AIBU to think this is ridiculous?

The point is to sell more and further increase company profits!

sandelf , people who do not subscribe to the consumer fest which is Christmas are attacked and labelled mean and scrooge like.

I have never gone over the top and I never will. Elf on the shelf, Christmas Eve boxes etc the opportunities for spending and indulging are never ending.

Exactly Marianne (my secod name btw . but I have 2 years on you - patron Saint of France of course) - what is the point of seasons if we ignore them- and special occasions? For fruit and veg too.

I never eat traditional seasonal food at any other time but during that season, e.g. only eat hot cross buns at Easter and mince pies at Christmas, as this is what makes them special. The same with putting decorations in your home way before it’s necessary, it just spoils the occasion to have them before their time. It’s not special anymore.

Sandelf, nobody is obliged to buy into all that 'must-have' stuff. Many of us who really love Christmas don't, and don't let all the over-commercial pressure bother us.

Though I will guiltily admit to having abandoned my principles this year and bought a (cheap!) double Christmas duvet set for Gdcs who will be staying at Christmas for the first time. They will be sharing a sofa bed and since they're only 2 and 3, and I'm all too aware that the 'very little, easily delighted' stage passes so quickly, I thought, s*d it, why not...

If it helps to spread the financial burden I suppose it's a good thing that Christmas items are for sale so early - especially if you need to send something abroad BUT otherwise it's much too early.
I don't want to think about it just yet.

I'm being quite canny this year, using some of the four weeks worth of Sainsbury £12 off a £60 shop vouchers I've been sent to buy seasonal bits for a hamper I'm making up for the inlaws. I am checking the best before dates carefully though.

I still make my own mincemeat, cake, pudding, etc, but often wonder why when there are so many wonderful shop-bought ones that actually cost less than the ingredients.

This is just another example of how the world around us is slowly going mad. We can expect Easter eggs next month.

Mince pies should be available all year round, after all, hot cross buns now are ( have just scoffed a buttered one,Tesco Finest range, very yummy.)

I try and spread out the buying of Christmas gifts, especially as virtually the whole family has a birthday between September and Christmas. I don’t put up decorations or make mince pies or open any Christmassy foods until a couple of weeks before the day itself, I think it spoils it, starting too early. I love Christmas, but not until December 1st at the very earliest!

sandelf- totally agree with you (apart that I am not at all religious).

Witzend thank you for saving me the bother of writing about the masses of Halloween rubbish in most shops! I completely agree with your post.

As for Christmas food stuffs I am not really tempted by chocolate or fruit cake or mince pies so I can resist. It's the savoury items I could stockpile and scoff well before the festive season. I have to stay away from them.

I refuse to buy Mince Pies until 1st December, cards are written during 3rd week of November ready for posting on 1st December.

I buy bits & pieces of presents when they are on offer & usually get my DGS's Presents in October/November.

Witzend I was brought up in Yorkshire but in the shadow of Pendle Hill so Hallo'wen was a big thing when I was growing up. Trick or treating is definitely American Import. We also had "Mischief Night" on 4th November

Just as well we live abroad because as far as my DH is concerned he could eat mince pies and hot cross buns all year round. He ordered so many boxes from a company that ships abroad last November that I was giving them to my lovely lady who cleans to take home. Only problem is she is now hooked on them and Christmas pudding . Nothing like them here.

Christmas is a seasonal festival at the darkest time of year. That I can go with. But last year I'd a total breakdown. Because of the unremitting hype that goes on for months. It is commerce and nothing but commerce. From encouraging us to eat stuff none of us would choose, to having to have 'the dress', perfect make up, 'make' our families and friends 'happy' (as though that were ever possible). Turn your back on it. Maybe then in December we will be ably to simply celebrate the turn of the year and the coming of Our Lord.

I agree with Jaycee5
I love mince pies.
I believe Iceland have them in now and their's are scrumptious.
However it is difficult to get mincemeat (I use it for baked apples) at small supermarkets where I live.
One year I bought 3jars in January ,reduced to 50p each but there was a shelf life of over a year on them.

A couple of years ago in early October we were in MandS and mince pies were on display,DH noticed the expiry date was well before Christmas. He approached a sales assistant and questioned why they were being advertised as ‘Christmas products’ ( he can get terribly grumpy in supermarkets), the answer was that people liked to freeze them so they didn’t run out over the festive season!! He wasn’t convinced but we bought some anyway.

I buy christmas and birthday presents throughout the year and it's amazing the number of unopened gift sets that get given to charity shops! I snap them up whenever I see them, great for those little extra gifts or the person you forgot at work/club etc.
As to mince pies, I will be making my own this year, along with the mincemeat. So much cheaper, better tasting and you can add or remove ingredients as required!

For me part of the lead up to Christmas is baking mince pies myself. Usually start around beginning of December. Everything regarding Christmas is started far too soon in the shops, no wonder by the time it arrives many people are fed up with it all.

Nannarose Brilliant! Someone who thinks like me! I was thinking, unless the items are on special offer, why not save the money and get a bit of interest?
I can't find a coop savings account in my area though .

I don't see why mince pies are only for Christmas. My local Morrisons often has them through the year.
Having a whole aisle from September does seem a bit much though. Special days have become less special because they are so drawn out.

Have you asked yourself, "Am I being unreasonable?" in asking what does AIBU means?

Well,I don't consider myself a dinosaur at all, but what the heck is AIBU, and why can't people use proper language instead of these ridiculous abbreviations? Not only is the human race becoming 'more fragile by the day' as 'Day6' (rightly) said in response to the handclapping thread, but we are also becoming lazy, especially in the use of our beautiful language.

I have started buying some Christmas presents to spread the cost as I have a limited income. However haven't yet bought any food items except some caddies of twig lets which were on special offer, we all like them and they will keep. I have also bought crackers already again because they were a good price. We make a lot of Christmas in our family and I could not afford to buy everything in just a couple of weeks.