As a kid, I recall waiting anxiously for the Sears catalog to arrive in the mail.  When it finally arrived, I would grab it — along with a few sheets of paper — flip toward the back where the toy section was, and then go page-by-page writing down the toys I wanted on my list to Santa Claus.

If I remember right, that was sometime just before Thanksgiving.  My list wouldn’t be completed until sometime after Thanksgiving, however.  It, of course, had to go through revisions.

Also excitement surrounded Thanksgiving morning.  I would wake up in time to be in front of the TV for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (which was carried live in those days) … and to catch the first Christmas commercials that signaled the beginning of the season.

Unfortunately, those days are gone.  Now, stores begin to set up their Christmas displays and prepare for the added gift inventory … sometimes before Halloween has arrived!  Radio station, WLIT 93.9FM, began playing Christmas music 24/7 on November 1st.

The Courier-News reported that Spring Hill Mall will hold Radio Disney’s Santa Jam … this weekend!

The Santa Jam with Radio Disney will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the West Dundee mall’s center court.

Santa will arrive at Woodfield Mall on Thursday, November 15:

WELCOME SANTA TO WOODFIELD ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15 AT 11:30AM!
Bring your children to Macy’s Court next Thursday, November 15th at  11:30 a.m. to participate in Santa’s Arrival Parade.

Retailers have continued to extend the Christmas season — unofficially labeled “Christmas Creep” — in hopes of being able to help their bottom line, especially due to consumers already feeling pinched by credit card debt, mortgage woes, and increases in fuel and food prices.

But, I will admit that I am planning to have at least 99% of my shopping done before Thanksgiving, so that I can slow down and truly enjoy the Christmas season; listening to Christmas music, putting up decorations, listening to Christmas music, and meeting with friends and family…

For me, though, the Christmas season still doesn’t really arrive until Santa guides his sleigh and reindeer down the street at the end of the Thanksgiving Day Parade.