Weekly Inquisition #20: Earliest date for X-mas decorations?

[Ryan Olson]

So what do you think?  What is the earliest date a company should put up X-mas decorations, play X-mas music?

My opinion, at the earliest, the day after Thanksgiving.  Please, just give us a month after the Halloween decorations, and before the X-mas decorations, of respite from seasonal obligations.

[losingfeeling]

I understand that the holiday shopping season starts the day after Thanksgiving, so I can understand why from a retailer's perspective that that's a good time to start playing the holiday tunes.  Fine, whatever.  In my opinion the absolute earliest retail shops should be playing Christmas songs should be at the beginning of the month that the fucking holiday is in.  That would give them 25 days to shove these crappy songs down the throats of shoppers.  Isn't that enough time?  And how many original Christmas songs are there anyway?  I don't think anyone should be subjected to any of these songs more than once a year.  I'd prefer to not hear "Jingle Bell Rock", "Little Drummer Boy", or Nelly's rendition of "Frosty the Snowman" ever, so once a year is pushing it.   Anyway, Christmas music should be restricted to, at most, December. 

[StopWarCrimes!]

I have to agree with you Ryan.  The day after thanksgiving is the very earliest we should have to see or hear Holiday propaganda. I noticed that before halloween some of the car lots out here (Portland Or) already had there lights up and Christmas sale signs. I love halloween and the last thing that I want to see when I am cruising down the road listening to the misfits and having halloween day dreams, is a fucking big Santa display at the Volvo dealership.  Capitalism is turning us into Christmas zombies... worshiping the shopping gods. 

Jesse

[Ryan Olson]

Ha, I SO agree with you losingfeeling!  I can handle the X-mas decorations... but the music is really annoying.  Every year I have an argument with somebody about X-mas music.  My thought is -- if this music was so damn great, why don't you listen to it year round?  I think people just feel obligated to like it because it's in the 'holiday spirit'.  I remember there was ONE christmas album I actually liked, that had artists like Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Madonna etc.  That was pretty decent.  Put Nelly's version of Frosty the Snowman?  That sounds horrible.

I used to work part-time at Guitar Center, for a little extra money and to get cheap music gear.  And the christmas season was so bad, because they had one 'rockin' christmas album, and they would just play it on repeat.  For about a month and a half.  The first time I heard the Hendrix Christmas album I thought it was pretty cool... but after the 500th time, I was ready to kill somebody.  And I only worked 1 day a week!  I can't imagine working a full-time retail job during X-mas, I think I'd just blast my dome off with a shotgun.

Ugh, X-mas decorations before Halloween.  Well, if they can invade Halloween -- then Halloween should invade X-mas!  I say, set up a nativity scene in your front yard, but have the wise men fighting off a horde of zombies.  That would be awesome.

[Shellius]

My thought is -- if this music was so damn great, why don't you listen to it year round?

LOL  Well, lots of times it's about snow, or trees.....
I can handle xmas stuff one week before the date and before that I don't like it.  I have been wanting to skip the whole holiday for the last few years. I can't get into it anymore, it seems all about shopping.  It's mass consumption and I find that sickening.  It starts earlier and earlier every year too.  Honestly how much more stuff do people need and if you need it why not just buy it when you need it?  I'd rather give money to organizations that need it than people who don't.

As for when it should start, I guess my answer is, one week before the 25th. 

[StopWarCrimes!]

I remember there was ONE Christmas album I actually liked

You should pick up Christmas with the Vandals (OI to the world). That is one of the best albums they put out and it is hilarious.  It includes tracks like... Gun for Christmas, and Hanging myself from the tree, and my first x-mas as a woman.  I am telling you this is the perfect anti-Christmas album so check it out.

[Turambar]

I'd agree wih Ryan...

[Ryan Olson]

I remember there was ONE Christmas album I actually liked

You should pick up Christmas with the Vandals (OI to the world). That is one of the best albums they put out and it is hilarious.  It includes tracks like... Gun for Christmas, and Hanging myself from the tree, and my first x-mas as a woman.  I am telling you this is the perfect anti-Christmas album so check it out.

That's sounds great -- I love anti-Christmas music/movies.  Who didn't love the movie Bad Santa?  We need more stuff like this... there's a void for X-mas related music/movies for us cynics out there.

Love that cartoon, too... who is listening to the 24/7 Christmas radio station?  That would make me homicidal!

[Brian]

Some people actually leave xmas lights on their house all year long!
(Somehow though,  I don't think that has anything to do with either capitalism or Christmas.)

[StopWarCrimes!]

Some people actually leave xmas lights on their house all year long!
(Somehow though,  I don't think that has anything to do with either capitalism or Christmas.)

That has to do with lazy.  I have been know to leave halloween decorations up for half the year (when I was a bachelor)

[flasoapbox]

I fucking hate Christmas.