Wow, see, I'm not a planner so it never crossed my mind how easy would be to shop for Christmas stuff very early in the season. I usually start shopping on the 24th of December. ha ha.

Another, it seems like we sometimes had jackets with our costumes, but I remember some costumes being made to go over the jackets (a clown outfit, for example).

veggielover: On those occasions when I succeed in getting my Xmas shopping done before Dec. 1, or even Thanksgiving, I'm on I don't mind so much the merchandise in the stores early, but starting in with the ambience, the store decor and the Santas before Thanksgiving is pushing it

aphil: You have a point I didn't think of when you brought up craft supplies. My mom was never into domestic craft, doesn't scrapbook, doesn't decorate for any season except Xmas and would just as soon get the decor down as soon as possible afterward, for other people candles may = friendly glow and scent but for her they = fire hazard, has never baked Xmas cookies, making a 1-layer square cake from mix for her was a MAJOR project and she hasn't done that in years when she can get a cake @ the store; she used to sew dresses but I bet her motive was economy rather than domestic goddess-ry

blondebritbrat17: Make a donation in your aunt's name to the Heifer Project or some other charity aiding the very poor, maybe that'll shut her up about how she can't make ends meet on $300k a year

Another-wow! Maybe you need to come to my family's home and relive your childhood.

I do a lot of costume design work, so it is not uncommon for me to start Halloween/Samhain costumes in early summer-so that they will all be finished in time for holiday. (I do pro work, not the cheap-y quick kind like you see in stores. I use real trims, nice fabrics, etc.)

It isn't uncommon for me to start a winter quilt, etc. in the late summer or autumn, so that it is finished in time. I *do* agree, though, that they shouldn't be playing Bing Crosby on the speakers in October.