It was right before Halloween when glimpses of tinsel and wreaths,
trees and ornaments, and Santa and stockings peeked out from behind
jack-o-lanterns and cornucopias in stores.
Are you kidding me?
On Nov. 1, as far as retailers are concerned, it’s Christmas.
One of my part-time jobs is at a bookstore and we began prepping
for the December holidays a few weeks ago.
I am not ready to hear “Jingle Bells” for hours at a time until after
Thanksgiving.
I bought my Halloween costume on Oct. 31 for 90 percent off. Imagine
how much I can save when I shop for Christmas in December!
And where were the Halloween costumes shelved on Halloween in
stores? In a tiny little corner behind the aisles of Christmas displays,
freshly stocked for consumers to ravage weeks before they need them.
There are great sales in December and I, for one, am looking to
pinch pennies whenever possible.
I was taught that household Christmas decorations come out after
Thanksgiving.
It was that Thanksgiving Day Parade with Santa waving from the
last float cruising down Broadway in New York City that meant the
holiday season had officially arrived.
Now, in my travels to stores, I am overcome by all the red and green
that screams at me, “Christmas is coming!”
To think I actually used to look forward to this holiday.
I walk about the mall knowing that I will be bombarded by holiday
cheer until I can barely stand it anymore.
But it’s old news.
Seasonal merchandise is never on sale when you need it.
In February you can buy shorts and bikinis and in July, winter coats
are up for grabs.
I don’t suppose being seasonally acceptable means I wear tank tops
in February and hang up Christmas lights in October, does it?
Then how can stores get away with the Christmas-craze?
I am deterred from buying presents because of the over-zealous
marketing ploys designed to suck me into remembering a gift for my
Great-Great Aunt twice removed.
I have too busy a life to worry about next week, let alone a holiday a
few months in advance.
I applaud very few things in regards to forethought. Ask me out a few
days before the date, let me know when a paper is due a few weeks in
advance and send me my bills more than a few days before they are
due.
I know when Christmas is and I can plan accordingly for it. I’m not
even a last-minute shopper. However, being reminded of hanging decorations,
writing cards and wrapping presents well before I have to is
annoying and superficial.
Besides, I haven’t even switched to my winter clothes yet.