Does Christmas Season Start Too Soon?

Although most shoppers hate the idea of seeing Christmas decorations up before Halloween is even over, retailers aren't about to pass up sales opportunities by marketing Christmas in September or October. According to a New York Times article devoted to the subject, Carolyn Beem, a spokesperson for L. L. Bean stated that for the holiday season, there is always a level of anxiety. Advertising Christmas months earlier than the actual holiday "serves the marketing purpose. It gets people thinking that the holiday is coming." (1)

A New-Media Journalism blog from Slippery Rock University about the timing of the holiday displays (dated October 30, 2006) noted that Wal-Mart put Christmas trees up in September, and that their Christmas decorations were out before the Halloween costumes. The writer argued that "the Christmas-all-the-time thing has to stop. Over saturation kills the product." (2)

The attitude is shared by everyone, even those who love Christmas. Whenever the trees, ornaments, and green and red ribbons and bows come out during fall, before Halloween is over and Thanksgiving even begins, the sight is met with groans and anger. The attitude is that the stores are helping to commercialize the holiday, taking out the fun and religious aspect of it and incorporating the stress that comes with finding perfect gift">the perfect gift for friends, family, and co-workers. Plus it rushes the inevitable disaster of shopping around holiday season, as all stores are busy and hectic during December.

Kristin Kile calls this phenomenon "corporate hype" in her article "Christmas trappings now evident around Halloween". Just like most people, she doesn't remember Christmas hype starting so early. "I can just imagine things a decade from now," Kile laments. "Labor Day celebrations will be overshadowed by Santa Claus and Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer." (3)