Silly Nil.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mincemeat

Must be as all the groceries and retailers must be hurting from the strong franc this year...still, I saw lebekuchen and various other xmas treats even before 1 Sept in the local grocery here. Even in the states there is Halloween and Turkey Day to slow this sort of anachronism...but not by much.

Ironically, no, there is no 'meat' in mincemeat...at least not in the modern forms of it.

Hrm...3-4? I'd say NYC, but that's 6 as there's something for everyone in NYC, even Bah Humbugs. I love xmas in NYC as nothing closes, really, and it's a beautiful place to be...especially for New Year.

I always buy my Christmas cards Boxing Day.

Cheers,
Nick

I think Switzerland does Xmas so beautifully, I love the Xmas markets and the ice rinks. Yes the lead up starts a bit early but it is so lovely to see I really do not mind.

Darcy

As said above, much much worse in UK. When I was a kid in CH in the 50s and 60s- Christmas started with advent - 4 weeks before. When I moved to the UK, I just couldn't believe how early Christmas started in the shops, and developed a total allergy for cr***y synthesized Christmas music pumped into all the shopping centres- it just gave me the woolies. Sadly pressure is on for the Swiss to follow, same as out of town shopping centres developing everywhere.

Let's count our blessings that at least we do not have the awful, dreadful, appalling, disgusting ... and more, advertising campaigns aimed at kids on telly here, creating this 'want, want, want - no, must have ...' that UK families have to endure, especially in such difficult economic times (often ending up with terrible debts after Christmas, that mount up year after year). So tragic.

Never tried that.... But looks good!

I love christmas here. I haven't heard xmas carols yet, but I am praying for early snow. It will be our 2nd white xmas and we can't wait. I hope there is enough snow so we can toboggan on our nearby hill.

A big christmas lunch is a lot more enjoyable when you are not in 35C and 80% humidity, and either locked in your air conditioned house or sitting in your kids wading pool drinking an ice cold beer.

For me November is the time to refresh the christmas card list and get the kids creative with making the cards. And this year we might put the tree outside to catch the snow =)

As for mince pies they are a bit rich and only good with custard, but meat pies with tomato sauce are great!

Brandy butter. Mince pies and brandy butter....drooooool.

Make that 95% humidity and that will be my Xmas this year! Flying 7000 miles back home to Singapore to spend Xmas with the family. No turkey, snow, or crackers. Just family.

Cant wait.

It is NOT "celebrating" ...... it is PREPARING

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27th November = 1st Advent

There however may be trial runs before

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Here we have on 6th December the Samichlaustag

with the Schoggisamichläusli

Even better than mince pies... Christmas pudding! Warmed with brandy and custard! Unfortunately we will miss our yearly trip to the UK so we won't be able to pick one up. Maybe Jelmoli might stock some in their international section (at three times the price, I figure) .

I think the swiss have been quite restrained with the christmas thing, the UK star so early, however i love christmas and enjoy seeing it

seems Christmas shopping started early here. People were out in droves today. I even heard George Michael on the muzak singing "Last Christmas". It's just funny to me, because in the US it doesn't start for another month.