Disclaimer: For the purpose of this article, I will be using ‘holiday’ and ‘Christmas’ interchangeably because myself and my family celebrate Christmas and my knowledge of other holidays and celebrations during this period is too limited to speak to intelligently. Please don’t bring political correctness into this. 
To many people, the passing of Halloween signals the beginning of the holiday season. From now until the roughly the end of December, stores everywhere will be decked out from floor to ceiling in (mostly Christmas-related) decorations, colourful lights and tinsel. Radio stations will play non-stop holiday music and the smells and tastes of the season will be served up in many homes and restaurants. Call me a bit of a Scrooge, but until about December 10th, I want nothing to do with anything even remotely Christmas-related. The question I keep asking is, “WHY SO EARLY?”
The most obvious reason for the constant pushing back of holiday promotions, decorating and celebrating, to me anyway, is the commercial aspect. In the US, the holiday season brings in hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. The sooner the shopping season starts, the sooner people start buying gifts and when shoppers are able to spread out their shopping over several months instead of doing it all at once, there is the illusion that they are spending less, which, unless shoppers are careful to monitor their spending, mayultimately lead to them actually spending more. This is, of course, exactly what retailers want. It’s all about the bottom line. Now, as someone who works retail, this means listening to nonstop Christmas music for all of my 8-hour shifts for the entire month of December and maybe longer, as well as dealing with the Dreaded Holiday Shoppers™. Sorry not sorry if I’m not totally perky when dealing with you and your insanely large order, complete with gift receipts and wrapping.
I totally understand and appreciate the value of the holiday spirit and I know a lot of people who have already started to decorate. Once Halloween’s over, pumpkins are quickly swapped with wreaths, ribbons and everything gold and/or coniferous. We have yet to have a lasting snow and yet I hear of plans to go carolling. This is their season and you know what, if that what makes them happy, good on them. Personally, I find that the novelty starts to wear off about two weeks into seeing Christmas trees, hearing jingle bells ring and being unable to avoid seasonal music on the radio. I enjoy the holidays the most when the excitement is still fresh and I’m not groaning every time I hear Mariah Carey’s voice. Hence the reason why I try to delay feeling quote unquote Christmasy for as long as I can.
Whatever you celebrate, whenever you choose to do so, enjoy it and make the most of it. But please, for the sake of my sanity, wait until December 1st before going into full holiday mode.
