Somebody asked me today if I was all ready for Christmas?

Grammaretto is right.
It just means are you prepared and organised for next month, whatever you're doing.

Shops will be closed for a bit, so extra food needs getting in. Busy roads and transport disruptions means planning even local trips.

So everyone gets ready even in small ways.

Cambsnan

Maybe the person who said it was just looking for something to say. A bit like talking about the weather.

I agree - like “How are you?” - polite noises really, they don’t actually want to know!

Some advance preparations done.

Most gifts purchased and wrapped.

Advent prepared. Tree won't go up for ages.

If asked that question, I simply answer, "I'm where I should be at this stage". I don't elaborate. In actuality, all the cards are written and in 2 piles, those stamped waiting for 1st Dec to post and those I will give out. Presents so far and I am buying for just close family are waiting to be wrapped in spare room. Meat will be ordered to-day. I have put the advent candle pyramid up and a few tiny decs. I like to do everything incrementally so will probably still be decorating the house Christmas Eve . So I'm ready for the question which will just get the much shorter simpler reply.

RosieandherMaw

Cambsnan

Maybe the person who said it was just looking for something to say. A bit like talking about the weather.

I agree - like “How are you?” - polite noises really, they don’t actually want to know!

😄 You could always give them an in-depth talk about how ready you are until they begin slowly backing away.
I agree it’s just a bit of social chit chat. On a break the other day at work a colleague asked me and another worker ( she’s Muslim and I’m Jewish) much the same thing.I said I’m testing out lots of mince pies and she said that she’s buying lots of new lights for the garden, so we both joined in, why not?
I think people just enjoy moaning about all there is to do for Christmas but love it when it arrives.

Well that person could ask me and I would take the question as it was intended, to spark a conversation and very probably well-meant

I am ready, all presents hand made, plus booja booja boxes bought and christmas food ordered

Bring it on, this year for whatever reason, I am well and truly in the mood

Well that person could ask me and I would take the question as it was intended, to spark a conversation and very probably well-meant
My MIL believed that when someone asked "How are you" they really wanted an in-depth, lengthy description of all her ailments, what the doctor had said to her and a list of her medications.

Two daughters,two different approaches,youngest one has her tree up,looks good and it makes her happy,eldest one while enjoying gifting hates Xmas Day,her dad,my ex husband was always drunk,started early in the morning and carried on through the day, Boxing day was better because he had a hangover so was quieter.
If someone asked me if I was ready for Xmas it would be a no,I've always been a last minute Annie, but each to their own

Would any of us dare say “I’m not bothering this year”.
😂
Just to gauge the reaction …

Yes that would be interesting FriedGreenTomatoes2 Some people like to plan ahead and others don't. I plan for Christmas in the same way that I do for holidays, birthdays etc. Definitely not the sort of person that leaves things to chance. Four weeks away is not to soon to plan meals, order food, buy/wrap presents and write cards. For me Tis the Season to be jolly although I appreciate that it is not for everyone.

Some people like to plan well ahead and be organised, others leave it to much nearer the time.

Some people have to plan ahead because of the expense of it (or potential expense).

Some people choose not to bother with it at all.

Then there are some who have stopped buying Christmas presents because they don’t know what people would like or can’t afford to do it any more.

Some people love to trim up early, others prefer to wait, some don’t trim up at all.

Some follow the religious side of Christmas.

Some people don’t get bogged down with all the commercial pressures to buy expensive gifts, expensive food and to generally over indulge, others seem to like it.

In essence, Christmas is different things to different people, and always will be.

I do think it is very sad for people who dread the season, either because of personal loss, family fall outs, the expense, the expectations which can then fall far short, (so many of the adverts promote a totally unreal version of Christmas, for example), and the overall pressure.

It has become a huge commerce fest in some respects and it is very difficult to step back from it and say “enough”.

I love the religious side of Christmas, it is important to me, and I do like to prepare a special meal for Christmas Day, decorate the house and tree and buy my OH a gift, but I refuse to be blackmailed by the onslaught of over commercialism enticing me to spend, spend, spend, which can cause so much heartache for so many.

Going back to the OP, I think people asking you if you are ready for Christmas is just general chit chat, rather like asking if you have anywhere organised for a holiday in the summer, or any nice plans. It might seem early to be asking, but as the shops have been so full of all things Christmassy for weeks now, it’s hardly surprising to have the question asked at the end of November.

I just say ‘ I don’t do a lot really’, but I might add ‘ It’s a busy time of year now for singers’.

"Some people love to trim up early", that's me Ziplock, though I've never heard that phrase before, I love it. All trimmed up & ready

keepcalmandcavachon

"Some people love to trim up early", that's me Ziplock, though I've never heard that phrase before, I love it. All trimmed up & ready

😂. Yes, indeed, all trimmed up - you)ve put an image in my mind of me trimmed up like a Christmas tree 😂😂😂😂🙃🥰🎄🎄

People are free to celebrate Christmas in the way they want but I think what others are saying is that it should be at Christmas, and not in November!

I was in a cafe yesterday and a staff member said she thought she should put some music on.

I just blurted out, 'Please no Christmas music...it's too early!'

No music was played whilst I was in there. We don't need this constant exposure and assault on our senses.

Saving Christmas for Christmas would be a great campaign! We would all enjoy it so much more rather than by Christmas Eve feeling washed out and exhausted by the whole thing...

I remember as a child loving the feeling of those two days of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day but on Boxing Day what did we get on TV? Holiday ads with people sunbathing on warm sandy beaches! It just seemed all wrong to me and still does- we can't we just enjoy the seasons when they arrive and not so long in advance?

Not sure how those 2 smilies before the Christmas 🎄 slipped in, but they weren’t meant to be there 😂

Some of the TV Xmas adverts are really irritating and repetitious.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Would any of us dare say “I’m not bothering this year”.
😂
Just to gauge the reaction …

😂 FGT you’ve reminded me of the year that my husband was moaning about all of it etc. I said rightio we won’t do it then. After a few times of saying it he changed his mind as he realised there was going to be no Christmas meal and all the trimmings which he loved. Funnily enough he never moaned in the years after 😂😂

karmalady What is a booja booja box? Do I need one? Where do I put it? Something else to worry about

Are they chocolates?
That is what I found when I searched on Google.

You could be right. I hadn't heard of them and I didn't realise it was a brand name. Something I can manage without, phew!

A booja on the lips ……. a lifetime on the hips …. 🤭

In the words of my DH, on seeing trees up already both in town and some houses nearby, "Oh for goodness sake! - and he loves Christmas.
Our tree will go up on Christmas Eve, as usual. I have presents left over from Grandson's recent birthday (yes, Granny went a bit mad and bought far too much so was instructed to "save some of those things for Christmas" by DIL.
We haven't send posted cards for years.
Other presents I am thinking about, but won't buy until December!

I would love to have everything wrapped and ready before 1st December. And I do for the wider family. But when it comes to my two DSs, one Dd, one DiL and two GC, I start to put requests out for ideas around the end of November and I'm lucky if I've heard back by the middle of December. One GC has a birthday a week before Christmas which doesn't help. I always get a (free) month on Amazon Prime in December and I usually have things still arriving on Christmas Eve. The temptation is there to give them all money (apart from GC), but my parents used to do that and often felt that it was a bit of a copout.

First present was ordered online in June. Physical purchasing started at the end of September. A few bits left to get. Turkey in the freezer. My budget means I have to spread it out. Tree will go up first weekend of December. Cards to write and post next week and presents will be wrapped the following week.