Christmas spotted at Tucson Loew's Oct. 23/Ryn Gargulinski

Christmas in July will soon be a reality since we’re already getting Christmas in mid-October.

Stores used to wait until at least after Halloween. In the real good ole days, no self-respecting reindeer would rear its head until after Thanksgiving.

Not anymore.

Congratulations to Tucson Lowe’s for being one of the earliest Christmas pushers we’ve seen yet, jamming the holiday down our throats way before its time. Not sure when the decor went up, but we spotted it at the 4151 N. Oracle Road location Oct. 23, a full week before Halloween.

Glittery stars, bows, and angels crammed at least two major aisles in the store, covering walls, gondolas and pegboards and stretching their garish tentacles right up to the ceiling.

Christmas hit Tucson Loew's by Oct. 23/Ryn Gargulinski

Two white, light-up reindeer pranced anemically in front of a forest of fabulous faux trees.

We had giant candy canes, an even bigger snow globe encasing a snowman and a huge, fat, blow-up Santa just begging to grace, and then deflate in, our yards.

Christmas in mid-October not only showcases the massive amount of retail greed that has become synonymous with the holiday, but it smacks of hypocrisy.

Some businesses no longer allow their employees to wish customers and clients a “Merry Christmas,” yet many still shamelessly tout the holiday when it comes to making a buck.

Erecting a giant Santa in the middle of October also takes away the special magic surrounding the once-unique Christmas season.

It’s tough for something to remain special and unique when it’s stretched thin over a solid 10 weeks.

While we’d much rather still be ogling skeletons, witches and vampire bats right before Halloween –­ or, quite frankly, any time of the year – maybe we should stop fighting the early coming of Christmas and just go with the snow flow.

Perhaps it does have a few advantages.

For starters, folks who leave their holiday lights tacked to their homes all year will now always be in season.

Christmas hit Tucson Loew's by Oct. 23/Ryn Gargulinski

There is really no reason to take them down when Christmas keeps sprouting earlier and earlier. Heck, not only will it soon hit in July, but we’ll bet a stocking full of coal the holiday eventually becomes a year-round thing.

People who invest in snowflake earrings, snowman parkas and those horrific reindeer sweaters that sprout felt deer antlers can also now wear them without fear of them being passé.

But the biggest advantage may be for the parents. Creative parenting will surely reach new heights while mom and dad find new ways to quell little Jimmy who starts howling for Santa a full two months before he’s due.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good shopping spree.

[tnipoll]


Ryn Gargulinski is a poet, artist, performer and TucsonCitizen.com Ryngmaster who prefers Halloween over Christmas and pretty much anything over going to the dentist. Her column appears every Friday on Rynski’s Blogski. Her art, writing and more is at RynRules.com and Rynski.Etsy.com. E-mail rynski@tucsoncitizen.com.

BONUS ROUND – Ryn also wrote the Nov. 1 editorial, scheduled to be published in Monday’s edition of the Arizona Daily Star. The editorial will also be posted Monday on Rynski’s Blogski. Stay tuned!

What do you think?

Have you seen other stores with their Christmas stuff out already? How early?

Does it kick off the season with glee or highly annoy you? Please explain.

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