Every year - EVERY YEAR - I hear people complain that the holiday season has started earlier than the year before, and whining that it starts TOO early. To which I reply: NO. It has not started earlier than last year, nor is it too early. If the marketing and decorations and commercials and music really did start earlier every year - beginning with the first few years that I heard this complaint - then the music and decorations and marketing and commercials would be starting in April by this point. And they’re not. So if you’re guilty of believing (and/or complaining) that the holiday season has started earlier than last year, or has started too early in general, please stop.