A Chicago station started more than a week ago, full time. Way too early. I have my tree up but it wont be turned on until next week.

Well I am just thrilled about it. But I listen to it off and all through the whole year. It started here already. I love it. It's so jolly and cheerful. I honestly don't get the visceral aversion to it some people have. But to each their own I guess.

I heard a Christmas song on the radio today and thought "I am SO not ready for Christmas yet!!!!! :("

Around here it seems to have begun this weekend. I have come across two stations on the radio so far that are all Christmas. There are loads of songs quirky to religious. I wish they would play more variety and mix it up a bit more.

I don't listen to the radio much so I haven't heard any but the Christmas shows are Killing me. Way too much and way too many times a year. They begin in Feb, then again June or July then again in October it takes the Christmas out of Christmas.

Too much, too soon. One of my neighbors has their Christmas lights up already. I still have pumpkins on my doorstep.

NO! I love good Christmas music - you know, boy choirs singing like angels - no pop singers. But please not until Advent begins.

It's one of the reasons that I don't listen to commercial radio.

Listened to a Christmas CD today, love Christmas music.

@Jasdip, I also listen to the Breeze here in Edmonton and they started with the Christmas music Nov 12th. When I have it on at work, people always come up to me and tell me it’s too early for Christmas music. There’s really not another station here in Edmonton that I like, so I sometimes go online and find radio stations in the US to listen to.

"When I have it on at work, people always come up to me and tell me it’s too early for Christmas music."

Fuddy Duddies! They are everywhere! How is someone going to tell YOU that it is too early for YOU to listen to Christmas music? Is there a law I dont know about? A company policy? A musical or holiday dictatorship? By now, the people who I work with are fairly jaded to my eccentricities, and don't even blink when they come in when it's 90 degrees outside and Dean's Martin is singing "Let it Snow." But then again, I work alone and they don't have to listen to it after I leave. Still, I encourage you to listen to what you want, not what THEY want you to. They can listen to what THEY want.

Too early. Bah Humbug!

Not everyone has fond memories of Christmas from their childhood. And holidays can remind people of loss. If someone has to listen to Christmas music in October or early/mid November, that's expecting a lot from someone who may be struggling this time of the year. December yes, but October / early/mid November, no. Those people may not be "fuddy duddies," but people merely sad and grieving, and trying to hold on. Labeling them as such is judgemental and cruel.

Uh huh. Well, that's fine. But it's one thing to not listen to it yourself for whatever reason. It's quite another to tell someone else when they should want to listen to it. Or when to decorate. Or when their own personal enjoyment of the season should start,based on your own baggage. Or trying to put a damper on someone elses joy. THAT is fuddy duddy.

I have experienced much loss over all seasons,as I am sure many if not most people have. I wouldn't want to spoil everyone (or ANYONE) elses enjoyment of anything because of something I went through.

What do you call doing THAT?

I didn't label anyone as fuddy duddy for not sharing my joy. I labeled them as fuddy duddy for trying to negate other people's joy. Specifically, telling someone that it's too early for THEM to be listening to Christmas music. They are not fuddy duddy for not wanting to hear it so early. Or at ALL, for that matter. They are for trying to tell people that THEY shouldn't either. That is what I said. More than once. In both posts. I guess you can twist that however you want to have something to huff about. But I never said what you say I said. Its right there for you to read....

It's started only if you let it. Listen to CDs in the car, listen to your favorite Pandora playlists or genres at home.

I love music. All kinds. Around here we wait till we’re into December for the Christmas music though. As you know Elmer, my husband has albums. (CD’s too of course)

There are albums that are part of the tradition for us.

Elvis’ album is one. Phil Spector’s another. I listen to an old album from my childhood. Pops and all. Sixty French Girls Can’t be Wrong. Les Djinns singers. Christmas Album. Beautiful voices singing in French. We’ve found really old Christmas music. Ancient Noels by Maggie Sansone. Very beautiful old music.

But we have all kinds.

I look forward to it, but find for me at least, it makes it more special if it’s kept to my idea of it’s season.

Amy, not everyone has joyous memories of Christmas. There were times where it was the unhappiest time of my existence, especially when there were times where we actually went hungry on Christmas day and all the "Christians" around us completely ignored that and on top of that forbid their kids from having anything to do with us. I'm happy for you and anyone else who has fond memories but it's just not true for everyone.

Yes rita. I am aware of that. I would like to KNOW where I said anything about someone not enjoying something for that reason. Or any reason,or how that is somehow unacceptable. I actually SAID something about people trying to dampen other people's enjoyment of it. If you don't, I wasn't talking about you. Or anyone else who simply doesn't enjoy it,but doesn't try to tell someone else when and how and why or why not to enjoy it.

There does seem to be a reading comprehension problem going around.

rita, I saw your touching comment above and I think another elsewhere describing about periods of homelessness but responded in the other thread mistakenly. Such memories are very difficult to hear about and consider, much less to have had to live through them.

Christmas isn't the issue, it's having survived a difficult and painful childhood. I hope you've been able to find more stability and happiness as an adult. Difficult memories can't usually be shed but I do hope things are better for you.

I appreciate any concerns about my feelings about the past and Christmas, but don't fret, happily things did get better, much better when I became an adult. I did my best to make Christmas a happy and memorial time of the year for my family with what little life experience I had. I didn't tell that story for pity, just to emphasize that passing judgements on people who for whatever reason just don't share the same warm and fuzzy feelings about Christmas music or Christmas anything is not very Christian-like. There are many sad stories surrounding the Holiday causing people to have a hard time dealing with others insisting that they be merry and jolly because it's Christmas and they are supposed to be too. I don't begrudge people of their music and traditions at Christmas, or their joy, but I do wish that it wasn't shoved into our faces everywhere we go months before the holiday. Amy seems to be saying that people are not wanting her to be able to enjoy her Christmas music anytime she wants to hear it. I don't think anyone is trying to keep her from it, but she might think of being considerate enough to realize that not everyone else wants to.

I never said THAT either......

How easy it is to apparently quote someone else - but mistakenly.

I've sometimes said that my son says that there is no god ... but he says that's not his viewpoint ... which is actually that he wants the idea of god to be proven - if we can offer proof, he's willing to listen.

Not the same story ... so we should be careful about putting words into other people's mouths!

ole joyful

Uh, no thanks. I heard it on my standby radio station, every single song, this Saturday. I changed the station. No. We're not skipping over my favorite holiday. And I'd like to savor Thanksgiving, not rush on past. But that's just me.

I like traditional Christmas carols performed as they were written to be. Listening to standard versions performed by talented musicians or vocalists are a pleasure. I'm not fond of jazzed up versions or novelty songs. I wouldn't want a steady diet of carols, just like anything else. After a while they lose their appeal.

It's a bit early for me to start enjoying them - first thing's first, Thanksgiving. Our local radio station plays the full version of Alice's Restaurant at two broadcast times on Thanksgiving Day. I really like that tradition. I listen to it both times. (while I'm cooking)

"I like traditional Christmas carols performed as they were written to be. "

As a part-time musician myself, I'm not sure what this means. Every music teacher, musical director, orchestra conductor, or fellow musicians will always insist on the importance of injecting something of oneself when singing or playing an instrument. No two interpretations should be the same. If what you like is mechanical renderings of tunes, you'd prefer a automated player piano to a pianist. That's silly.

The fact that there are so many stylistic versions and variations of carols speaks to how boring they are when served up plain. Being a baby boomer, those who can appreciate the benefit of added flavors and spices can't do any better than to listen to Phil Spector's Christmas Gift to You (Wall of Sound style featuring the Ronettes and Darlene Love) and The Beach Boys Christmas Album, starring (in my opinion) their original song Little St Nick.

To me, "Christmas music" is synonymous with "Christmas Carols". For others, that is not the case. I adore the first; I heartily dislike the second. Thank God I don't work anywhere where it's not my choice to listen or not. I avoid stores during the holidays and do nearly all my shopping online.

There was a time when I loved Christmas shopping. That was mainly in the early 1960-s til the mid 1970's when retailing changed completely. Now every store carries pretty much the same stuff - very little out there that is "special" or if it is, it's WAY out of my price range.

I did see some large canary diamond drop earrings (canary diamonds surrounded by white diamonds) last week when I took my watch in for repair. They were pretty spectacular - they should be at $450,000! Wonder if the ladies at pulmonary rehab would think I was over-dressed if I wore them there? Ha!

Christmas music started on Detroit stations Nov 1st like it has the past few years. I like listening to Christmas music when I decorate the tree and the week of Christmas other than that it is just too much and I don't enjoy the repeating of the same songs over and over. I love the old Christms classics and the church like Christms music like Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Love Hollly and Ivy, Little Drummer Boy, Away in the Manger, Silent Night. I am not a fan of new Christmas songs sung by rock or pop singers