I remember, as a kid, when preparation for Halloween didn't being until early or mid-October. Other than costumes and candy, there was nothing else. Oh, don't forget the pumpkins. My dad would carve one out into a Jack-O-Lantern the day before. No mention of Christmas.
A few weeks later, on TV, there were adds for turkey for Thanksgiving. No mention of Christmas.
The day after Thanksgiving, there was no "Black Friday." Malls and stores opened at their normal time with a couple sales. No mention of Christmas.
Maybe into the first of second week of December, commercials would appear on television. One year, I saved up seven dollars in quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies to do my Christmas shopping which we did a a family at one local department store.
No earlier than two weeks before Christmas would A Charlie Brown Christmas air.
Now, on 12/26, when people return gifts to get $$$$, Valentine's stuff is getting up on the shelves as the unsold Christmas stuff is priced down for clearance.
Gerard