Am I Just a Scrooge?

Personally I think that you should wait until after Thanksgiving to put up the Christmas decorations. However, I do understand that many people don't have the time after Thanksgiving, or they want to do it before the weather gets bad.

Now, the stores with all the Christmas decorations before Halloween, that annoys me.

I have to agree with you. I am one of those that goes all out for Christmas, it's my favorite holiday and I CAN'T STAND to see Christmas stuff up before Thanksgiving or hear Christmas music before Thanksgiving. I decorate the day after Thanksgiving and listen to Christmas music from that point on but VERY ANNOYED that stores are skipping Thanksgiving and jumping straight to Christmas. Some even had Christmas stuff up before Halloween was over. It's gotten way out of control. It even takes the excitement out of the holiday at times.

Not a scrooge... I agree, I LOVE CHRISTMAS, but I like Thanksgiving too, I'm in 100% agreement with you. My sister had her Christmas tree up at the beginning of October... I don't decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving...

I'm with you! We don't decorate for Christmas or play Christmas music in the house until AFTER Thanksgiving. I saw the best sign at Nordstrom (my sister took a picture and sent it to me). It essentially said...

We will not be decorating for Christmas until November 27th because here at Nordstrom we believe in being thankful. We also believe in celebrating one holiday at a time!

Going against the norm, we decorated for Christmas last night.... so, here's my explanation of why:

1. My kids LOVE Christmas. The lights, the songs. We just put it out earlier to have a little more happiness around the house.

2. My husband works odd hours, including nights and weekends. He got his schedule through Thanksgiving week and there is only one other night between now and then that we are both home without something going on. This includes the weekends when he will be working doubles due to vacations of other managers. It was looking like it was going to be December 4th before any other time was possible, and even that date wasn't a guarantee since he doesn't know his schedule yet for that week.

We do celebrate Thanksgiving. I kept the fall wreath out, but even he has to work that day, so we decided it was better for our family earlier than later. Hearing my son say "Ohhh.... I love it!" and our daughter say "YAY! Lights!" took away any doubt in my mind. :)

LOL! Okay, I used to totally agree with you but the older I get and the more my kids are aware of it, the more excited I get about Christmas, earlier! I do like Thanksgiving and I'm trying to teach my kids not to forget about that holiday either, but I'm ready to be in the Christmas spirit! ;) I haven't decorated though, I do wait until after TG for that but I can't say that I haven't bought any decorations yet...just a few things, but I'm excited!

Our neighbors put up a giant inflatable turkey in their yard so at least they are in the Thanksgiving spirit!!

I don't ever get annoyed by someone else's excitement with regard to the holidays, However, that which I personally try and keep in mind is... I don't want to rush life.. :) I want to savor the present moment.. After having a child, I realized that WOW............. it all goes by so quickly. so while I used to be in a hurry to get holidays over with. I tend to like to enjoy whatever current day it is. holiday or not..
but I do see your point for sure..

I hate it too. I saw an ad recently that Nordstrom is refusing to put up holiday decorations until after THanksgiving. I really hope it's true and other stores start following suite.

I wait until after Thanksgiving to put MINE up, I don't really care what anyone else does! But, in regards to being a scrooge, I'm usually so sick of Christmas that my decorations start coming down the day or two after Christmas ;) So much for 'the 12 days of Christmas'... oops ;)

I have to start decorating the inside of my house before Thanksgiving other wise I would never get it all done. I have a Dept 56 lighted villiage that takes about 2 weeks to get set up. But that is the inside and most people won't see it until after turkey day. We start on the outside the day after Thanksgiving and then the tree goes up inside as well.
I agree that it seems that Christmas deco goes up earlier and earlier especially in stores.

Yeah, I often wonder happened to Halloween and Thanksgiving - seems the Christmas decorations went up last month.

Oh, and today is Veteran's Day - but I don't see any extra flags flying today.

Okay, just my little vent for the day.

:)

I'm with you. A friend of mine posted on Facebook a sign from Nordstrom that said it will not decorate for Christmas until 11/27 as they like to celebrate Thanksgiving first. I thought it was clever.

I hear ya. I went to target to get a few extra things for halloween, and they had already replaced them with christmas stuff!! I felt so sad for Thanksgiving!

I agree!!!!!! So tired of it! We lived down south for many years on a military base. What we noticed was those who were from southern states or states with no snow put their decor up early. Those from northern states with snow put theirs up later. We actually discussed this topic in each community we lived in over the years while hubby was in the Corps. The ones who put theirs up early were indeed from the south or non-snow areas and said, "That's how it's done where we're from". But now that we're back up north (different state) I see people are putting things up earlier too.

It's bad enough we have to listen to Christmas music before Halloween in the stores, but really? Why can't we enjoy one holiday at a time without gettig burned out months early? I've found if you put things up too early people and the kids get bored of it too soon and it's old hat, just waiting for the day to hurry up and come. We decorate 2 weeks before, sometimes up to 3 weeks depending on how the weekends fall before the holiday. We keep our Christmas stuff up until New Year's so why put it up so early. And it ticks me off when people rip their stuff down the day after Christmas too! We're from northern MI and it's tradition to put up a couple weeks before and take down the day after new year's, to enjoy in a timely manner.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

I notice it, but it doesn't bother me.

If you're a scrooge, then so am I. I was at the mall about a month prior to halloween season and they had Christmas stuff out. Like jeeze, one step at a time.

It takes me forever to put up all the decorations plus I have to go on my roof to put up lights. If the weather is nice before Thanksgiving they go up. I am not going to break my neck for the sake of a holiday, ya know?

The wreath is the only part of those decorations you would really notice and even then you would have to be looking to see it. They are lit up on Thanksgiving evening as is tradition.

I also have two trees that take a weekend a piece to put up, again, done before Thanksgiving. Back when I stayed home I had the time to do it after Thanksgiving. With work and wanting to spend a bit of time with my kids I do it when I can. If not the tree would go up Christmas eve and down the next day. Where is the fun in that.

Added: Did I misread because I thought you were talking about personal homes.

Okay, wait, what is the rush, holidays are supposed to be a time of celebration. Don't mean to single you out Luna. If I don't start before Thanksgiving there is no way my Christmas would be anything but a rush. I put them up so both holidays can be relaxing for me.

Oh and I don't think you are a scrooge and it doesn't annoy me because I realize a fair few people are in the same boat as I am. :)

I work on Christmas gifts all year but do not decorate until after Thanksgiving.

I saw a cartoon recently that had a picture of Santa and a big Tom Turkey in it. The caption was something to the affect of the Turkey saying, "Oh no you don't..this is my month! I get until the end of November!! Now go away!!"

It is all about the almighty dollar. Stores make more money with items on the floor. People end up buying it if it is there.

Yes, I too find it annoying...but it brings people joy and happiness to decorate for their favorite holiday. And, with the financial mess so many people are in...I can understand wanting to be a little holly jolly earlier this year.

Good luck and best wishes at enjoying Thanksgiving in your home all the way 'til November 24th. On November 25th..we start revving up for Christmas cheer!!

It drives me crazy. Even the stores, they have Halloween stuff on clearance and christmas stuff for sale. I enjoy thanksgiving, it's one of my favorite holidays. All the good food and family, without the gifts and the money and the materialism, but because Thanksgiving lacks those things I think it gets lost because there is no money to be made.

My neighbors are actually decorated for christmas already but they will at least wait till the day after thanksgiving to turn the outside lights on, or at least they normally do.

My other half tries to start decorating right after Halloween. It could be people are doing it to cheer themselves up as I have noticed when it gets cold people get depressed faster. Or it could be that they just like the decorations. Personally some things that are considered Christmas decorations like some of the angels and other things I would keep up all year round. There are many different reasons just like there are many different people its all a matter of liking/ disliking in my head

Sometimes it's a matter of doing it before the weather gets ugly if you're putting up lights on the outside of your house.
Most don't turn them on till after Thanksgiving.

I don't think you are a scrooge. LOL I am one of those who loves all the decorations but I don't have mine up yet. Now that doesn't mean that I dont' wish that I had the time to put them up. But my family on the other hand, I drive them crazy at Christmastime with my decorations, traditions and of course music. LOL
I do however agree with you that Thanksgiving should be center stage this month as far as holidays. There is a real reason we celebrate it and it get buried sometimes in all the hustle bustle of the season. I love Thanksgiving too.
I think it starts earlier each year. L.

I don't mind the decorations early. It helps ease me into the Xmas spirit. Of course, here in mid TN there are always folks that manage to leave them up until Valentine's day or later. THAT makes me crazy!

http://i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/chicago/112009-...

You are not alone!!!

I LOVE christmas... I mean like compare me to clark grizwald lol, however I was sooo annoyed when i saw the xmas stuff out WITH the halloween stuff!! I think thats just nuts!

I commented on this to a friend the other day. I love Christmas music. So much so, that I have been listening to it in my home and car for over a month now but walking into Walmart earlier this week and hearing it being broadcast throughout the store was extremely irritating!

With you all the way!! What the hell is the rush anyway? The holidays are supposed to be a time of celebration, family, enjoyment, shopping, and fun. Perhaps next year the mainstream will be pushing for us to give out Christmas candy for Halloween!!!

My house looks very confused at the moment. I still have my fall decorations out but, my hubby put the lights on our house yesterday. We won't turn them on until Thanksgiving night but, we live in the midwest and it was 65 and beautiful yesterday. It could be snowing here next weekend, you never know. He took advantage of the weather. It happens this way every year. I am quilty of already listening to the Christmas music though, it just puts me in a good mood. :)

the reality is that the ubiquity of Christmas stuff has absolutely nothing to do with what consumers want, and everything to do with what businesses want - I also think that it is reflective of our culture - we always want more, and are increasingly unlikely to remember to be grateful- Pretty sad I think!

ARG - I can't stand Christmas before Thanksgiving. The only time it's ok is when you're in another country because THEY DON'T CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING! Sigh!

I have been in retail since I was 16.. here is the reason Christmas gets put up so early.

I used to be a Buyer, a Store manager and have been in retail, my entire working life.
Christmas is actually ordered at Market in January.. Yes, just as we finish the season, there we are at market ordering for the next Christmas.. covered in glitter.

The shipments of Christmas merchandise arrives in July and to save money most huge stores agree to accept the shipments in August and Sept.. Otherwise the vendors are forced to store the merchandise. Again the stores do not have room to store all of that merchandise till after Thanksgiving. Yes, they could rent space, but that would need to be added onto the price of the merchandise.

And it takes time to set up, hire and train the staff for the Holiday dept.. And so, That is why it is placed on the sales floor so early..
So please give us a break.. Understand there is a real reason for the merchandise appearing on the shelves early.. We are not there to drive you insane, quite the opposite, we are trying to keep the prices lower than they could be.