Are Dubliners celebrating Christmas way too early?

IS the city rushing into the festive season too early?

Dublin’s iconic Brown Thomas revealed its Christmas window displays in October, two weeks earlier than usual.

The store’s creative director John Redmond acknowledged that while some people might not be enthused to see Christmas come to Dublin’s main shopping street so early in the year he said Brown Thomas was simply following international norms.

Andrew Ralph took to the streets of the city to ask Dubliners what they thought.

Conor Moore from Dalkey: “I think it’s a form of consumerism being shoved down our throats at a very early stage and frankly, I think we should wait until at least December. I think it is ridiculous that shops are trying to make as much money as they can out of a holiday to celebrate a religious fallacy.”

Elaine Carroll from Rathmines: “I don’t mind people celebrating Christmas early – anything that makes the place happier is nice and good. I can see that there are really bad problems going on in the world right now; so festive cheer is needed.”

Shauna Dunne from Tallaght: “I love Christmas. It’s my favourite time of year – so I am all for it, although it’s a bit much when it’s straight after Halloween.”

Martin Egan from Baldoyle: “I definitely don’t think Dubliners should be celebrating Christmas this early – Christmas is getting earlier every year and some of the shops even have Christmas music on, which for me is too much. A good four weeks before Christmas is time enough.”

Molly Bohan from New Street, Dublin 8: “It’s a bit early, as we’re only over Halloween but it’s also only a few weeks away so people have to get prepared one way or the other – the businesses need to be ready.”

Lorraine Fahey from Ballinteer: “I think the Christmas season starts in November and it’s not too early – a Christmas atmosphere is nice, it relaxes people.”

Kevin from Knocklyon: “I don’t really mind – it doesn’t bother me.”

Bríd Malone from Walkinstown: “It starts too early every year – everyone has different ideas, but the week before Christmas is when I will start celebrating it. I don’t really mind if people are celebrating it in December – but I’ve seen Christmas trees up before Halloween in some houses and I think that is going a bit too far.”

Mark O’Leary from Skerries; “It’s a bit early – December 1 is the right time to start.”

Emma Foster from Dublin: “It’s too early now, it should be December when we start the Christmas spirit.”