It seems that this year the Christmas displays in store windows started to show up around here on the 1st of November, which seemed earlier than previous years. We were just in Rome for a few days and I noticed very few there in the historic center. Has anyone else noticed the displays being early or is my memory just foggy from too much vino nuovo?

Yes, Italy does seem to be imitating the US, where Christmas starts after Labor Day. Remember the good old days when we heard nothing about it until after Thanksgiving?

Well it was starting in the UK in September when we were there, but it has been that early for a while.

Coin in the centre of Florence already has all its windows dressed for Christmas! Including singing stuffed bunnies....very creepy!

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Originally posted by Bill 2:
Remember the good old days when we heard nothing about it until after Thanksgiving?

Ironicamente my 6 yr old daughter said just yesterday, in reference to some of our neighbors, aren't we suppose to wait till Thanksgiving. Although around here the weather can change in a matter of hours. High of 28 today. Fa freddo oggi. And that will be considered warm come January.

Yeah, that's the way it was decades ago in the States. Maybe with the economic downturn, some of the commercialization will decrease.

One can hope. Time seems to fly fast enough without the early reminders.

Many of the small towns around here, including Marsciano and San Venanzo, already have their Christmas lights up...the ones that span the streets! I was shocked to see them up so early!

Maybe because of the economic conditions, people are looking to find some comfort through the warmth and festiveness of the holiday season. And we just need it to start even earlier since we have a bit more consoling to do this year! NY radio stations are already playing Christmas music 24/7 (have been since Halloween)!

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Originally posted by SplitINdue:
Maybe because of the economic conditions, people are looking to find some comfort through the warmth and festiveness of the holiday season. And we just need it to start even earlier since we have a bit more consoling to do this year! NY radio stations are already playing Christmas music 24/7 (have been since Halloween)!

Very good point. It's like post 911. My wife is a hair stylist and she was worried about business when it actually picked up. The seeking of "comfort". They say those (911) times will reflect the next baby boomers. Times of trouble can actually pull people together. That's not a bad thing.

If you happen to get Minnesota radio stations KOOL 108 (107.9) is doing the same.

Barb and Art,
I will pass along the information on your house. My mom is looking and that is the region where her mom is from.

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If you happen to get Minnesota radio stations KOOL 108 (107.9) is doing the same.

I don't think we get Minnesota stations on the east coast, but I think it's safe to say it pretty much happens on at least one station in every major metropolitan area in the US. I haven't actually managed to listen to more than one song-- I'm just not feeling it yet. Maybe after Turkey Day.

Some of the local businesses have said the decorations are up early to try and improve their business for the season. With nothing but bad economic news in the papers everyday they hope a longer buying season will improve their chances.

Well if it is any comfort or not or just more info...we just got back from Spain and they were putting up their decorations then and there were some windows in the stores that had christmas displays...so it is not just Italy or the US

It's spreading!

Nothing out of the ordinary happening here in the UK. The main Christmas display went up in Glasgow 2 weeks ago as usual, the shops had their's at the beginning of November as normal. I used to work in a large department store in Glasgow and the decorations were always erected just after Halloween so it's not just this year. Actually Christmas starts to get mentioned by tv and radio here in July! It has been a ploy for years for stores to put Christmas displays up really early to panic people into buying.