The Christmas Season

[sodascouts]

This is bouncing off a topic in another thread.

Growing up, I always figured the Christmas season started the day after Thanksgiving. After all, wasn't that Santa at the end of the Macy's Day Parade? However, different people have different ideas of when the season starts.

Some stores are starting it in freaking October! I think that's way too early. For me, it makes something less special if it gets stretched out too long.

That being said, I don't like to wait too long to start - we need time to admire those decorations!

So, for me, the Friday after Thanksgiving is when the Christmas season starts. I even thought about changing the Border's style to Christmas Style this past weekend, but decided I would hold off until after Hotel California week which is coming up in a few days.

When does the Christmas season start for you?

[VAisForEagleLovers]

My mother used to wake us up the day after Thanksgiving by playing the Hallelujah Chorus at full volume. I'm really glad she stopped doing that, but it's always been the day after Thanksgiving for me. I always put her tree up then, and the outside lights on Saturday. Then return to VA and do my own on Sunday after Thanksgiving.

[Koala]

Thanks for this thread! sorry I was in the other thread off topic! It is interesting to hear how Christmas traditions (decorating and other stuff) is in other countries!
Here usually played from the first Sunday of Advent Christmas music in the radio and stores but you can buy with us from mid-October Christmas cookies and such stuff in the stores, Christmas decoration usually until November.

[Freypower]

For us (our family) it runs from December to Twelfth Night. We will put the tree up at the weekend. I will change my Border style to Christmas tomorrow & leave it there for the whole month. I also do that in October for Halloween, even though I don't celebrate Halloween.

(We need a St Patrick's Day Border style)....

It used to be that after my birthday in mid November I would start to feel Christmassy, but now all the advertising & so on is starting in October. When I was in England last September it had started then.

[EaglesKiwi]

Oooh, I love the Christmas season!!

Starts 01st December for us. We have a felt Advent calendar that gets 2 tiny chocolate santas put in each day & sometimes 2 small tree decorations. We will hopefully be putting the main tree up this weekend - although we have so much on & Rob & I are spending Saturday night in town in a hotel, so it might not happen!

My parents are English and were adamant that Christmas season did not start until first weekend in December (my Dad had to get all the decorations out of storage in a high cupboard in my bedroom...).

I agree it loses impact if it drags on too long, and don't like seeing decorations up in the shops in October.

[Glennsallnighter]

Julie! A St Patricks Day Border would be just sooo cool!

Ok as regards Christmas......

Well the store start setting out their Christmas goods from September and October, but to be honest I tend to turn a blind eye until after Halowe'en at least. Otherwise, as others also feel it does indeed drag out. One year I started early and to be honest I was sick of it by January.

The kids get their 'Santa' letters off first week in November, which suits as if they leave it to late let's just say Santa mightn't be able to source everything.
I get the food ordered early November simply because I won't get the collection date and time I want if I leave it any later! Who wants to pick up their turkey on 21st December?

But we really get 'into' the whole Christmas thing about the end of November, say the first Sunday of Advent. The kids have their school Christmas fair which gets us in the mood. We'll put up the tree and decorate the house at the weekend. I also get out the Christmas music for the car around now (sorry Glenn..- the kids insist). We also have a radio station Christmasfm which raises money for a designated charity each year - this year every text you send raises a euro for the homeless, and the djs give their time for free. My face DJ from all the stations (Keith Shanley) kicked it off yesterday and it's been on in the house ever since.

I think a month is probably the best lead in time. It's good enough to be prepared and have everything nice and have fun without wearing Christmas out!

[pueblo47]

Some good friend send me this Today. Regardless is a Commercial, but because somehow is about my Hometown Hermosillo (wich is not that big, not yet 1 million pop), and because is very fitting to this Holidays, I wanted to share this. Also, the language doesn't matter that much, you know, Xtmass is global. I asumme the passengers bound to Hermosillo (and North Pole) are native most (my countrymen?), I mean, yes, they kind of look familiar, like my people

Is cool, I hope you like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=achgqZ7JA8E

Oh I forgot may be you guessed but Despierta la magia (Button and Song) means Wake up the Magic

Nice, you've been very busy today and I appreciate all you've done.

BTW, Merry Christmas to you and yours and keep on rockin'.......

[Freypower]

NB: I think the first post in this thread was by thelongrun & I accidentally merged it with pueblo's reply while trying to move it to the Christmas thread. Apologies to both of you.