Al & Mrs Al (Vic) replied:

I hear you Kev, early October the Xmas stuff gets put out...and callum has been wanting an advent calender since then...as it is now 1st Dec I'll go get one for him...our tree is up..today..but I can understand why you wait...Al's brothers birthday is Dec 24th - poor bugger!, it gets forgotten in the Xmas rush..which reminds me..I haven't thought of gifts for him yet...arghhhh...

Lyn

ChallengeLee replied:

I'm a stubborn git, l refuse to do anything Christmassy till December.....Christmas carols will not be heard before then, the tree goes up sometime in the first week or two of December depending on how chaotic it is that time of year for the family and cards get sent out then too if l remember them.

I find that l get too excitied about the holiday season if l don't keep it on hold till December....nothing like festive season burnout before it's even that time of the year.
It's enough trying to organise the Christmas Campout cook up....LOL

Member - vivien C (VIC) replied:

Hello Kev,

My birthday is December 27th and I've never minded it being that. I always thought it made Christmas even more special.

We put our decorations up in the second week of December but the tree goes up until the last week before Christmas. This is because we never had a "plastic" tree and had to keep the pine needles from dropping. Nowadays even though we have a synthetic tree we do the same.

The tree & decorations stay up until Twelfth Night which is January 6th. This is what my mum did and I just follow in her traditions.

I agree that the shops start their Christmas decorating etc far to early. It takes some of the excitement out of Christmas when it seems to have been going on for months.


All the best,

Viv

I hope Ashley has a lovely birthday...

Member - Dunworkin (WA) replied:

One of our daughters has her birthday on the 31st of December, she doesn't mind it so much now but when she was in her teens and early twenties it was a rushed birthday tea so that she could go out and celebrate the New Year, things are quieter now, she must be getting older!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers

D

Member - John T (NSW) replied:

G'day Kev

Since my sons left some years ago I don't bother with the tree anymore. But I do make the Christmas Pudding according to a recipe that came down from a great granmother (never met the dear lady but I'll bet she a tough old bird) and still stir in the sixpences (who remembers getting real coins in their pudding c'mon hands up) and make a wish as I used to do when my Mum made the pudding so many years ago. If you are lucky Kev there might be some left for me to bring to Kunderang (have to crank up 1 of the Waceo's to keep the icecream frozen lol (geez life is hard.
And I too get cheesed off with the shopping malls etc putting the Christmas displays on in b@#%$*y October - fir chris' sake - I'm only getting past the June long weekend then - give me a break.

Cheers

Member - Borgy.. (SA) replied:

G'day Kev

One of my grandaughters birthday is 24th December , she absolutely loves it ...lol. She turns 5 this year and cant wait till she starts school full time ...See what she thinks about school in a few years.

We dont usually put our tree up until the 2nd week in December. But like you i have noticed that shops are starting earlier each year

Cheers......Dave