The Enid Blyton Society

I must admit to buying a chocolate yule log today but that's only because I like a slice or two for pudding with a dollop of cream, at any time not just Christmas, and they're obviously not in the shops at any other time of year so as soon as I see them, I pounce

But yes I have noticed Christmas things everywhere already!

We bought our Christmas tree in January!

Nothing wrong with that - it's still within four weeks of Christmas isn't it

I do get fed up of Christmas cards etc. in the shops too early. They were in Card Factory in August around here. I have to admit though, I have bought some chocolates ready for Christmas. The only reason though is that they are Gluten and Milk free, and if I'm not careful, they'll all be sold long before Christmas.

This drives me mad. I love Christmas but these days by the time it comes around all the excitement has long gone. It's the same where I live; cards, crackers, adverts for booking Christmas parties... And by complete contrast I haven't seen a single thing about Halloween or Bonfire night yet and they are only a month away.

That's true.
They had a big hallowe'en department in The Range the other day when I went in but I haven't seen any anywhere else and no bonfire night things at all.
Mind you I suppose with all today's health and safety stuff the fireworks are hidden away under lock and key and you have to have a retina scan to buy any

My Xmas shopping, as usual, will start 2 shopping days before Xmas!

Just remember that, according to the singer himself, this iconic Christmas performance was shot in a very hot studio one sunny September afternoon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM_H4CAAYxc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

in b&m, you can buy chocolate santas, stockings, trees&decorations

Funnily enough, I haven't noticed it as much this year. I have to say the only sign of Christmas I have seen in the shops recently is cards and there is only a small section of them. Usually everything is up in late August, early September. Can't believe there is only one advert on the television indicating that Christmas has just edged into sight - and that's a sofa advert. Just remembered, did see some advent calendars in B&M the other day, too. I have started Christmas shopping, however, or perhaps you'd call it "Christmas Making". Also, getting the ingredients in to make the Christmas cakes.
I used to know someone who kept their Christmas tree up all year, decorating, consistently with decorations referring to the current occasion. They hand made the decorations, too and it was a lovely old vintage look. Nice crafty idea - I knitted a few Christmas trees last year for them.

The people across the road from us never took down their outside Christmas decorations. And the people down the road still have their Christmas lights on their house from two years ago. We didn't have a Christmas tree last year, I don't think we'll have one this year either.

There's a couple of Halloween things in stores but that's not a popular thing in Australia. Every year it's getting a bit more popular but the majority of people here don't care about it.

There are no Christmas things in stores yet, which I'm surprised about. Normally they'd be up by now. It really annoys me when the stores have Christmas things up before we've even had the Hobart Show (late October). I'd imagine that the bigger stores will start putting them out at the end of this week.

I shop online for Christmas presents. My sister likes old books which I cannot get in Hobart, and I usually make gifts for other people. For smaller items I shop at Op-Shops.

Too commercialised, too expensive, too over-rated! Ban Christmas!

I think it gets earlier very year in the shops so that people will panic and start to buy, buy and buy early. I Christmas shop around the end of November, and that's still early really, as there is another 4 weeks to wait!!

As for Halloweeen, to me, that is just another way of getting people to spend money that they really can't afford. The USA always seem to go over the top at Halloween, and that tradition has been brought over here. When I was a kid there was Halloween, but you didn't buy clothes, sweets and all the trappings for it. It came and went full stop!!!!

As for Bonfire night, well they should ban that altogether now. It's dangerous, and it upsets all the animals!

Julie2owlsdene wrote: As for Bonfire night, well they should ban that altogether now. It's dangerous, and it upsets all the animals!

That tradition has been around for several hundred years if I am correct. We should be careful about banning such things; enough old things seemto be disappearing as it is. I have sympathy for the animals but we cant do everything just for them.

Stephen wrote:Just remember that, according to the singer himself, this iconic Christmas performance was shot in a very hot studio one sunny September afternoon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM_H4CAAYxc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Very good Stephen. In 1970 Elvis Presley also recorded his second Christmas album in June. To get the mood right they blacked out the studio windows and put up Christmas trees, decorations and had Christmassy food and drinks on hand.