How Early is Too Early For Santa? [POLL]

Christmas is coming. Sure, we haven't even celebrated Halloween, and if you're like me, you haven't even thought about planning Thanksgiving dinner, much less buying a turkey.

But if you've been to Costco or other wholesale clubs, Christmas trees, albeit plastic, along with decorations, are right there for the buying and have been for a while.

And a quick check of malls in the region found that Santa will be in the house before you know it.

Roosevelt Field in Garden City and The Westchester in White Plains are both scheduled to have Santa available for the kiddies as of Nov. 2. That means there are 52 days of Santa.

Having worked in malls during the holiday season as a product demonstrator, I can attest that with the arrival of Santa also comes the constant Christmas music. So there's that, too.

Other malls in the region will be joining the Santa bandwagon later.

Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station has Santa arriving Nov. 9; Jefferson Valley Mall in Yorktown Heights, Nov. 17.

Two malls are holding off having their Santas arrive until after Thanksgiving: Woodbury Commons in Central Valley is Nov. 23 and The Shops at Nanuet is Nov. 24.

There doesn't seem to be a downside for retailers to start the Christmas-selling push early.

Forbes.com is predicting an intense selling period in November for holiday gifts.

"Promotions will start earlier than ever before, with stores advertising 'Black Friday' prices to entice shoppers ahead of the Thanksgiving weekend," wrote Walter Loeb, who covers the retail industry.

He said that with Thanksgiving being so early that gives retailers more selling days before Christmas.

"On Monday, Dec. 17, it is likely that most retailers will reassess sales and take their red pencil to mark down slow sellers," Loeb wrote.

That sounds it might be worth one's while to wait a bit before hitting the malls. That way you can avoid the constant Santa situation.

So now it's your turn to tell us what you think. How early should malls and stores go full-on Christmas decorations with Santa in the house? Vote in our unscientific poll and tell us what you think in the comments.

Image via Shutterstock.