How soon is too soon for holiday decorations to appear in stores?

[deleted]

it depends on the store.
Craft stores and fabric stores (like Michaels), it makes sense to put the holiday stuff out earlier because if you are going to MAKE decorations or costumes, it takes longer than if you just buy it readymade. I have made Halloween costumes that I started working on in August.

Regular retail stores, I think Halloween stuff can be put out in early September and thanksgiving and Christmas stuff can be out out after Halloween is over. (Nov 1)
I don't like to see Christmas stuff when it is still pre-halloween season.

I can understand when stores put out Christmas craft stuff now because craft projects can take a while to complete, but the rest of it - no thanks! I wish they'd wait until at least November.

In today's world it seems like it's impossible to buy anything "in season" because by the time the actual season hits, they're already into the next season. Forget trying to buy winter boots or clothing in December. You need to be thinking about winter stuff in August!

The only Christmas stuff I'm okay with seeing now is stuff for Christmas crafts, which may need time to complete. A month out from any holiday ought to be soon enough.

You'd think by now, with better logistics (all that just-in-time shipping, etc.) and manufacturing processes, that long lead times would be unnecessary. It's ridiculous that you can no longer buy things in-season. Need a swimsuit in August? Forget it - they're long gone. But hey, how about this nice warm winter coat? Ever try to buy a pair of winter gloves in January? In my part of the country we still have a solid three months of winter left come January. Bad luck for you if you lose one of your gloves or your boot develops a leak. Maddening.

A pet peeve of mine is folks who put up their outdoor Christmas lights and decorations in October, and they're still up in March - and they still turn them on at night! To me, it takes away from the magic and special-ness of Christmas. Don't get me started on folks who leave their lights up all year. Tacky.

I agree that it's beyond ridiculous to start selling Christmas stuff or even Hallowe'en stuff in the middle of the summer, or when autumn has just barely begun. The fact that this is happening indicates how commercialized the holidays have become. Even though I'm from a very secular household (and glad of it), it's kind of sad that this commercialization is happening.

Another thing that I find bothersome is the schmaltzy versions of prominent Christmas carols that blare at people from malls and other places of business. I think that Christmas carols are beautiful, especially when they're sung by a professional choir and accompanied by a church organ, but the schmaltzier versions of them are hard for me to take.

I understand your resentment but I think that stores making seasonal items available on shelves before the season is a great idea for shoppers that want to be ahead of the stress that the holiday rush brings crowds the stores. If I can get it early and avoid crowded aisle the better I feel.

I have heard many people say that Christmas stuff should not be put out before November 11th which is Remembrance Day. Around here now its a mix of Thanksgiving and Halloween things at the moment, haven't noticed anything for Christmas as of yet. Craft stores as people have mentioned makes sense, then it could be year round. Who knows how long a project would take? I know it might take me all year. haha ;)