fucking hell, it's christmas already?

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ok, i just went to pick up my bagel at sainsbury's, and noticed that they've replaced the barbecue stuff with a whole aisle of christmas stuff!

i know it makes me sound like an old person, but this seems a bit silly. it's only just october. we haven't even had halloween. or bonfire night. or other holidays that i'm probably forgetting.

does this bother other people as well?

has christmas stuff been up in the states for weeks, then? i suspect it's worse over there, but that's just a theory.

colette (a2lette), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 10:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Always with the Christmas stuff way before my birthday. It's weird and annoying. I mean, I'm generally super organised with wrapping paper and stuff, but it's ridiculous.

Liz :x (Liz :x), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 10:40 (twenty-one years ago)

tescos traditionally (oh, the ironing) replace their back to school stuff with xmas stuff, usually at the end of september. i hate it, but am almost immune to it now...

CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 10:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Christmas? How quaint.

Brigadier Rainham Steele, Mrs (blueski), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 10:44 (twenty-one years ago)

It is ridiculous to have all this Christmas stuff in the shops so early. But having said that, I've already bought/made/sorted out quite a few of the presents I'm going to be giving people this Christmas.

C J (C J), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 10:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Last year my friend did all her Christmas shopping in late October only to get burgled two weeks later. The only thing that didn't get stolen was the DVD player for her parents, which was hidden in my flat under my bed to stop them finding it when they came to visit.

Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 11:00 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm always incredibly impressed by people being organised enough to do their xmas shopping so far ahead. invariably i buy my presents in about half an hour before going to the office xmas party and then drunkenly leave them in a pub or something.

gem (trisk), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 11:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Saw an advert on the telly yesterday with Santa Claus in it - OCTOBER 4TH!

Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 11:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I hate it totally. It makes me laugh, Tescos has a load of Christmasy food (pudding & mince pies) that have a sell by date of before Christmas!!

PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 11:09 (twenty-one years ago)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/3706434.stm

Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 11:09 (twenty-one years ago)

The one good thing about early christmas in shops is that christmassy food is in the shops longer.

(mmm, stollen)

caitlin (caitlin), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 11:10 (twenty-one years ago)

"Apparently council workers had got the dates wrong."

Brigadier Rainham Steele, Mrs (blueski), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 11:10 (twenty-one years ago)

"... but the Brazil nuts were OK"

(badoom-tish)

(was it just my mum who always bought a packet of dates and a bag of brazil nuts at Christmas, and never at any other time during the year)

caitlin (caitlin), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 11:13 (twenty-one years ago)

i haven't seen any signs of xmas yet (erm, except for the xmas thread i started haha), but apparently some radio stations switch over to "all xmas music all the time" format by november 1.

pfeffernuesse (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 11:23 (twenty-one years ago)

No, my mum did that as well. What is it with dates anyway? The worst raisen ever tatsed, geneticaly modified so it's twenty times as big, then covered in goo? yuck!

Johnney B (Johnney B), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 11:27 (twenty-one years ago)

dates are hideous. they look like gigantic cockroaches.

pfeffernuesse (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 11:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I definitely noticed last autumn while in the UK that christmas started earlier. I haven't noticed any signs of christmas in the US yet. We generally don't REALLY get into things after thanksgiving.

Towelette Pettatucci (Homosexual II), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 11:38 (twenty-one years ago)

when does all the Thanksgiving paraphenalia go on sale generally?

Brigadier Rainham Steele, Mrs (blueski), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 11:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha, my store started selling Christmas stuff IN AUGUST!

tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 12:18 (twenty-one years ago)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3708904.stm

ok, so it's not just me. this article makes it sound like it's happening at least a couple weeks earlier than last year.

colette (a2lette), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 15:00 (twenty-one years ago)

One year I was uber-proud to have finished my Xmas shopping by December 1st.

I'm going to see what proportion of my Xmas presents I can buy on eBay. Cheap and FUN! I just found a nineteenth century engraving of my father's home island, but I've decided against it as it doesn't actually look like any part of the island I recognise.

(NB I am not employed by eBay as a guerilla marketeer)

Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 15:20 (twenty-one years ago)

We had our christmas menus written up two months ago, it really looms over you in catering :(.

Matt (Matt), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 15:26 (twenty-one years ago)

no-one's getting shit from me this year, so I don't care about when I get the gifts. however, they earlier they put up the decorations the better, the shops all look nicer with christmas ornaments around.

kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 15:56 (twenty-one years ago)

What's bonfire night?
Christmas in England seems nice, I want to come.

Magic City (ano ano), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 16:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I saw some Christmasy movie preview recently on TV for something coming out at the end of the month. I can't remember what movie it was, but I was pretty shocked they weren't waiting for Thanksgiving weekend.

Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 16:38 (twenty-one years ago)

WHY DO YOU ALL HATE OUR LORD JESUS?

alfalfa romeo (natepatrin), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 16:42 (twenty-one years ago)

(seriously tho, at least save the motherfucking tinsel until we got a World Series champion)

alfalfa romeo (natepatrin), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 16:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Bonfire night is November 5th.

It's when we celebrate the failure of a Catholic terrorist plot to bomb the State Opening of Parliament, by letting off fireworks and burning effigies of one of the terrorists, or of the Pope.

caitlin (caitlin), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 16:58 (twenty-one years ago)

yikes.

Magic City (ano ano), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 17:07 (twenty-one years ago)

are these effigies made of marshmallow and therefore delicious?

Emilymv (Emilymv), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 17:31 (twenty-one years ago)

It's not Christmas until the Christmas Radio Times comes out, let it be your guide.

jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 17:34 (twenty-one years ago)

It's not Christmas until the Famous Grouse whisky advert appears on television (and it did so, last week).

are these effigies made of marshmallow and therefore delicious?

No, these effigies look like the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz (though some toastng of marshmallows does go on too)

C J (C J), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 17:38 (twenty-one years ago)

don't forget mulled wine! Oh, and it's all of you who do your christmas shopping before December that make it come quicker each year. Boo!

Simon (flameproof) (Flameproof), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 14:08 (twenty-one years ago)

aw i haven't read the Radio Times since i stopped living with my Mum. does John Peel still column?

Senor Embargo (blueski), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 14:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I think we should have a big national celebration the next time a terrorist plot is foiled. The Evening Standard could sponsor it.

Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 14:30 (twenty-one years ago)

hey, if it's xmas already, does that mean the new ilx comp is out yet?!?

*is all ears*

t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 14:43 (twenty-one years ago)

jus for a laugh i went looking for crappy hampers*.
think ive found Meanest Hamper award winner 2004
the scottish food 'For the Ladies' Christmas Hamper >

http://www.scottishfoodoverseas.com/lady-christmas-hamper.html

sixty quid for a bear and a bottle of champagne. p-ss off.


* a silly arsed uk idea where u save all year for a big treat at xmas. some treat.

piscesboy, Wednesday, 6 October 2004 15:40 (twenty-one years ago)

There's a store by my house called Pumpkins & Reindeer. Y'all should come on down and check it out.

Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 15:43 (twenty-one years ago)

a silly arsed uk idea where u save all year for a big treat at xmas. some treat.

And end up paying more for it than it would cost if you paid for it all at once, of course.

(My mother used to get one, until I pointed out that she could save quite a bit of money by putting the equivalent amount of money into a special bank account every week, then spending it all on Christmas food)

caitlin (caitlin), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 17:56 (twenty-one years ago)

"Hey, how much did you pay for that East German Christmas cake?" "Nothin', man, it's stollen!"

Anyway, the big bummer here is that you can already get chocolate Santas, but St. Nicholas and his devil buddy (Krampus, Knecht Ruprecht) are nowhere to be found in chocolate. Austria still stands by St. Nick.

Colin Meeder (Mert), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

dates are hideous. they look like gigantic cockroaches.

this position is incompatible with being a cheese-eater

gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 18:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't noticed any Christmas stuff in the shops at all.

OTOH the last time I went to a shop was about 3 weeks ago.

Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 22:15 (twenty-one years ago)

"Hey, how much did you pay for that East German Christmas cake?" "Nothin', man, it's stollen!"

I have to hurt you now.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 23:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I am going to Safeway tonight and will let you all know if there is a chocolate santa in sight.

Towelette Pettatucci (Homosexual II), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 23:20 (twenty-one years ago)

None of the stores I've popped into lately have laid out their Christmas stuff already. Then again, I usually just go into grocery stores and pharmacies, and I'm sure they're equally as excited about the upcoming Halloween festivities as they would be about Christmas. I'm hopeful, though, that they'll give Thanksgiving a chance, and won't instead just put out the Thanksgiving stuff for maybe a week and then decide it's time to trot out the faux holiday cheerfest.

Ever-Ready Daisy Chain (Dee the Lurker), Thursday, 7 October 2004 03:41 (twenty-one years ago)

(BTW, we already have all our Christmas decorations. Including the tree. Ugh, I'd HATE to have anything but our artificial tree.)

(Oh, and I have some Christmas presents squirreled away.)

(I think the rest will just get homemade Christmas cookies.)

(Can't get the ingredients until December, though. Want them fresh.)

(Also can't start in on the baking until December, either.)

(So....)

Ever-Ready Daisy Chain (Dee the Lurker), Thursday, 7 October 2004 03:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Bad news: red lights in the trees by downtown Atlanta (with a giant red bow on one of the buildings) and at a liquor shop in the suburbs we saw a tree filled with genuine xmas lights.

Usually i think it's a whimsical idea for people to have xmas lights around their homes any time of the year. But now im already sick of it.

Adam Bruneau (oliver8bit), Thursday, 7 October 2004 03:51 (twenty-one years ago)

eleven months pass...
today there is a christmas card (london eye pod full of santas) on top of the water cooler at work.

(it's a sampler from a company that sells them but still...)

koogs (koogs), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 16:11 (twenty years ago)

I am feeling the looming presence of Christmas already. I have to put in for my x-mas vacation within the next two weeks. My gf is already making holiday plans. Somebody shoot me, plz. I might need to convert to another religion so I don't have to celebrate it anymore.

-Grinch

recovering optimist (Royal Bed Bouncer), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 20:28 (twenty years ago)

We've had a few christmas card samples in already; and we had to bring in the christmas party deposit a fortnight ago

Forest Pines (ForestPines), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 20:30 (twenty years ago)

fuck yeah! christmas! bring it on!

g-kit (g-kit), Thursday, 8 September 2005 12:24 (twenty years ago)

i have to travel 1000 miles to have christmas with my inlaws while my parents sit at home alone...for the second year in a row! and apparently we've already begun fretting about airplane tickets. this is going to be a monumental drag.

The Milkmaid (of Human Kindness) (The Milkmaid), Thursday, 8 September 2005 12:26 (twenty years ago)

i wonder what christmas will be like this year.

ken c (ken c), Thursday, 8 September 2005 12:26 (twenty years ago)

i'm one of THOSE people who get really depressed xmas/new years. i felt like i was gonna die last xmas.

ai lien (kold_krush), Thursday, 8 September 2005 12:42 (twenty years ago)

i wonder what christmas will be like this year.

It’ll be beautiful with snow everywhere, children will be playing outside and parents will put aside their marital differences and smile at each other over the golden turkey that’s surrounded by mountains of steaming vegetables and roast potatoes. Grandparents will travel from afar to be with their sons and daughter-in-laws that they haven’t seen since last Christmas. In the background the queen will be giving her speech and telling us that it’s been another monstrous carbuncle of a year.

not-goodwin (not-goodwin), Thursday, 8 September 2005 13:26 (twenty years ago)

my new office mate just informed me he has already begun christmas shopping. i usually start around december 12.

my name is john. i reside in chicago. (frankE), Thursday, 8 September 2005 13:29 (twenty years ago)

i hope so not-goodwin.

ken c (ken c), Thursday, 8 September 2005 13:30 (twenty years ago)

I admit I have seen one potential xmas present already. We thought we might try and spread the expense over a few months this year because we're SKINT. But it's not really working. Anyway, Xmas will be rubbish because a) Matt is working on Xmas day and b) skint as aforementioned and c) my parents are skint too so have instituted a 'one present only' policy AND I won't get a stocking! (OK as I'm 27 that should probably have gone out the window ages ago but bah.)

I don't want to go to any of the three potential sets of parents without Matt (or indeed with him) so will be holding court at home for disillusioned friends I think.

Archel (Archel), Thursday, 8 September 2005 13:39 (twenty years ago)

"Maybe I'll just book a holiday in Scotland instead"

You can have my spare room at a reasonable price, as long as you don't mind sharing with a wabbit...

smee (smee), Thursday, 8 September 2005 13:47 (twenty years ago)

A wabbit! How lovely!

However, I was thinking of going somewhere quite remote. Maybe Inverness. Maybe Skara Brae. Somewhere my family will never reach me.

Luminiferous Aether (kate), Thursday, 8 September 2005 13:49 (twenty years ago)

alien, I am one of those people, too

I used to think it was winter - but then I figured out that I don't mind winter, suspiciously, after January 1 -- I really just hate the holidays -- that month between thanksgiving and christmas is hell.

Homosexual II (Homosexual II), Thursday, 8 September 2005 13:50 (twenty years ago)

i'll be home alone this xmas i think. well flat alone. blasting xmas tunes at 11. watching xmas eastenders. i hope it snows.

ken c (ken c), Thursday, 8 September 2005 13:51 (twenty years ago)

Hey West Dunbartonshire has some lovely sights....and I'd lay money your family would NEVER look for you at my house ;0)


Awww - everyone is welcome at my gaff, I declare open house for Christmas,you can all be miserable together! (I'll go up the road and get drunk with my parents)

smee (smee), Thursday, 8 September 2005 13:52 (twenty years ago)

i'm not going to be miserable this xmas.

ken c (ken c), Thursday, 8 September 2005 13:54 (twenty years ago)

ken, please tell me how not to be miserable at xmas.

not-goodwin (not-goodwin), Thursday, 8 September 2005 13:58 (twenty years ago)

You can come to mine ken if you bring computer kens.

Archel (Archel), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:09 (twenty years ago)

Er. Computer GAMES.

Or computer kens.

Archel (Archel), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

Maybe we could have an ILX0r Christmas exchange. Where you exchange not gifts, but actual ILX0rs, so people who don't like their families much can go spend Xmas with someone else's family instead!

Luminiferous Aether (kate), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

i'm spending xmas this year in new york, i'm so looking forward to it but also slightly nervous as i'll be alone. what can i do on xmas day in manhattan?

Ste (Fuzzy), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:16 (twenty years ago)

1. you MUST have a stocking, archel. even if i have to send you one.

2. mandee-let's get one of these rich ilxers to fly us overseas for the holidays. wait, is there such a thing as a rich ilxer?

ai lien (kold_krush), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:16 (twenty years ago)

oooh i might do that archel you know! you have a PS2 yeah??

*starts programming computer kens


how not to be miserable at xmas: have your family living abroad, and do as you please on xmas day! get drunk, run around the flat, play games, dance, eat yummy food.

ken c (ken c), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:18 (twenty years ago)

watching eastenders xmas special is a double edged sword: if you're a lover of Schadenfreude it'd probably cheer you up to see other people being miserable.

ken c (ken c), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:20 (twenty years ago)

it's true, ken! my sis and i have spent the last 2 x-mases alone in our house, wearing pajamas, opening the gifts we got for each other, going to waffle house, watching movies, sleeping, dancing, games, etc etc. it's ahhhhh-some! but, the holidays really get to me. ugh!

ai lien (kold_krush), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:20 (twenty years ago)

i am trying to convince my family to go to las vegas for christmas this year--being somewhere hot, and drunk the whole time, that should ease the pain

Homosexual II (Homosexual II), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:23 (twenty years ago)

it's weird that it has so much effect on us.. i try to think of it as just a few days off work (in this light it's the greatest thing ever). i think the thing that can make you feel miserable is the feeling of the need to be having the time of your life. and it always disappoints that way.

ken c (ken c), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:24 (twenty years ago)

I feel that way more about New Year, really.

And I don't have a PS2 any more! Or indeed a television! So you would have to bring all the necessary equipment.

Archel (Archel), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:25 (twenty years ago)

I have to go to my in-laws for Christmas day. I wouldn't mind except Accentmister's mother has been bugging me about it since MAY. I resent the hell out of it because I would much rather be with my family, who are cool and great and sit around playing card games and Perudo and shouting at the telly, and so would Accentmister.

I will once more be using my dogs as an excuse to leave early. In previous years I've had to spend the night, but I can't leave the dogs on their own, not on Christmas...

accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Thursday, 8 September 2005 15:16 (twenty years ago)

Last night a young boy on my street started singing We Wish You a Merry Christmas in front of the local Iglesia Pentecostal. It briefly injected the bleak, empty street with a festive ambience until his mother started screaming about how she had been waiting for her fucking blow since 6 PM. What a grinch.

Laura H. (laurah), Thursday, 8 September 2005 15:26 (twenty years ago)

i love christmas.

however, i already have my plane tix for both thanksgiving and christmas, since i have to fly to michigan and tennessee, respectively.

kingfish superman ice cream (kingfish 2.0), Thursday, 8 September 2005 15:42 (twenty years ago)

I notice that there is a display of mince pies and Xmas puddings in the Tesco at Seven Sisters now.

I am sure I'll be spending Xmas lonely at home watching the same Morecambe & Wise shows for the 15th time. This is of course miles better than having to be with my family.

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 8 September 2005 16:38 (twenty years ago)

Don’t forget the wizard of oz Martin.

not-goodwin (not-goodwin), Friday, 9 September 2005 10:53 (twenty years ago)

I don't need to watch that ever again - I am not missing any opportunity to see the Andre Previn sketch on a M&W show.

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 9 September 2005 11:36 (twenty years ago)

eleven months pass...
selfridges christmas grotto has been up for weeks. i feel so sorry for the people that have to work there, listening to carols for 4.5 months.

colette (a2lette), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 16:50 (nineteen years ago)

Apparently Tim Burton got the idea for Nightmare Before Christmas by seeing Halloween & Xmas goods juxtaposed in the store.

Abbott (Abbott), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 20:54 (nineteen years ago)

Nellie McCay said she liked to perform Xmas songs around August because no one was sick of them at the time and it made the audience all nostailgic. The club owner told her to knock it off.

Abbott (Abbott), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 20:57 (nineteen years ago)

An episode of the Punky Brewster animated series featured a literal Xmas in July! However, I do not think she was the first to explore this theme.

Abbott (Abbott), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 20:58 (nineteen years ago)

Ursula K. LeGuin's novel Changing Planes described an island that made Chirstmas-all-year-long a tourist attraction and the island's main source of income. LeGuin described at as a depressing, crassly commercial place.

Abbott (Abbott), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 20:59 (nineteen years ago)

Jean Teasdale and her father, on the other hand, opened up a Christmas-all-year-long store in a strip mall. Jean dressed up as a snowball and got harrangued by junior high troublemakers. Like most Teasdale endeavors, her saccharine optimism made it totally hilarious.

Abbott (Abbott), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 21:02 (nineteen years ago)

I was taught as a kid that Jesus was really born in April. I don't know if that's a Mormon thing or a general Xtian thing, but think about it guys: they could be putting all this Christmas stuff out from April to December.

Abbott (Abbott), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 21:03 (nineteen years ago)

i was told in history class Jesus was born on the fourth of July, 1776

latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 21:44 (nineteen years ago)

A barista in Starbucks the other night told my friend that Xmas music starts for them in September.

Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 23:38 (nineteen years ago)

http://i22.ebayimg.com/01/i/07/98/f0/dc_1.JPG

Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 23:40 (nineteen years ago)

Funny that this thread was revived today; I woke up with that Brook Benton song in my head.

Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 23:42 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.screenselect.co.uk/images/products/8/44428-medium.jpg

Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 23:48 (nineteen years ago)

i was told in history class Jesus was born on the fourth of July, 1776

Pls tell me you're serious LB =) I mean I know you grew up in Krazy Kristian Korner-land, so I'd believe it!

Trayce (trayce), Wednesday, 30 August 2006 06:17 (nineteen years ago)

My workmate was singing "Mary's Boy Child" this morning. When I told him it was August he said "I'm just practising". I asked him if he sang in a choir and he said "no, but my car has windows".

I think businesses are getting more savvy to the fact people just get pissed off with early Christmas stuff. Seems in the early-mid 90s we would be bombarded with it the second summer choked its last gasp, but not so much any more. I guess Christmas just sneaks up on me these days and I end up having to get ready for it at last minute.

wogan lenin (dog latin), Wednesday, 30 August 2006 07:16 (nineteen years ago)

they've put lights up on Dalston High St. already.

Konal Doddz (blueski), Wednesday, 30 August 2006 08:50 (nineteen years ago)

thirteen years pass...

just heard mele kalikimaka in the tim horton's

-_- (jim in vancouver), Friday, 15 November 2019 20:20 (six years ago)

great revive

actor Robert de Niro disguised as an Uzbek homeopath (bizarro gazzara), Friday, 15 November 2019 20:33 (six years ago)

merry xmas

ciderpress, Friday, 15 November 2019 20:33 (six years ago)


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