Commercial Christmas

It is not even mid November yet. The Yanks just finished celebrating Halloween and Thanksgiving, fer cryin' out loud. Yet, in this equatorial part of the world, the spirit of Christmas has arrived. Or rather, the spirit of Christmas has begun to be advertised.

The faux-pine trees have been erected at the shopping centres. The holly and the ivy adorn the facades of buildings. Sleighs and reindeer and Santa merrily greet us as we unsuspectingly venture into the heart of Singapore's shopping districts. It was somewhat disconcerting and yet, totally and completely unsurprising.

I very much enjoy the trappings of Christmas, even the commercialism of it. The retail sector relies on these festive seasons to make profits, after all. But even with my unromanticised view of Christmas, I am somewhat appalled at Christmas beginning in what basically amounts to early November. Well, I suppose there is something to be said for beating the Christmas shopping crush, if you start shopping early. Maybe that's what this is about - a public service to harried shoppers.