Who needs mistletoe as an excuse OH?

When I was teaching we had a general rule that Christmas started in December.

On a more serious note part of my dislike of Christmas is down to it being the time when many unpleasant things have happened to me. I don't need reminding that this time is coming up as I dread it and am relieved when I get to the other end unscathed!!!

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Glallotments, mistletoe just seems to make it easier when one meets a stranger.