Tis the season

In just four short days, it will be Thanksgiving. So please explain why I see so many Christmas decorations.
In the not-too-distant past, no one decorated for Christmas prior to CHRISTMAS. Traditionally, just 100 years ago, all the decorations went up Christmas Eve. December 24th was the start of the Christmas season. Then the 12 days of Christmas followed, ending on Epiphany.
Now we're starting Christmas at the big-box retailers some time around October 25th. Wal*Mart's been playing cheesy Christmas songs since the beginning of November.
Forget taking the Christ out of Christmas, they are FAR more concerned about taking the $$ out of Chri$tma$.
Admittedly, I have caved to the pressure (applied by Punkinhead) to decorate for the holiday earlier than the December 23rd date with which I was raised, but I refuse to decorate before Thanksgiving.

And if that means I'm freezing my tits off on December 1st as I try to get last year's outdoor garland to light, so be it.