The lighting of the 1st candle on the first Sunday of Advent is always a lovely time for me and I begin Christmas preparations then. If I see items going cheap earlier that are the perfect presents for family, then I buy them. I don't decorate the house etc. until after the 14th December. Unfortunately, Christmas cakes and puds need a bit of maturing time and plenty of regular spiking, so I do them earlier. :)
Neither of us likes the festival of over-indulgence beginning so very early. I just made the wreath for the door yesterday and will shop tomorrow for food.