Christmas is coming

[MotherBear]

Just like the UK.

Never too early for Christmas goodies
Sunday October 8, 2006
By Catherine Woulfe

If you thought Christmas really did come earlier every year, you're right - decorations went into many Auckland stores a fortnight ago, weeks earlier than last year. And nearly three months out from the big day, customers are not feeling the festive spirit.

"You hear a lot of people saying 'Oh, no, not again'," says Paul Dyer, assistant manager of Briscoes Henderson. Dyer says stores had got on the Christmas bandwagon about two weeks ago, which was "a good couple of weeks earlier" than before. He has no idea why but says there is a definite knock-on effect - as soon as one store puts up a tree, the rest quickly follow suit.

Jess Dai, duty manager at K-Mart St Luke's, says trees and decorations are already decking the halls of the store. "We started last week... We have sold a couple of [trees] since then."

A spokesperson from the Westfield Warehouse says the store also started the Christmas push a fortnight ago. "We've got our Christmas trees up, and there's a few decorations - we've got wrapping paper, cards..."

But Westgate's Farmers store will be strictly non-festive until Labour Weekend, says store manager Allan Russell. "We tried to hold it back a bit from last year - we don't really benefit, sales-wise, because people aren't really interested. Some of our bigger stores have started, though."

And in case you're wondering, the stores will close for Christmas in approximately 77 days.

I dont know why these places even bother taking their decorations down.

Shops completely ruin the christmas spirit. The longer the decorations are out, the less novelty they hold and come christmas, you're completely bored with it all.

Lets all start an embargo on shops with their deccys up! Yay!!! :o

[Maggiemoo]

We've just had our 1st ever NZ "betterware/Kleeneze" type catalogue left outside the door, and its jam-packed with plastic santas and lawn decorations, musical candlesticks - you know the sort of thing.......mmmmmmm!! :D

Do NZers get involved in all this "lets see how many lights and decorations we can hang on our houses before we blow all the fuses in the street???" ?Please please please say NO! ::)

Bah humbug to 'em all!!

[MotherBear]

I can't answer that one because I don't live there, yet, but I wouldn't be too optimistic Maggie. ?If the shops and catalogues are stuffed with Christmas items it must mean that someone is buying it or they wouldn't bother ?:-/. ?

That's one reason it's great to be living in the Middle East, Christmas is very low key indeed. ?We go out for a Christmas lunch at a hotel and that's that, apart from a nice walk along a nearby beach. ?Can't fault it ? 8-). ?

I don't miss Christmas at all although I did enjoy it when the kids were young, apart from shopping in crowded towns and the cost of it all. ?I think you need something in the UK to counteract the effects of the drab and dark days, but it has got out of hand.

[MotherBear]

Kiwis still love Christmas
28 November 2006 ?
By TOM FITZSIMONS



The jingles start playing earlier each year, it's a strain on family bank accounts and it means you have to see the in-laws - but Kiwis still love Christmas.

Fifty-five per cent of New Zealanders feel positive about the onset of the festive season, according to a new Reader's Digest survey. The survey asked 259 New Zealanders what they cherished about the holiday season - and what they hated.

Family and friends were the main highlight for 63 per cent of respondents, with the average person expecting to share their main meal with 12 other people.

Conversely, some time-honoured traditions have been ditched - 47 per cent say they've abandoned watching the Queen's message on television, four in 10 people do not go to church and one in five have ditched buying a real Christmas tree. Just under 95 per cent of us spend Christmas at home.

[Dawn]

Y' know I'm gonna be so predictably Dawn and say BALLS to it all. I love Christmas for what it's meant to signify, I hate Christmas for what it's become.

That's it!!