[HPFGU-OTChatter] When the decorations go up

[Melissa McCarthy]

Dicentra:
> We in the U.S. have the advantage of Thanksgiving Day, the 4th
> Thursday in November, which is considered the proper beginning of the
> Christmas season.  (Canadian Thanksgiving is in October, isn't it?  Do
> y'all mark the beginning of Christmas at that time?)

Yup, Canadian Thanksgiving is in October!  I can't speak for all of Canada,
of course, but around here, we don't mark the beginning of Christmas until,
usually, the tail end of November... actually, right around American
Thanksgiving.  Coincidence?  Now, the Christmas *shopping* season, on the
other hand... that can start in September.  It's so strange to see
back-to-school ads and Christmas ads at the same time.

> Beth: I have purposefully looked for Thanksgiving decorations so I
> could have an excuse not to put up Christmas decorations until after
> Thanksgiving (because doesn't it seem /un-thankful/ to ignore it?),
> but when I look at the tasteful outdoor displays of some of my
> neighbors (not all of my neighbors, but that's another story) I have
> to admit there is wisdom in trying to attach the lights before it
> freezes! Has anyone found a solution for those of us who live where
> it could very well snow before Thanksgiving?

We're used to snow around here <g>  I have fond memories of standing
outside, mittenless, in the middle of a mini-snowstorm with my father trying
to attach a stubborn set of lights to the house.  Mostly we just cope with
it, although some people do put up their lights early (say, beginning of
November) and just don't turn them on until it gets closer to Christmas.

Melissa, who feels strongly that the *real* Christmas season starts with
Advent