Who has started Christmas Shopping Yet

AndyGT

Some seasonal items for Christmas are being shown in the shops and I was wondering who has started Christmas shopping yet? 

I have bought a few items.  Sone presents for my partner and as always a few items of food.... With the food I reckon on purchasing an extra couple of items each time I shop and thus it won't hit so hard as we get closer.  

At the moment I haveca list fir my partner.  This is likely to change over the next few weeks. 

Albus_Scope

I always start stocking up on snacks once it gets to October, so we usually have a weird selection of Halloween and Xmas based sweeties.  But you're right, it's great to spread the load over a few months when purchasing things. 

My family always says we can buy one gift for each family member and we have to use recycled wrapping paper. So I always like to start hunting for gifts now, as I really have to think about what I want to get each person. 

poppy123456

Normally i've started way before now. It's been a very expensive few months for me. My holiday and then my elder daughter got married a couple of weeks ago so i helped them financially with that. Then this week they've gone on holiday "family moon" as she called it so i gave my grand children pocket money for that.

I did pick up one thing for my grandson yesterday while doing the weekly shop.

66Mustang

Never heard of a "familymoon" Poppy, that's quite nice

poppy123456

66Mustang said:

Never heard of a "familymoon" Poppy, that's quite nice

Thanks. Neither had i until she said

Sandy_123

Yes I've got a few bits in, but starting to buy gifts now. 

bg844

Starting early November, hate shopping altogether though! I think I'll buy the bulk of my gifts online and transfer the younger ones money so they can do as they wish with it.

sunflower2

Christmas is huge in our house and I adore it , it's my favorite time of year. I plan very early all my presents were done by the summer and decorations I've been buying since July. Nearly finished now just got to get a few bits for the trees from b&m which I'll going to in about 2 weeks time and just got to decide what to put at the bottom of my fireplace which I've put a poll up on. 

Food we start in November getting snack type bits then the rest in done early December. 

Rosie_Scope

Very impressive @woodbine! Sounds like you're ready to go.

I've not started yet but I'm thinking about it. I often make a few presents like food items or little handmade gifts so I better get cracking soon!

durhamjaide2001

Not me personally I think it's far to early 

Jimm_Scope

I bought a hannukah gift for my partner (she's jewish), no christmas shopping otherwise though. Need to get asking around what people want/would like.

durhamjaide2001

Jimm_Scope said:

I bought a hannukah gift for my partner (she's jewish), no christmas shopping otherwise though. Need to get asking around what people want/would like.

What is Hannukah Im generally curious to know because the last time I studied RE I was in year 8 and now I'm 22 so it's been a good 10 years and I'm very interested? 

Jimm_Scope

It's an 8 night/day holiday (most jewish holidays, I believe, start at sunset). It usually falls between late November to late December in our calendar. The reason it moves is because the Jewish calendar is a lunisolar calendar, it's determined not just by where the Sun is in the sky (which is what our calendar is based off of) but also the phases of the Moon.

It celebrates the recovery of Jerusalem, and thus the Second Temple, from the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd Century BCE. It celebrates specifically the rededication of the Second Temple. It's literal translation from Hebrew is "to dedicate". 

It's celebrated by lighting candles in a menorah, a central one that is then used to light the 8 others, one for each night of Hannukah (so 1 on the first night, 2 on the second). In modern times it can also often be called "The Festival of Lights". Food associated with it tends to be fried, like latkes or jam doughnuts. Also the giving of "gelt" was a historic tradition, the giving of money to children. This has eventually become foil-covered chocolate coins. My partner, who is also American, was quite surprised when Christmas came around here and she said "How comes you guys have gelt? There's not a huge Jewish population here?", as in the states chocolate coins are associated with Hannukah and the Jewish community and not with Christmas.

As it's so close to Christmas it's also gained a gift-giving tradition. Often people pick one gift for the whole thing or a bunch of very small gifts for each day. 

I am not religious at all, but I am always happy to help and join in with my partner to celebrate her religion and culture. She always enjoys spending Christmas with my family as well, though the first time she ever pulled a christmas cracker (they don't have them in the states) it gave her a paper cut!

Steve_in_The_City

I've got Xmas all sorted. The entire menu is finalised and the expensive food items are lurking in the freezer, so the expense has been met. Early on the 22nd I shall do a little shopping for fresh stuff, followed by a pint before the pubs get busy. That has been my routine for years. Xmas used to be a very busy and social time for me, but those days are gone and I am largely alone but never lonely. Xmas is easy for me now. I don't have many cards to send or presents to buy, and something nice always happens to me at Xmas. So I look forward to it. That said, I do plan it with military precision.

durhamjaide2001

Jimm_Scope said:

It's an 8 night/day holiday (most jewish holidays, I believe, start at sunset). It usually falls between late November to late December in our calendar. The reason it moves is because the Jewish calendar is a lunisolar calendar, it's determined not just by where the Sun is in the sky (which is what our calendar is based off of) but also the phases of the Moon.

It celebrates the recovery of Jerusalem, and thus the Second Temple, from the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd Century BCE. It celebrates specifically the rededication of the Second Temple. It's literal translation from Hebrew is "to dedicate". 

It's celebrated by lighting candles in a menorah, a central one that is then used to light the 8 others, one for each night of Hannukah (so 1 on the first night, 2 on the second). In modern times it can also often be called "The Festival of Lights". Food associated with it tends to be fried, like latkes or jam doughnuts. Also the giving of "gelt" was a historic tradition, the giving of money to children. This has eventually become foil-covered chocolate coins. My partner, who is also American, was quite surprised when Christmas came around here and she said "How comes you guys have gelt? There's not a huge Jewish population here?", as in the states chocolate coins are associated with Hannukah and the Jewish community and not with Christmas.

As it's so close to Christmas it's also gained a gift-giving tradition. Often people pick one gift for the whole thing or a bunch of very small gifts for each day. 

I am not religious at all, but I am always happy to help and join in with my partner to celebrate her religion and culture. She always enjoys spending Christmas with my family as well, though the first time she ever pulled a christmas cracker (they don't have them in the states) it gave her a paper cut!

That's very interesting thank you for explaining 

rebel11

I've bought some 'Humbugs'. 

noman

rebel11 said:

I've bought some 'Humbugs'. 

And me,don't do xmas

Jimm_Scope

I find various "religious" festivals quite interesting. Since I was brought up Christian and live in a mostly "Christian" country (though it's fast becoming irreligious... like myself, but our culture is still "Christian") having a Jewish partner opened my eyes to how much it does affect our culture. 

Like, I don't think of Christmas as a religious holiday, never celebrated it as one. But it is at it's foundation a religious holiday even if it's mostly celebrated in a secular manner these days.

That said, not sure what we are doing for Christmas this year. We usually celebrate it with my close family, last year we had her parents over from the states but this year we're going to theirs for Thanksgiving.

Strawberry1

No I haven't started 🤶 shopping yet unfortunately.  It is stressful for me lol 😂. 

66Mustang

@Strawberry1 I am glad I am not the only person who hasn't started yet, I don't know what to buy for anyone!!

Strawberry1

Bless you @66Mustang , it can be really difficult to know what to get people. Plus the costs are even higher this year . As the saying goes   its the thought that counts.