Christmas Etiquette

I try not to do this very often, but this morning I feel the need to rant a little.  Last night, while taking the dog for his bedtime walk, I noticed that there are already Christmas lights up in our neighbourhood. Really, we need to start decorating at the beginning of October.

Christmas is only a mere 83 days away, that is 11 weeks or close to a full 3 months.  How am I supposed to, not only find but, maintain my Christmas spirit that long.  At this rate, I will be tired of Christmas before December.

We still have to get through three holidays before Christmas.  I realize that Thanksgiving (unless you are the grocer), Halloween (although it has to be a close second), and Remembrance Day are not the big money spinners that Christmas is. Yet we have deemed them worthy of celebrating.

I think the Americans have the right idea, they celebrate Thanksgiving at the end of November, and have created a two day celebration. Day one is a day for family, being thankful, and football.  Day two is the unofficial start of the Christmas season, and time to start shopping.

Our family has always run on a similar timeline.  I seem to remember Christmas decorations coming out around my Mother's birthday, a month before Christmas.  A date my wife deems is still to early.

Although really I cannot put all the blame on my neighbour.  There are plenty of store out there with Halloween down one side of the aisle and Christmas down the other.  Give them a few more years and the mall will be playing Christmas music on my birthday at the end of June.