When does the Christmas begin?

[RH | 4,898]

It's a simple question but with the unbelievable push of materialism paired with people looking for some reason for cheerfulness, the Christmas season has now started creeping in as soon as November 1st rolls around.

Seriously, this is ridiculous.  I recall being a kid it was well understood that the tree didn't come down from the tree until the weekend after Thanksgiving and, for people of my parents age, "Christmas" often didn't begin until a week or two before December 25th.

I'm not a "humbug".  I really love the time of year, the decorations, living in the south and hoping for the very-rare chance of seeing snow on Christmas day and, ooooh, the tons of Christmas nostalgia television and movies.

However, every holiday deserves it's moment and it seems now that Thanksgiving in the US is completely overshadowed by Christmas trees, lights and Christmas items and music in many stores. I find that disappointing as a culture and what surprises me the most is that in the past 10 years, it's really been embraced by our culture to push the start of the Christmas season back further and further.

I'll not go on and on about this but I'm curious when you guys consider the start of the "Christmas" season.  For me, it will always be after Thanksgiving Day, and even then, it's a slow ramp up to December 25th.  It's to easy to burn out with anything more than that.

 

Edited November 19, 2019 by RH

[RH | 4,898]

Sorry, the poll wasn't complete, and I hit Enter.  Now with more options.

[Psychobear85 | 141]

We usually start putting our Christmas stuff after Thanksgiving Giving 

[ThePhleo | 2,184]

I start thinking about Christmas on September 1, then heavily on November 1.

We buy decorations all fall, and then we put up the tree ON thanksgiving. Followed by Black Friday shopping.

Tree comes down Jan. 1 around 11am and packed away for next year (we alternate between fake white tree and fake green tree)...outdoor lights come down spring or first 50+ winter weekend.

Im itching to put up my tree now...but I’ll be patient.

[Deadeye | 1,596]

Other: When 8-bit XMAS arrives

Real answer: No sooner than December 1, but I don't really feel it untill 2 weeks prior.  

Edited November 19, 2019 by Deadeye

[Tulpa | 3,491]

At work we start putting up holiday decorations on December 1st, but we have several faiths represented, so it's more of a winter celebration. We generally leave them up until Epiphany (January 6th), as that seems to be a nice day to put them away.

Holiday parties usually start around December 1st, with most in the first two weeks. Most people are traveling or with their families after that.

Growing up, I do remember my mom's coupon club had their annual holiday/Christmas party generally in November, usually before Thanksgiving. It was the only time they could get everyone together. But I remember it being strange to hold it so early.

 

Edited November 19, 2019 by Tulpa

[Bearcat-Doug | 5,104]

It's always been right after Thanksgiving since I was a kid.

[a3quit4s | 4,096]

As soon as I hear Mariah Carey All I want for Xmas

[JamesRobot | 5,793]

Tree and lights go up the weekend after Thanksgiving.  I start listening to Christmas music a couple weeks after that.

[Link | 2,709]

Black Friday you can begin visible preparations. I will also accept when Santa appears in the Thanksgiving Day parade but certainly nothing before that. 

[Sign Collector Guy | 334]

Our decorations were up on 11/3............Not my call but if it makes her happy no big deal for me.  

[drxandy | 3,225]

My family always did after Thanksgiving, so that's what I'm trained for haha

[Tulpa | 3,491]

15 hours ago, a3quit4s said:

As soon as I hear Mariah Carey All I want for Xmas

I have a friend who insists it's not Christmas season until he hears the following three songs.

The Kinks - Father Christmas

Trans Siberian Orchestra - Carol of the Bells

Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

[zi | 144]

right after the 4th of July until Aug 1st- it's the four or five weeks whence I do retrousb's xmas cart music.  

[Splain | 2,561]

Starts right after Thanksgiving dinner, so even that evening is fair game. Even pie can be Christmas-ish.

It ENDS as soon as I hear anything by Mannheim Steamroller, which immediately steamrolls any and all merriment/happiness until I can forget about them for another year. Last year Christmas season extended all the way to Christmas! Happiest season in a long time.

[captmorgandrinker | 1,649]

55 minutes ago, Tulpa said:

I have a friend who insists it's not Christmas season until he hears the following three songs.

The Kinks - Father Christmas

Trans Siberian Orchestra - Carol of the Bells

Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

I'm more of a Slade fan myself, but you don't hear that one so much over here.

[Boosted52405 | 178]

Noobs, we all know the best christmas music is the NSync christmas album.  Who's with me?!?!?!

[RH | 4,898]

7 minutes ago, Boosted52405 said:

Noobs, we all know the best christmas music is the NSync christmas album.  Who's with me?!?!?!

Meh. I prefer New Kids on the Block.

[Strikezone1 | 154]

We start putting the decorations and tree up the last weekend in November, but don't religiously turn all the lights/decorations on every night until Dec 1st.

[arnpoly | 198]

I prefer to start decorating after Thanksgiving and take everything down about a week into January.  That said this year we've already had the tree up for a few days...

If local radio is any indication, the Christmas season this year is from Nov 15 - Dec 25.

[Estil | 1,264]

How about a week before Halloween?

PS: This strip is from October 23, 1959.  So yes "Christmas creep" goes as far back as at least sixty years ago!!

[Estil | 1,264]

18 hours ago, RH said:

Meh. I prefer New Kids on the Block.

So when it comes to Christmas music...

 

[RH | 4,898]

11 minutes ago, Estil said:

How about a week before Halloween?

PS: This strip is from October 23, 1959.  So yes "Christmas creep" goes as far back as at least sixty years ago!!

That's amusing, but I think the joke was how extreme was suggesting the creep. In all of my days, I've never heard of an older person mention that "Christmas" was out by mid-October. I mean, there might have been limited "Christmas decoration shows" in early October so people could order stuff (which would make sense if it were the 50s) but "Christmas" wasn't out then until well after Thanksgiving, according to everything I've ever heard my family say.

IMHO, I think Schultz was sadly "prophetic" on that comic.

[ALTQQ | 87]

Get a festivus pole instead, it's what the holiday season is really aboot

[RH | 4,898]

8 minutes ago, ALTQQ said:

Get a festivus pole instead, it's what the holiday season is really aboot

Man, oh man... my friends in college did Festivus once and we let our main circle invite other friends who were in town.  All in all, we had about 25-30.  Our mistake was inviting about 6-7 girls who lived together.  All was well and good until the Airing of the Grievances. We guys were all having a good time, just giving constructive criticism or airing our minor gripes about not cleaning up coffee pots but when it got to the ladies, the claws. Came. Out.

What's crazy is they were friends and but they took the exercise too seriously, and they weren't prepared to throw each other under each others own bus.  It was an awkward situation... until now. Now it's just hilarious.