Topic ID 3859
It's not even Halloween and the Christmas decorations are going up in the town centre. Lots of men in high vis jackets putting up Christmas tress along Maidenhead Street, Salisbury Square and Railway Street. Some of them are even lit!
Reply ID 55838
Marvelous. I love Christmas. Glad to see it arriving early in Hertford. [:X]
Reply ID 55840
That is just wrong, wrong, wrong The C word should be banned until 1st December [8D]
Reply ID 55841
Christmas? Bah! Humbug[V]
Reply ID 55843
I noticed a house in Sele Farm has them up all over the front wall, I assume they are not taken down just unplugged would I be correct? At least the Town centre take them down, some towns do the same as the house in Sele!
Reply ID 55846
They're probably only lit to test that they work.
Reply ID 55847
I love Christmas. Bring on Wiggington's nodding reindeer!
Reply ID 55850
YOu can really get in to the christmas spirit in that flat - Perpetual daylight, just like in Lapland!!
Reply ID 55853
Dare I suggest that this an odd ploy by the Town Council to generate as much retail cash injection as possible, as early as possible, to aid the shops at this financially difficult time?
Reply ID 55856
Only 11 weeks to go!
Reply ID 55867
quote:Windsor Drive, opposite Bentley Road Marilyn? There is a light-spectacular throughout Sele Farm at Christmas time and clearly much work is undertaken by the residents to place these and then remove each year. The lights are loved by the "little folk", which is great to see and I believe putting them up is indicative of the family spirit in a neighbourhood. Both the lights and the childhood smiles seen looking at them in awe do cheer you on a cold Winter's night. The house I believe you are referring to would probably take several days each year to place and remove as theirs is quite a display. The lights are turned off in January so it's not Hertford's equivalent of Blackpool's Golden Mile throughout the year. [:)]
Originally posted by Marilyn
I noticed a house in Sele Farm has them up all over the front wall, I assume they are not taken down just unplugged would I be correct? At least the Town centre take them down, some towns do the same as the house in Sele!
Reply ID 55869
where did the post go with the picture of the flat above Accessorize? Makes my previous post look stupid
Reply ID 55888
quote:I wasn't critising, I think is is great and children love them, just noted that they left them up, I am sure it would take months to take them up and down so I can see why. Just wouldn't want them left up unlit in the town centre as some towns do.
Originally posted by Woodyquote:Windsor Drive, opposite Bentley Road Marilyn? There is a light-spectacular throughout Sele Farm at Christmas time and clearly much work is undertaken by the residents to place these and then remove each year. The lights are loved by the "little folk", which is great to see and I believe putting them up is indicative of the family spirit in a neighbourhood. Both the lights and the childhood smiles seen looking at them in awe do cheer you on a cold Winter's night. The house I believe you are referring to would probably take several days each year to place and remove as theirs is quite a display. The lights are turned off in January so it's not Hertford's equivalent of Blackpool's Golden Mile throughout the year. [:)]
Originally posted by Marilyn
I noticed a house in Sele Farm has them up all over the front wall, I assume they are not taken down just unplugged would I be correct? At least the Town centre take them down, some towns do the same as the house in Sele!
Reply ID 55889
There is a house in our village that puts up a spectacular display on the 1st December and removes it entirely before 12th Night - seems to take 2 days to put up and 2 days to take down, with the help of his neighbours. My daughter loves it and asks constantly when the 'Christmas House' will return [:)]
Reply ID 55893
be interested to see how the 50% hike in electricity bills over the last 12 months affects their dispaly
Reply ID 55904
soon be easter.
quote:
Originally posted by Steve
It's not even Halloween and the Christmas decorations are going up in the town centre. Lots of men in high vis jackets putting up Christmas tress along Maidenhead Street, Salisbury Square and Railway Street. Some of them are even lit!
Reply ID 55906
quote:Hi Marilyn - I didn't take your comments as critical or seek my reply to read as such. I was seeking to confirm if I know the house you're talking about and then just generally commenting on the Christmas Magic. [:)]
Originally posted by Marilyn
I wasn't critising, I think is is great and children love them, just noted that they left them up, I am sure it would take months to take them up and down so I can see why. Just wouldn't want them left up unlit in the town centre as some towns do.
Reply ID 55908
I don't mind people celebrating Christmas at Christmas, or thereabouts, but this is the middle of October. We haven't even had Halloween or Bonfire Night yet!!! Summer only finished three weeks ago!!! Why pretend it's Christmas when it's not? I would suggest that many of the people who enjoy Christmas out-of-season have completely lost sight of the true meaning of Christmas and have instead wrapped themselves up in some romantic delusion fuelled by populist and commercial culture. [:p]
Reply ID 55914
I see in the papers today this town,Coleford in Gloucestershire, has its full christmas lights and everything up already, so hertford wasn't the first at least. And as to what the true meaning of christmas is Steve, i don't know?
Reply ID 55915
The "true meaning of Christmas"? "Christmas" literally Christs' Mass is celebration by Christians of the birth of Christ. True, they hijacked the older pagan festivals which had more to do with celebrating winter. If you want to celebrate those, fine, but why call it Christmas?
Reply ID 55916
Steve I agree with you completely. But there is always a but .... Commercially Christmas is for the majority of traders the most important period of the year, even more so this year. The switching on of the Christmas lights kick starts the Christmas trading period and for more and more towns this starts earlier and earlier. Personally I would have the lights turned on about the 10th December but have to bow to retail demands. And as more and more towns want the lights up and ready for the big November switch on the contractors have a difficult job in making sure everything is ready for every town in time for the big day. So installation gets earlier. Last year, or to be more precise this January I agreed with the contractors to leave the infrastructure in place ie cross street catenary wires, power fittings for trees etc. This makes the installation quicker and suits all concerned. As Marilyn has mentioned at least the decorations themselves are not left in place. This is not really a good thing to do as all fittings, bolts, lamp columns have to be wind and strength tested every year and not easy when there are lights attached. But finally and most importantly - Christmas lights are nothing to do with me at all this year. And Chez Nous will have no xmas lights either.[8D]
Reply ID 55929
quote:Couldn't agree more. Christmas is only magical at the right time - certainly not in Autumn when the trees are splashing their final colour of the year upon us.
Originally posted by Steve
I don't mind people celebrating Christmas at Christmas, or thereabouts, but this is the middle of October. . . Why pretend it's Christmas when it's not?
Reply ID 55949
Perhaps when the kids see Santa they can ask him trick or treat?
Reply ID 55961
quote:Putting to one side the prediction of a highly used thread caused by: 'Only practicing Christians can celebrate Christmas: Discuss' that Steve's post will probably cause [:)][:)] here's my silver sixpenceworth from last year's figgy pudding: It's not about conspicuous consumption or organised religion for us - and I suspect alot of other people too - it's about spending time with those we care about, both friends and family, enjoying the little things in life and taking a moment to slow down enough to be thankful for everything that we are lucky enough to have. Isn't anticipation a major part of the experience..? I'm a romantic old fule dreaming of icy nights, lit log fires, twinkly lights on the tree, the smell of pine from the real tree in the lounge, the permission to treat chocolate as a breakfast food, and feeling all snuggly and warm with 'er indoors and two feline foot-warmers...and then there's being on leave...Ahhh, wonderful. The lights in the street, shop windows etc only add to the anticipation of these wonderful times and I for one, can't wait! The tree & the door wreath (that's it, folks) normally goes up two weeks before xmas day as wot is proper, but this year I'm sorely tempted to get it up (ooer!) on the 1st of December just to get even more over-excited. Oh boy oh boy I hope it snows![:D] Edited to say: I think we can all display Christian principles in our everyday lives without having to attend church every week and being a 'card-carrying' Christian.[:)][:)]
Originally posted by Steve
I don't mind people celebrating Christmas at Christmas, or thereabouts, but this is the middle of October. We haven't even had Halloween or Bonfire Night yet!!! Summer only finished three weeks ago!!! Why pretend it's Christmas when it's not? I would suggest that many of the people who enjoy Christmas out-of-season have completely lost sight of the true meaning of Christmas and have instead wrapped themselves up in some romantic delusion fuelled by populist and commercial culture. [:p]
Reply ID 55962
I totally agree Mr P.
Reply ID 55970
Absolutely, Mr. P. oh, and just for the fun of it.. [img]http://bestsmileys.com/halloween3/16.gif[/img] [img]http://bestsmileys.com/halloween3/16.gif[/img]
Reply ID 55974
quote:I try very hard not to display "Christian principles". I do celebrate the Christmas period as a social event and enjoy much of what you describe. However, I do not have time to devote all the autumn months to preparation. It also puzzles me that we eat stuff that we wouldn't touch with a bargepole at any other time of year and are forced to listen to music which would otherwise be considered laughably awful.
Originally posted by Mr P I think we can all display Christian principles in our everyday lives without having to attend church every week and being a 'card-carrying' Christian.[:)][:)]
Reply ID 55984
More lights going up at the moment. The cherry pickers are out putting the sleigh lights across Bull Plain. Heard more than one passing comment of "Are you having a laugh?" and some bursts of carol singing. [:)]
Reply ID 55985
Oh Jesus, why not let them get on with it and light up the town with Christmas cheer. It will not do a spot of harm.
Reply ID 55986
quote:I disagree. I understand the financial and logistical reasons for getting the lights up so early, but I do think that it diminishes the sense of occasion felt in those couple of weeks before Christmas if it's rammed down our throats for the next 10 weeks. I don't think I've got that much Christmas cheer in me. [;)]
Originally posted by James007
Oh Jesus, why not let them get on with it and light up the town with Christmas cheer. It will not do a spot of harm.
Reply ID 55992
quote:For some people, Christmas does NOT equate to cheer. And if you want to light up the town with Christmas Cheer, do it at Christmas, not in the middle of October! How would YOU like something you don't particularly care for rammed down your throat for ten weeks? If you like Christmas, that's fine, I don't have a problem with that. But to force others to endure it when it's NOT Christmas is just rude. I don't have a problem with the Christmas lights going up at the end of November, but the middle of October is way to early.
Originally posted by James007
Oh Jesus, why not let them get on with it and light up the town with Christmas cheer.
Reply ID 55993
I agree with you Steve but the council claim that it is for costing reasons that they are putting the xmas lights up early but how much per night do they cost to run? Poor old G Fawkes we wont be able to see our sparklers because of all these xmas lights and as we use to say many years ago Light up the sky with Standard Fireworks but be careful you dont send Santa a rocket.
Reply ID 56010
This is a little bit worrying. I find that I am agreeing with Steve.
Reply ID 56011
I've just been to the town centre and it's only when you actually see them, especially on a warm autumn afternoon like today that you realise how completely ridiculous they look. I can't believe that people will actually spend more because of them or that there are valid logistical reasons for putting them up so early. It means they'll be up for nearly a quarter of the year. Makes me want to stay away from the centre til December.
Reply ID 56017
I can't say that the christmas decorations in a town would make me spend more. The christmas decorations in a store, maybe.
Reply ID 56019
quote:Get yourself down to Van Hages then - the full sized LED illuminated reindeer are in - a snip at a grand each. I was so enthralled and caught up in the festive occasion I shelled out £1.29 on a nice plastic plantpot [8D]
Originally posted by thefair1973
I can't say that the christmas decorations in a town would make me spend more. The christmas decorations in a store, maybe.
Reply ID 56020
quote:You could probably buy a real reindeer for that. Stand it in your living room until Dec 24th, then up to the bathroom for slaughtering in a wipe clean environment. It'll make a change from turkey, though perhaps a little hard to fit in the oven, and the antlers will make a handy coat rack for all those Christmas guests. The leftovers can be salted, dried and made into handy meat chews.
Get yourself down to Van Hages then - the full sized LED illuminated reindeer are in - a snip at a grand each. I was so enthralled and caught up in the festive occasion I shelled out £1.29 on a nice plastic plantpot [8D]
![http://bestsmileys.com/halloween3/16.gif[/img]](http://bestsmileys.com/halloween3/16.gif[/img]){kind=link}