Question for economists: Does extending the Christmas buying season earlier into the year lead to more buying or just earlier buying (if that)? I admit that I resent the smothering of Thanksgiving and find the new norm of a two-month Christmas season tiring, but I wonder whether there’s any actual economic benefit.
Economists: the most important authority regarding the birthday of Jesus. (Chris Rock’s tiresome monologue on SNL was obvious, but accurate, as this post reminds me).
Don’t get me wrong. I like them too, in Christmas season. I like Thanksgiving in November. I think one of the reasons I like Thanksgiving so much (in addition to the family, food, and wine) is that it’s resisted commercialism, but that’s made it unable to withstand the expansion of the Christmas shopping season.
I really didn’t mean to get in to any of this, however. I’m just wondering, as I expect to start hearing Christmas music in stores this week, whether the commercialism that has pushed Christmas up to Halloween actually has the economic benefit it seeks, or whether it’s more like expanding alcohol sales to Sunday — not more sales, but more spread out.
It’s entirely possible to appreciate the decorations as lovely whilst still wishing they could wait till after Thanksgiving to go up. I can’t weigh in with any authority on whether expanding the Christmas season all the way back to Halloween actually boosts the economy, but I can tell you that it does cause me to have Noel fatigue by the time the holiday actually arrives.
Awwww, man! *sigh* Well, at least there don’t appear to be any holiday merkins (so far)!
Question for economists: Does extending the Christmas buying season earlier into the year lead to more buying or just earlier buying (if that)? I admit that I resent the smothering of Thanksgiving and find the new norm of a two-month Christmas season tiring, but I wonder whether there’s any actual economic benefit.
Economists: the most important authority regarding the birthday of Jesus. (Chris Rock’s tiresome monologue on SNL was obvious, but accurate, as this post reminds me).
As a reminder, the reason Decatur decorations are put up so early is because it costs less to get a contractor to do it early.
I think they are lovely. Thank you to the city and the installation crews for decorating Decatur in festive style.
+1. I’ve yet to achieve the level of cynicism necessary to be anti-beauty as a matter of principle.
Even a radical government hater like me can’t work up an objection to these traditional Christmas decorations.
OMG! I mean non-denominational celebratory enhancements.
Don’t get me wrong. I like them too, in Christmas season. I like Thanksgiving in November. I think one of the reasons I like Thanksgiving so much (in addition to the family, food, and wine) is that it’s resisted commercialism, but that’s made it unable to withstand the expansion of the Christmas shopping season.
I really didn’t mean to get in to any of this, however. I’m just wondering, as I expect to start hearing Christmas music in stores this week, whether the commercialism that has pushed Christmas up to Halloween actually has the economic benefit it seeks, or whether it’s more like expanding alcohol sales to Sunday — not more sales, but more spread out.
Your 1st paragraph = EXACTLY.
It’s entirely possible to appreciate the decorations as lovely whilst still wishing they could wait till after Thanksgiving to go up. I can’t weigh in with any authority on whether expanding the Christmas season all the way back to Halloween actually boosts the economy, but I can tell you that it does cause me to have Noel fatigue by the time the holiday actually arrives.
Somebody stole my summer.