Christmas Cheer Now Available In-Store
On Saturday morning I made the regrettable error of venturing out in Kingston to do some in-store shopping, where I witnessed one horrific scene after another. Mere hours after having handed out treats to princesses, super heroes and teenagers with nothing better to do, I was met with Christmas music, festive decorations and supposed deals endorsed by Santa himself. While our jack-o’-lantern was still cooling from the night before, big box retailers and local merchants had already shifted gears and started to Chrismasify their respective stores. All things orange and black had been painted over with red and green, while fake snow, nativity scenes, and classic Christmas favourites pumped over in-store sound systems were impossible to evade. The strike of midnight on November 1st also spelled the demise of wretched spiced-pumpkin dreck, which has already been replaced by seasonal candy cane, gingerbread and eggnog flavored concoctions. Suffice it to say, my initial shock and backlash to Christmas cheer is at an all time high. Accordingly, this week’s un-festive poll asks:
When should stores start playing/decorating/selling Christmas?
- November 12th, out of respect for Remembrance Day. (49%, 92 Votes)
- No sooner than December 1st. (47%, 88 Votes)
- November 1st, immediately after Halloween. (3%, 6 Votes)
- Bah! Humbug! I oppose Christmas cheer. (1%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 188
Loading ...Is November 1st really too early for Christmas? I think so. A few years ago I asked our readers to weigh in on a similar question, specifically: Should Christmas lights be switched on before Remembrance Day? While a majority of respondents agreed that household Christmas lights and decorations should remain out of sight until after November 11th, a surprising number of readers came to the defense of Kris Kringle arguing that the mere presence of boughs of holly and sleigh bells in the snow are not a slight against veterans or members of the Canadian Armed Forces. There’s definitely truth to that, but I for one yearn for a slight reprieve from the non-stop onslot from retailers trying to sell me on the next greatest holiday. As a self-confessed supporter of Christmas, I’m honestly thankful that Santa’s workshop hasn’t yet popped up at the mall, that I’ve yet to spot a single car driving around with reindeer antlers and a red nose, or that tree lots have yet to emerge throughout Kingston.
Do you think retailers, including those found online, should hold off on pushing Christmas until after Remembrance Day, or perhaps even until December? What is your household’s rule for putting up Christmas decorations? What’s your favorite and most despised part of the Christmas season?
Photo credit to MattysFlicks.
We start Christmas (yes, we do Christmas) on Dec 1. That seems suitable to me.
Caught the local Metro employees actually removing their Hallowe'en displays and putting up Christmas items on the 30th of October. Seriously. Before Hallowe'en. I did call them out on this (as in, "SERIOUSLY???? It isn't even Hallowe'en yet" but they still kept on removing and restocking. Maybe they should leave it up all year?
They fought for our freedom. That includes freedom to advertise and put up decorations. I don't see the connection. Officially, the Canadian Legion has not made a stand on this, and unofficially they don't appreciate the ramblings and rantings that are triggered from these discussions. People get truly nasty about decorations – our veterans fought so nastiness is not acceptable! On November 11th, attend an official ceremony, or drop everything you're doing for your moment of silence and remembrance; and before that, donate to the poppy fund and wear your poppy proudly. THere's absolutely NO connection to Christmas decorations – it merely gives the malcontents something else to b**** about!
It seems to be a Canadian tradition to complain about Christmas advertising.
I can wear a poppy and shop for anything I want (even, gasp!, Christmas presents) without feeling oppressed by crappy music or decorations, whether it be "Monster Mash" in late October or insincere Christmas songs early November.
Stop whining.