Every year, as soon as I see the stores putting out Christmas items I think, no, not yet. And then I look at all the decorations and throw that thought out the window. It's the most beautiful time of year, why not extend it a little? And in terms of Christmas shopping... the day after Christmas isn't too soon to start for the next year so you're not caught in a financial predicament and put everything on credit as so many Americans do every year. I start a few months in advance, but for those who are out buying the after Christmas stock, good for you for planning ahead. Happy Holidays Charleston - the prettiest Christmas city in the nation.

Yes, I can recall when Christmas shopping didn't begin until the day after Thanksgiving. The only reason shopping starts so early is for companies to maximize their profits. Realistically, I don't enjoy Christmas all that much because of the almost total commercialization of the holiday period. I wouldn't be surprised if shopping for Christmas begins in July.

I have a picture of the nursery/seasonal area of the Oakland Plantation Walmart from Sept 22 of this year with Christmas trees set up.

I personally don't put up my decorations until the Friday after Thanksgiving and I take them down January 2. Christmas music outside of that time period is too much. I'm looking at you WAVF!

I also don't decorate myself until after Thanksgiving, but I don't mind seeing it elsewhere. The Christmas music though - definitely on the same page there. I don't even want to hear it until about 2 weeks shy of Christmas, otherwise I'm so sick of it I'm bah hum bugging every time a song comes on.

Not decorate "myself"... I myself also don't decorate :-)

I don't know, Jamie. Seeing more people "decorate themselves" might put me in the Christmas spirit a little earlier.... Of course, most people who "decorate themselves" have probably been in the Christmas "spirits" already, no?

I'm wearing my Santa thong right now.

Seems every year the Christmas decorations come out earlier and earlier, and it seems to be accelerating. I'm not that old (32) but as a kid I remember there being separate and distinct holiday periods for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the past 15 or so years the Christmas season has steamrolled them all into one red and green, jingling death march from September to New Years Day, and by the time Christmas rolls around I'm long since sick of reindeer, snowmen (especially since the last time there was a significant snowfall in Charleston was 1989) and Santa suits. For the most part Christmas music drives me crazy - freaking Nutcracker suite gets stuck in my head for days any time I hear it - so I try to avoid it at all costs. Though I do make exceptions for Vince Guaraldi's score from "A Charlie Brown Christmas," John Lennon, the soundtrack from "A Nightmare Before Christmas," Stephen Colbert's Christmas album and several Christmas themed punk rock songs (Oi! to the world indeed).
One thing I really like about the Christmas season though is the annual black list the American Family Association puts out of the retailers engaging in the "War on Christmas(TM)." I let them do the work of finding out which companies they disagree with and I try to do all of my holiday shopping at the stores on their list.

Um, y'all just must not be good at planning. My presents are planned months in advance with everything from the theme, the card, the wrapping, the delivery method (USPS vs. in person) and the timing between getting my Christmas card and getting their present. I've had one present for three months...and it's just now November! And then I have to plan for the few relatives I know who have birthdays near Christmas. Do you do the one big present, two independent presents or one present that supplements the other.

re: Seeing more people "decorate themselves" might put me in the Christmas spirit a little earlier [Chris Winston]

'seeing more people' celebrate the birth of Jesus might put me in the christmas spirit...make me a believer.

this PATCH thread/exchange confirms opine its a very merry, merry commercial christmas vice a joyous celebration of the 'oh holy nite when Christ was born...'

The article wasn't about the religious aspect of Christmas. It was a question posed on how soon is too soon to deck the halls.

Personally, I like the beauty and kindness of the season. I know what it's all about, but I'm not religious. I just think it's a nice time of year to do for others and enjoy the company of family.

But again, we weren't talking about all of that. It was a discussion on decorating and bringing the season early and what the opinion was on that.

I've never understood why this argument comes up every year. I'm buying presents because I love buying presents. I love wrapping them. I love mailing them even more. Sometimes I wait for Christmas to give them to people, but sometimes I don't. Would I give them to people if we didn't have a Christmas celebration? Yes. Would I give them the exact same things throughout the year if we were Jewish? Yes. I just don't understand how my faith and timing of presents is such a big deal. The only thing I would do differently is spread them out a little for people who have Christmas and birthdays back-to-back. I always thought they have to wait too long between presents.

All this talk is making me want to pull out my Christmas tree...

I'm already shopping for the holidays, as well, Jessie! I just wished I was as organized as you are in the wrapping department! I usually wait until the last minute to do the wrapping. My sister and I have our usual wine and wrap" session a day or so before Christmas.

Hijacking the holy celebration of Christmas for financial gain is deplorable. We shouldn't need Christmas decorations and music to be enticed to buy presents for the ones we love. I was a child when 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' debuted, so maybe I was brainwashed a little by it, but Charlie Brown's message is even more relavent today than it was in 1965. Christmas is becoming too commercial.

It is called GREED.

Too soon for non-stop playing of Christmas carols-yes. Christmas shopping-no.