Santa's been at your mall since September 12th??? Pretty soon he's going to be there year round, it seems.

They've started to put up some decorations at the mall I usually go to, but no music and certainly no Santa!

out here the Christmas stuff comes out right after halloween but christmas music doesn't start until December 1st.

lol Somegal, I don't know how I made that oops!  Nope, Nov 12, so less than a week ago!

If Santa was around in September I would have posted about it back then!

Xmas carols in \shopper's drug mart today!

LOL - I was wondering about that!

I already got half my presents. Shoppers had perfume on sale. 20 bucks a bottle for Britney Spears' hootch and Red Jeans.

Had to run over to the mall yesterday - and I heard Christmas music - and the store shelves, wiped clean of Haloween, were full of Christmas decorations, gifts, wrappings, etc.   I was not surprised.

I was surprised to see Santa.   Usually, while they have the chair, the fake reindeer, the elves, the decorated trees and everything in place, they hold off with the Old Man himself until after the Christmas parade when he rides his sleigh into town and right down main street, before being whisk off to the Mall to begin selling pictures (at exhorbitant prices) and pushing consumerism.   

The 'good' Santas usually also have a little chat with the children and hand out a cheap colouring book and a candycane.   If they are not busy they will spend an equal amount of time with the children whose parents indicate from the beginning that they will not be buying the picture.

i rarely venture into a mall anymore... i hate those places... so i have no idea what is going on with that.

i do know that the grocery stores around here have their christmas stuff out now.  and i have noticed signs all over the place for christmas craft sales...

My experience is that the first week of Advent (this year from Nov. 27 to Dec. 4, is the busyest week of the year.   I have something scheduled for almost every day or evening (sometimes two events running back-to-back).  On Dec. 3, Seelerman is involved in a big model train show all day, and the senior's Christmas party starts at 4:00 pm with a gathering time (seniors consider 9:00 pm a late night - so we will have dinner at about 5:00, music, gift exchange, a bit more music, and table games before people start to worry about getting home).   What's more it is my birthday.   I usually tell the family to skip the birthday, and think of me a bit later.  Seelerboy and Seelerman also have December birthdays, and Seelergirl's is in January.  There is no reason we can't have a joint celebration in January - wishing Seelerboy well on the other side of the world.  

But as for Christmas music and decorations starting already - I find the glow is over early in December.   I'd like to see it build up more slowly to a celebration beginning Dec. 24 and lasting until epiphany on January 6th - worship, feasting, visiting.   But we don't do much shopping during that time - except for the hectic boxing day (week) sales.  Kind of defeats the commercial reason for the season. 

It doesn't surprise me when stores have all their Christmas merchandise and displays set up early and are playing music early; their goal is to sell.  I was just a bit surprised that the mall itself was set up so early.  I think it would be great if the mall worked with the Salvation Army more than just allowing them to set up.  There was a promotion for Santa, the first 200 kids got a free picture with him.  There was also a parade and other festivities that day.  I think it would have been nice if they could have included the Salvation Army and maybe vouchers for free pictures for families who can't afford the extra expense and may not be able to get there first thing to line up early.

Several of the stores here started putting out their Christmas items shortly after Hallowe'en.  At one time they would wait until after Remembrance Day, but I guess that is long past.  In some of the stores Christmas music has been playing for over a week now.  No Santa Clause (no mall here) in the stores, but I think the Santa Clause parade is this weekend - it's kind of a kick-off to the Christmas season.

Except for my tree (as I plan to have a live one), all my Christmas decorating is done at home.  I'm ready to start wrapping gifts as soon as I get the tree up and the baking will soon begin, too.

When I was growing up, we had to wait until after my sister's birthday (Nov 25) before we could do anything Christmasy.  Now that I live so far away, I get started as early as possible.

I love that the stores are sparkly and tinsled.  I love to sing along as I cruise the aisles for my groceries.  I don't buy a lot of "stuff" at this time of year - but I sure do like to look at it all and imagine how it would look if I had a designer home.

I pretty much line up with you, Hilary . . . except for the wrapping of the gifts - I haven't even bought any yet!

I like to get my house cleaned, decorations done, and tree up for the first Sunday in Advent, and hopefully this  year I am on track.  My cleaning is done, my rugs will be cleaned on the weekend, and then I have next week to do the same.

I like to look at all the glittery items in the store too, but I don't buy, because I don't need anything.  I also walk down the aisles singing along to the songs.  Sometimes I sing all on my own.

TRY a mall-free Christmas. I can strongly recommend it.