Went to Wally World yesterday afternoon and there at the entrance was a life size animatronic Santa Clause. Not only was he moving around all herky-jerky-clickety-clackity, he was singing. I mean COME ON, people. It’s August and I had just walked in from freakin’ 103 degree heat index and here’s Santa Clause singing have a Holly Jolly Christmas. It’s not even Labor Day! The Hallowe’en stuff isn’t even out!
A small crowd had gathered in front of it - not to revel in the sheer wonder of this mythological character rendered oh so lifelike in cheap plastic and fake fur, but to look at each other in disbelief, shake their heads, and walk away.
Then, dammit, I had to walk all over the store humming “Have a Holl Jolly Christmas” to myself because I couldn’t get it out of my head.
Someone needs to be taken out and shot for this.
Retailers do this because:
[ul][li]People don’t complain to them about starting the season early;[/li][li]People give them money for the stuff they’re selling early.[/ul][/li]And it just gets earlier and earlier every year. There’s a store in New Orleans that sells Christmas stuff year-round. Creepy. Really creepy.
IMO, Christmas decorations should not go up until after Thanksgiving.
Johnny I understand *why * they do it. I was just not prepared for it in the least. I mean, really, it’s August.
Maybe they (mistakenly) think that in 103 degree heat, seeing Santa Claus will suddenly make it bearable?
I saw this a couple of weeks ago at a craft store. There I am looking for a frame and I’m seeing christmas crap. One day we’re gonna see it’s only 720 days til Xmas 2010.
Re. Christmas stuff in a craft store: if it’s actual crafts that are to be done, I can understand. It can take a while to finish things in time for the holidays. I cross-stitch ornaments for friends every year and try to start by August or September if I want to get a respectable number done in time.
Wrapping paper, decorations, and cards are another matter entirely. I will shamefully admit, though, to lingering over the holiday cards at Costco last night - I always try to get really neat ones, and they were tempting me.
I went into a pottery store yesterday where they sell all sorts of dishes/pottery/housewares and what to my suprise but Christmas trees were up and so were the decorations.
I overheard a sales clerk telling a woman that it is good business during the summer for Christmas stuff.
personally I am turned “off” by Christmas at any other time then December.
It should be legal to set fire to any christmas decorations or displays erected anytime before thanksgiving or after new years eve.
No this wasn’t things you make, they were premade wreaths and orniments and lights. Stuff you make I can see, but not that.
After Jan 7th, for Russian Christmas.