question of the weekend: How do you feel about early Christmas decorations in public places?

Here we are, a week before Thanksgiving in the U.S., and already Christmas is starting to feel old. Decorated trees and glittery things and blinking lights have been up in some stores for weeks already, and I was in more than one shop this week that was playing Christmas music nonstop already. I’m gonna be suffering from Christmas burn out before December hits.

Here’s the thing that really drives me crazy: If all the festive doodads can go up two months before Christmas, why can’t at least some of them stay up for two months after Christmas? I mean, sure, take down the trees and the Santa Clauses and the pretend wrapped presents, but why not leave some lights up through February, when it’s dark and miserable all the time? No one ever seems to think of that: I guess there’s no marketing rationale for it.

How do you feel about early Christmas decorations in public places? Does it spoil your holiday mood, or does it make you cheery?

(If you have a suggestion for a QOTD/QOTW, feel free to email me. Responses to this QOTW sent by email will be ignored; please post your responses here.)