# It's too goddamn early for Christmas commercials **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 2, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175 "2010-11-02T04:08:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/41 "2010-11-06T10:31:15Z")
I actually may put up the lights on the house this weekend. Not because I’m gung-ho Xmas or anything. Just because it’s getting cold and if I wait till thanksgiving I’ll freeze my ass off. ---
**Author:** ![legalsnugs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@legalsnugs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legalsnugs)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/42 "2010-11-06T11:12:32Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > …Your senses get bludgeoned with the overload, and anticipation/interest takes a nosedive. Sort of like seventeen different versions of “Law & Order”. Hey, if one is a success, let’s saturate the market until people are ready to slit their wrists. Hey, HEY! Whoa! Hold on there! You can be grouchy all you want about Christmas, but don’t be dissing Law & Order! Sheesh! What a world! ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/43 "2010-11-06T13:29:51Z")
I was at Babies R Us yesterday and heard Silent Night on the overhead. When I realized what it was I blurted out “MotherFUCKER!!” Oops. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/44 "2010-11-06T17:00:46Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > I actually may put up the lights on the house this weekend. Not because I’m gung-ho Xmas or anything. Just because it’s getting cold and if I wait till thanksgiving I’ll freeze my ass off. I’m putting my lights up this weekend for that reason. They’re not getting plugged in until late December, mind you. > [@EvilTOJ](#): > > I was at Babies R Us yesterday and heard Silent Night on the overhead. When I realized what it was I blurted out “MotherFUCKER!!” Oops. You’re my new hero. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/45 "2010-11-06T21:02:46Z")
I’m starting my Christmas shopping early (still wondering why some people spell it “Christman” on purpose) because I will be having surgery on December 1, and will be off work for 8 weeks afterward, effectively missing a big chunk of the winter holidays. At least I won’t be subjected to the women I work with blasting KOST’s 24-hour Christmas carols, and being mostly confined to my bed is the perfect excuse to not go anywhere near a mall in December. Sure, I’ll be in pain, but the trade-off is worth it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/46 "2010-11-07T00:28:23Z")
“Christman”? I’ve yet to see that one! I wan’t planning to start my “War on Christmas” until November 15th, when the neighborhood Ladies Bible Study Group will realize that I’m really not participating in their Evangelical toy drive… ---
**Author:** ![HardlySanguine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HardlySanguine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HardlySanguine)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/47 "2010-11-07T07:36:43Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > I was at Babies R Us yesterday and heard Silent Night on the overhead. When I realized what it was I blurted out “MotherFUCKER!!” Oops. I don’t really do music so I had to look up Silent Night. Anyways, is it just me or is this [youtube video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAH0qm6OWKk) seriously creepy? ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/48 "2010-11-07T08:04:25Z")
I went to the pharmacy for my meds and the entire ceiling above the pharmacy had red and green balls, garland and whatnot. What the hell? I am not getting sucked in yet. Theres no snow and its supposed to be 60 this week. I hate christmas music, except for Happy Xmas, I will not wear red, I am not buying a snuggie or chia pet. I am looking forward to New Years Eve. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/49 "2010-11-07T18:07:31Z")
My grocery store (Kroger) was normal Friday night, went back Saturday and it was full on Christmas, complete with people in Santa hats handing out samples of holiday food. Too early. Desperate retailers trying to jump start consumer spending. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/50 "2010-11-07T21:10:00Z")
> [@HardlySanguine](#): > > I don’t really do music so I had to look up Silent Night. Anyways, is it just me or is this [youtube video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAH0qm6OWKk) seriously creepy? In some of the close-ups, they look computer generated (especially the slow blinking one at the beginning). ---
**Author:** ![rayman5321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@rayman5321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayman5321)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/51 "2010-11-09T13:58:34Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > Yes! > > Close! No, it’s Christmas, Michigan which is in the Upper Peninsula. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/52 "2012-10-13T21:34:26Z")
Today, at precisely 1:11pm PDT on Saturday, October 13, it started again. I heard a commercial on the radio for a jewelry company in which they mentioned that it’s a great time to start looking for that special piece for that special lady’s Christmas present. I bet they work their way back as far as July in my lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/53 "2012-10-14T01:02:38Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > Today, at precisely 1:11pm PDT on Saturday, October 13, it started again. I heard a commercial on the radio for a jewelry company in which they mentioned that it’s a great time to start looking for that special piece for that special lady’s Christmas present. > > I bet they work their way back as far as July in my lifetime. _Probably_ not; the lead time is based on how far in advance of expected sale dates stuff has to be ordered, produced and shipped. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/54 "2012-10-14T03:02:45Z")
A zombie thread just in time for Halloween. :eek: Since this thread was started in 2010, the start of the Christmas shopping season has moved from Halloween to Labor Day – an advance of two months. Somewhere I read that merchants generate 25% of their annual income with Christmas sales. Does it make sense then to extend the shopping season to four months = 33% of the year? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/55 "2012-10-14T23:49:05Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > It’s really too early for threads bitching about Christmas, FWIW. Win ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/56 "2012-10-15T01:25:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Somewhere I read that merchants generate 25% of their annual income with Christmas sales. Does it make sense then to extend the shopping season to four months = 33% of the year? The problem is that you’ll get customer burnout. Part of the reason that customers spend a lot during the holiday season is because it’s a season, not a year-round thing. Customers anticipate shopping for various gifts and decorations, and if retailers keep extending the buying season, then it won’t seem so special. By the time Christmas rolls around, everyone is tired of red and green and ho ho ho. A lot of the Christmas season is centered around elevated levels of activity, such as parties and entertaining, and after a while everyone just wants to wind down and recover. Christmas season is fun, but it’s also stressful, and most people have a definite cutoff point where they just can’t face even one more jingle bell. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/57 "2012-10-15T05:30:23Z")
It seems like the day when we start bitching about Christmas coming earlier every year comes earlier every year. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/58 "2012-10-15T12:00:33Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > most people have a definite cutoff point where they just can’t face even one more jingle bell. I reach this around December 12. ETA: once upon a time, the Christmas season **began** on Christmas eve and ran through January 6 (Ephiphany) ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/59 "2012-10-15T18:43:49Z")
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I don’t do any unnecessary meatspace shopping from Black Friday to about December 27. This means that I buy perishables during that time frame and that’s about it. There’s a lot of really appealing stuff for sale during that time, but most of it is overpriced. The crowds are a pain, and the workers are frazzled. I make sure to buy gifts well ahead of time, and mail them ahead of time, too. Clearly, I am a menace to American retailers if I can convert others to my way of thinking. Won’t you join me in trying to cut down on the Christmas feeding frenzy? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175/60 "2012-11-19T01:56:11Z")
102.1 FM in Cleveland is now all-Christmas music, all the time (at least until Dec. 26). Aiyeeeeeee! [http://new102.cbslocal.com/](http://new102.cbslocal.com/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-goddamn-early-for-christmas-commercials/559175.md?page=4)