Christmas approaches
July 31, 2017 5:39 AM Subscribe

As the nights draw in at an accelerated rate, Christmas show trailers are released, autumn fruits ripen, elves are recruited, bookings are made, events fill up and sell out, supermarkets unveil their festive food ranges and stores begin to organize for Christmas. Though on the negative side, Cadbury chocolate selections e.g. Milk Tray seems to get smaller and more expensive every year. Smart shoppers have already completed their lists, and with the big day now only 21 weeks away, Selfridges opens its festive store to cater to demand - Christmas pudding being available from this Friday. Reaction has been somewhat mixed on Twitter, while some communities are not deprived of Christmas shopping opportunities at any time. Current mood.
posted by Wordshore (21 comments total) 5 users marked this as a favorite

I saw the first Christmas store display on July 5. And the first "Back to School Sale" display around June 20.

If current trends continue, by 2021 the first Christmas store display will be out in mid-May and the first "Back to School Sale" display in late May.
posted by ardgedee at 6:09 AM on July 31, 2017 [3 favorites]

I started working on Christmas stuff in April — but my job is dishearteningly aseasonal like that.
posted by kariebookish at 6:29 AM on July 31, 2017 [3 favorites]

See also: how it is easier, because of fashion/shopping seasons to buy winter boots and coats in July than it is in January.
posted by thivaia at 6:29 AM on July 31, 2017 [1 favorite]

Wow. And I thought the Halloween City that opened in my suburb the first weekend of July was bad.
posted by Etrigan at 6:49 AM on July 31, 2017 [1 favorite]

See also: how it is easier, because of fashion/shopping seasons to buy winter boots and coats in July than it is in January.

God, I hate this. We went shopping for a fan over the weekend, only to discover that the current depleted stock is being cleared out and they won't be getting any more in. It's not even August yet. When, y'know, it gets into the 90's here with similar humidity. But, I could get a good deal on a space heater.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:58 AM on July 31, 2017 [5 favorites]

We got some young chickens recently, and they're learning the territory, as defined by the dog. He chases them out of the no-go area, but they're so flustered by his harassment that they run back into it, and he chases harder, jaws snapping. They haven't had the chance to recover their composure and it's "MOVEMOVEMOVENOWORELSE." Which is pretty much how I've come to feel about Christmas creep. I know that stores are just doing their jobs, as corporate directs, but this cycle is too freakin' fast for regular people.
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:07 AM on July 31, 2017 [1 favorite]

"Christams In July" is a thing now, because for some reason people need a reminder six months out that they need Christmas Crap.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:08 AM on July 31, 2017

The war on Christmas is not going well.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 7:09 AM on July 31, 2017 [21 favorites]

*long slow stare*

(tbf, I am currently having to think about Christmas at work but only because I need to get closure dates locked down so we don't issue books with due dates during the library closure. But I still object to this because it is still July. Juuuulllllyyyyyyy.)
posted by halcyonday at 7:16 AM on July 31, 2017 [1 favorite]

Wordshore: you're not helping matters by making this post three days earlier than last year's.
posted by misteraitch at 7:21 AM on July 31, 2017 [18 favorites]

I don't really pay much attention to standard US TV but it doesn't seem like they do much in the way of Christmas specials these day. I did like the Bill Murray one from a few years ago but I can't think of another one.

That was on Netflix.

The broadcast networks still rerun Frosty the Snowman etc. every year, and some decent percentage of regular dramas and sitcoms do Christmas episodes most years, but there really aren't the "Oh, hey, it's Zsa Zsa Gabor!" variety-show Christmas specials anymore in the US.
posted by Etrigan at 8:06 AM on July 31, 2017 [1 favorite]

I hate this. I just tried to buy a bathing suit in July, all stores were out of all but the ugliest, but there were plenty of winter jackets and long-sleeved tops. This "early emphasis" on seasons and holidays in the commercial world makes them meaningless.
posted by mermayd at 8:37 AM on July 31, 2017 [2 favorites]

We went shopping for a fan over the weekend, only to discover that the current depleted stock is being cleared out and they won't be getting any more in.

And then they wonder why brick-and-mortar stores are losing out to online retailers, who will sell you a fan any day of the year.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:55 AM on July 31, 2017 [9 favorites]

Imagine how all of this feels when you have seasonal affective disorder.
posted by elsietheeel at 9:44 AM on July 31, 2017 [1 favorite]

It has come to pass - "Christmas in July" is now just regular Christmas.

(I'd say that Christmas is now officially starting before the beginning of school, but a few Atlanta-area counties started today.)
posted by madcaptenor at 10:45 AM on July 31, 2017 [1 favorite]

America: OMG they're putting out Xmas merch right after Halloween what a world

Britain: Hold my lager
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:46 AM on July 31, 2017 [3 favorites]

I'm always amused by that line in "We Need a Little Christmas", where young Patrick protests, "But, Auntie Mame, it's one week past Thanksgiving Day now!" like that's a ludicrously early time to start thinking about Christmas. I suppose it was, when Jerry Herman wrote it.
posted by non canadian guy at 10:52 AM on July 31, 2017 [3 favorites]

Just back from gathering winter fuel and catching up with comments.

Wordshore: you're not helping matters by making this post three days earlier than last year's.

Huh; that explains why I had a weird feeling of déjà vu while pulling the post together. I'll try and remember to aim for July 4th next year.
posted by Wordshore at 1:09 PM on July 31, 2017 [2 favorites]

Just to quietly point out to the denialists that even MetaFilter is now preparing for Christmas. We're well into August now anyway.
posted by Wordshore at 7:01 AM on August 3, 2017 [1 favorite]

Christmas Day is 20 weeks today alert
posted by Wordshore at 1:11 PM on August 7, 2017

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Christmas approaches July 31, 2017 5:39 AM Subscribe

Christmas approaches
July 31, 2017 5:39 AM Subscribe