Holiday creep
 

From the Straight Dope: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/...d.php?t=438733
Warning, bad language! :censored:

I start this thread on Oct 2: the Halloween stuff started appearing in the supermarkets just after Labor Day (when Halloween is still almost 2 months away!) and already they're selling pumpkins (conceding that for some it may be fall decorating rather than Halloween-specific, you also see cornstalks and bales of hay, but already just down the street from us one family already had carved jackolanterns on their stoop on 10.01) and already the candy displays are in full swing. Then of course no sooner is Halloween in the rear-view mirror than the stores get out their Santa grottos and the sound of sleighbells and carols fills the air. Does this bug you? I don't know if it necessarily bugs me but when I was a kid (1960s) I don't remember the adults making this kind of to-do about Halloween (my parents were like I was too old to trick-or-treat after I was 10!) and I'd have been surprised if the Halloween goods were on sale more than 2 weeks in advance of the date; and as for Christmas nobody thought of jumping the Thanksgiving gun (maybe the merchandise was in the stores before Thanksgiving but the store decorations and Santa waited until afterward). Do you think this holiday creep is going too far or has it always been this way ?

Yes, I find this annoying. Maybe the rationale is that the longer they promote it, the more people will buy. I was in Bachman's yesterday and I saw these large ceramic plug-in Halloween decorations. Who has space to store all that crap? Jeez, I usually don't remember until November 1 that I have a paper skeleton that I could've hung up before Halloween.

Halloween, when I was a kid, involved pulling out a big chest full of odd/dramatic clothing, accessories, and miscellaneous supplies and we were expected to make or create a costume. Now, everybody buys costumes. I'm sad to see the loss of a creative exercise for kids.

LOL: I was just at the grocery store today, and one of the workers was putting up the store's Christmas/Hannukkah display. Today, as in October 2nd. As in, a full two weeks before the leaves are at their peak. As in, the day before it's supposed to be 85 degrees and sunny.

The holiday creep is ridiculous. I'd also be surprised if there isn't a backlash of people getting holiday fatigue and deciding to chuck all the commercialism BS in favor of low-key celebrations that don't involve spending $$ on all the cr*p they're trying to sell. (Something our family did years ago!)

Kim

I don't think anything can stop it. :) I just try to avoid it as much as possible.

Jay

::wish there was a nostalgia smiley:: Me too, go up to the attic, get down an old gray plaid dress and a wide-brimmed or feather-trimmed hat of my mom's c. 1947 and a big ole umbrella et voila, I'm Mary Poppins. (I think that may still be true of a lot of kids in my neighborhood at least, just put on a bunch of raggedy old clothes and be hobos.) Is it just nostalgia, or do I accurately remember that we just wore our costumes for trick or treat, while in real-world Minnesota (I'm a lifelong Minnesotan) it's generally cold enough after dusk on 10.31 that kids have to put on a jacket over their costumes?

Yeah,as I was browsing the Halloween decorations,I noticed the Christmas display right next to it.My oldest was with me and we both grumbled....and said loud enough for some employees to hear,that it's still almost a month till Halloween :mad:

bump 10.09: I was in Target the other day, they already have their outdoor Xmas decorations lurking behind the Halloween stuff, and one small aisle of Xmas cards and ornaments (the latter mostly licensed characters, Disney, sports and NASCAR themes)

Well I wouldn't get mad about it because it MAY seem like commcercialism at its worst in terms of taking meaning out of events, but at the same time, someone who has some time around halloween to shop for their kids costumes might also pick up christmas things to save time on christmas shopping. It's like, why not all do it in the same place and time? Personally I don't ever do this, but its almost like the Walmart principle: lotsa goods, all in one place, convenient for you, to buy all at once. Although I wouldn't support it, most people would probably (if it weren't for religious reasons and the meaning of holidays) not care.

I agree it's getting worse and worse. I like to enjoy each holiday separately, ya know?

I too just try and ignore it and I am enjoying the early fall right now!!

I'm even thinking of sending out Thanksgiving cards as it's become a fav. holiday of mine where there is no pressure of gifts, over commercialization, etc. and we get together with people, eat, talk, reminisce, and I am truly thankful for that!

I never said it bothered me that much, at least the Christmas part. I dig that people who want to put up outdoor decorations might want to get them early and get them wired up before the snow flies, so it makes a bit of sense to have them in the shops before Halloween: although the day I was in Target was the day of the Twin Cities Marathon with the temp in the 80s and runners were overcome by the humidity so it seems somewhat incongruous to be looking at Xmas items when you're wearing a t-shirt and sandals :spin: :dizzy:

Holiday creep may be no more than a sign that society does change, so the question is, do you accept it as inevitable evolution or do you think it's a warning of the impending apocalypse?

I generally have all my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving. So for some, having that stuff available early may be helpful. I HATE the holiday rush last minute crowds and will avoid the stores like a plague at that time.

Ughh I hate the holiday creep. It annoys me so much. And I really hate how materialistic people and Christmas have become. I actually got asked by several people last year if I was giving them a gift and some people actually informed me that they were buying me a gift and I got the vibe that I better get them a gift too and I did being the nice person I am. The year before that my aunt complained all day christmas day that she and her family were too broke/poor and nobody got a christmas gift from them but me and my husband who were only making below 25 thousand that year and we actually managed to do small christmas gifts for the whole family, it was incredibly stressful though to do that since I have a huge family on both sides and then you count my hubby's family on both sides too. I found out later that "poor" to my aunt is 300K a year and at the time they had over 20K in savings alone, not counting their "investment portfolio". I was soo irritated and shocked at the rudeness and insensitivity my aunt displayed that day. Anyways.. Off of my soapbox! I do however have my christmas shopping done by December the 1st usually since I'm unable financially to go and buy all of my gifts all at once and have to start early usually by August with gift cards and I buy one christmas gift at a time.

Me too!! It was so fun--I passed the tradition on to my kids and halloween is my 22 year old son's favorite holiday with St Patricks Day coming in a close second. He still is very creative with costumes and his girlfriend who is an art major and very involved in the drama programs in high school also is very creative in her costumes.

It doesn't bother me at all that autumn and Halloween things are out right after Labor Day.

For crafters, those who make their own costumes, door wreaths, scarecrows, etc. they need to have those items available early enough to have time to make them before the holidays.

Also, many of the general autumn themed items, such as pumpkins, straw, indian corn, and so on also go into other holidays besides Halloween. Some religions celebrate the changing of seasons as well (the equinoxes and solstices) and they are often marked with seasonal decorations and foods at those times. The actual start of autumn is weeks before Halloween.

Also, Halloween isn't just a holiday for children, but actually a New Years celebration, and a reflection on those who have passed before us for some religions. A lot of the things traditionally done on Halloween are actually rites rooted in old religions and some cultures.


As far as Christmas and the many other winter holidays go, I like to do my shopping early. I don't want to fight the crowds for paper, decorations, and gifts in December. I prefer it to be out early, for that reason. I buy early, avoid the crowds, and spend December enjoying all of the holidays, rather than stressing about them. :)

^^^^ Ditto with what aphil had to say. I just see SOME practical reasons why a few items are advanced on store shelves. My mom couldn't BELIEVE that bing crosby was playing while there ws a christmas tree display near kohl's. Certainly not something you'd want to see to cause you any apprehension, but saves you some time here and there. Sides, unless one loves shopping during the holiday rush (I HATE IT!!! All the LINES, LINES, LINES! And the noise of uncomtrollable toddlers running while screaming around the department store!), it always better for me to go shopping for xmas items WAYY before anyone else does!