I love Santa and the holidays, but..

[happily single]

it is waaaayy tooo soon for Santa.

I just went on-line to Simon Malls and see that Santa will be arriving at the Emerald Square Mall Friday!!!!!!!

Seriously, almost 2 months of Santa!! Even I can't handle that

 

[kimblebee]

WOW that is way too early. I have seen a few commercials already with a Christmas theme

 

[hercamore]

Yep retailers are hoping Santa is gonna draw early shopping crowds that will spend big money. Can't fault them for that.

 

[C.Ann]

Okay - there's early - and then there's early.. That's crazy.. People already complain that Christmas is pushed on the consumer too soon.. It will be interesting to see if this little experiment backfires on them..

 

[kathie859]

On Tuesday, driving in the car, I was surfing radio stations and found one playing Xmas songs already THEN I had dinner last night with two girlfriends at an locally popular outdoor entertainment/shopping mall and the Xmas decorations were up and LIT I really hate this rushing thru the holidays.

 

[DISFANSTHREE]

Walmart here has there x mas stuff out.

 

[bas71873]

Kohl's is all out decorated...I was in there Nov 2 and it's full blown Cmas. We took DD to the Yankee Candle Flagship store in Williamsburg last year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving for Santa's arrival. Wanted to do that again this year, but he arrives NEXT Saturrday, Nov. 13!!! I am committed to helping my mom with a yard sale so that's out, but I think it's too early for Santa to arrive. But, I did start wrapping yesterday. It was rainy & nasty and I was grumpy so I put on some holiday music and wrapped what I've bought so far (was also a way to organize what I have and get my list finalized).

 

[golfgal]

Retailers are hurting and are hoping to draw out their best season of the year. Many stores are having Black Friday deals all month. I don't think the stores having Christmas merchandise out now is any earlier then any other year but some of the store decor is out early. The stores need to fill their shelves and once Halloween stuff empties, the Christmas stuff starts coming out. I did notice that our town is hanging the Christmas decor on the lampposts already but my guess is they are taking advantage of the warmish weather .

Also, I think you will find this year that more people have to budget their spending and buy a little here and there so having the sales and "stuff" out early will help them.

 

[PinballFamily]

Yes, the Simon malls Santas arrive the first weekend of November - each year. We count on this.

We have a son with autism (age 11) and he is STILL a believer! We always go "opening weekend" when we typically have Santa to ourselves. Our son is usually able to spend about 10 minutes (sometimes more!) with Santa each year, because no one else is around yet and this time is priceless - family, elves, onlookers are usually in tears of happiness each year watching him enjoy this precious time with Santa. He treasures this experience and eagerly anticipates it throughout the year - and I can't tell you how excited he is to visit the big guy in the next day or two. We've been very fortunate that Santa actually sometimes "remembers" (really!) visiting with him before and is able to ask him questions or for updates on his life that *truly* remind us what Christmas magic is all about.

So, yes, this can feel like "pushing the season" to many, but for families like us - we wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Lucky4me]

Wegman's had their trees up and decorated the middle of October. Same with Walmart and some of Target.
I think it's ridiculous, but they are retailers trying to make a buck.
Some friends of mine were recently talking about how they take down their Halloween decorations and replace them with Christmas while they play Christmas music. There is just no excuse for that.
December 1st is plenty enough time to decorate and enjoy for the season. If I did that now, I'd be ready to chuck it all before Thanksgiving!

Having said all that, I will be at MVMCP on Thursday night decked out in my finest holiday T shirt.

 

[mansionterror]

I am working at AC Moore for the holiday season and they started playing Christmas music Nov 1st!

 

[disfan07]

Seriously, I love christmas season but does Thanksgiving not exist anymore?

I feel like we go from Halloween straight to Christmas.

I love the decarations, the music and just the overall feel of the holiday season but I odnt want to be burnt out on teh holidays by the time we go to Disney in December. I feel like by the time we go to Disney in 6 weeks i'm going to be Christmased

Also, I can't stand hearing like 2 months of sleigh ride on the radio and in stores, etc. Our Holiday Spectacular concert in High School made me despise that song with a passion....hahha

 

[Angelhalo]

I'm one of those "Its never too early for Christmas" type of people and even I think its too early for Santa in the mall!

 

[belledreamer]

They've already got the Christmas decorations out at my job, plus I was in Target on Halloween, and there was already Christmas candy out...

 

[Becky2005]

I'm to the point of really -- why bother -- let's just leave all the Christmas stuff out year round since that is pretty much what the retailers want to do anyway. Seems a waste to put it away in January to just haul it out again in oh...July. LOL!!!

It was the Christmas food that pushed me over the edge at Target the other day. OK, I can deal with decorations (maybe) BUT really? Christmas packaged candies already? It was Christmas M & M's (apparently they don't have M & M's colors for Thanksgiving) and something else that made me go "Really? Hmm...wonder how long this candy has been sitting in the back waiting to come out -- how old is it ANYWAY? Is it left over from last Christmas and they just figured they would put it out now?" My as well just put the candy canes and such out right next to the Halloween candy and be done with it.

 

[DisneyMim]

Well....just wanted to say that I was at our local mall yesterday and Santa is there already. It's the same guy every year, looks like the "real" thing, that is what you would expect Santa to look like. I know it's early, but I did enjoy walking past the area and seeing him and all the little ones so excited.

 

[Cat0727]

Lol that's OD I'm going to the mall on Monday, I wonder if I'll see Santa there?

 

[LukenDC]

I live next door to a Simon Mall and they put their big Christmas tree up last night. Santa can't be far behind. I know that Christmas is a major economic engine in the retail section, but I wish that we could enjoy each holiday individually without all of them running together. Oh well. Happy Holidays!

 

[MichelleVW]

People always complain that Christmas comes too early, but there is a thread here about people that have ALREADY put up their Christmas tree!! That's just crazy.

I don't mind the stuff in the stores now, but not Santa, he shouldn't be out until after Thanksgiving.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

If Santa only arrived in the malls AT Thanksgiving, how would shoppers know what to buy "Black Friday"?

There are just 8 shopping weekends before Christmas, not really that far off when you think about it.