We wish you a Cranky Christmas

[Plank]

I'm happy for you to be excited over christmas, and I could get excited about it around this time of year too (despite the wait), but over the years, the genuinly astonishing anger that can be evoked by the whole "Merry Christmas"/"Happy Holidays" greetings furore has taught me to bury my personal feelings and do my best to pretend there is no upcoming holiday at least until I'm off-duty.
Even then people can get outraged that I'm not wishing them one or the other as though I should have known which one they expect beforehand, I generally do my best to pretend I've forgotten christmas is coming.

Despite all that, I hope you keep your spirits up. Xmas is a special time

[MrSmiley]

I used to have a rule that any store that had Xmas decorations up before December would go on my "I think I'll shop elsewhere list". Unfortunately it backfires on me.

Having said that, I'm willing to cut some things like "snowflake decorations" a little slack as they're not strictly christmas. same with decorative lights on buildings... partly because it's dark up here above the 49th parallel at night, and partly because since winter starts early, most people want to get those lights up before the ice and snow and potential injuries.

Remember... axial tilt 'tis the reason for the season!

One year, a guy came up to me at the Customer Service desk, with an expression on his face like we had said something offensive to his mother, and says :

"It's three weeks before Thanksgiving! It's too early to be playing Christmas music! When are you going to start playing it next year, the Fourth of July? This is ridiculous!"

But, for me, that's the kind of thing I'd get mildly annoyed over, and then leave the store and immediately forget all about it. To actually take the time to walk up to a store employee and complain about something so petty . . . Especially when you act as overly dramatic about it as this guy did . . .

Spewing venom isn't a good way to deal with things... but I have to take the side that the customer service desk is usually the place set aside TO complain about an issue like this. Of course a comment card might be better if available...

[Ironclad Alibi]

Remember... axial tilt 'tis the reason for the season!

Exactly. And let us remember the true and original meaning of Christmas: a wild and wanton celebration of the Winter Solstice.

[MelodiousBubbles]

See, I would prefer after Thanksgiving, but it's not a major consumer holiday for candy or presents, so I know that's not going to happen. I AM happy to have noticed a lot less stores in my area had Christmas stuff up before Halloween was over. Unlike last year when I wanted to kill whoever decided to play Christmas music at the fabric store in the middle of October.

But being grumpy over snowflake decals? It might not be almost Christmas yet, but snow WILL be coming down soon. Is she gonna pitch a fit if they start coming down before the exact moment she's ready?

[infinitemonkies]

One year ago today (november 10th, 2008), I had a woman check into the hotel, and immediately start bitching and screaming because we didnt have a christmas tree up yet in the lobby.

The manager, who happened to be here late that night, in turn ripped into her stating that out of respect for the thousands who gave their lives defending freedom, we wont start celebrating until after remembrance day.

She responded with an anime-esque exaggerated cbf, and my manager told her to either deal with it or check out, no refunds, no matter what.

[Andara Bledin]

I really dislike the commercial whoring of Christmas to the consumer masses.

Sure, it's supposed to be a special time of the year for a lot of people, but with the way big business treats it, they just pimp it out for profit, decorum be damned.

She responded with an anime-esque exaggerated cbf, and my manager told her to either deal with it or check out, no refunds, no matter what.

I like your manager.

^-.-^

[Ironclad Alibi]

I really dislike the commercial whoring of Christmas to the consumer masses.

Now this comment reminds of several years ago when some of our populace were complaining about the over commercialization of Christmas. Then they started complaining that mechants were taking Christmas out of the holiday shopping experience with the "Happy Holiday" greetings. I think these folks just want to complain about something.

[Hobbs]

I saw Santa in the mall the other day...Santa! The guy who's not supposed to appear until the end of the parade (you know the one)! WTF?! Seriously, no one better wish me a happy-anything unless it's "Happy Thanksgiving."

[Jack7957]

I saw Santa in the mall the other day...Santa! The guy who's not supposed to appear until the end of the parade (you know the one)! WTF?! Seriously, no one better wish me a happy-anything unless it's "Happy Thanksgiving."

Santa is coming to one of my local malls this Saturday.

[Estil]

Christmas t-shirts or both (rule on the t-shirts is no rude slogans).

How can you have a rude slogan on a Christmas T-shirt? Bah humbug? :P

[dalesys]

How can you have a rude slogan on a Christmas T-shirt? Bah humbug? :P

Mr. Claus sneaks in your house at night...
He must be a dope fiend, to put you up tight.

[Chromatix]

I'm in two minds about all this...

On the one hand, the Christmas preparation season traditionally begins with Advent - that is, 1st December. That's when decorations and carols should start to appear, and certainly not before then.

On the other hand, I checked the postage times for Economy Parcel Post. It can take up to a month (without airmail), and the time between the colonies and Euroland is already up at around 3 weeks. That means that a lot of people will genuinely prefer to shop in November in order to get presents to friends in different timezones.

Fortunately, in Finland the shops seem to be pretty calm about the whole thing. Christmas cards and wrapping paper are very much in evidence, but the decorations aren't up yet and I'm not getting bombarded with carols. I think that's the right balance.