If you’re anything like me, seeing Christmas trees in August and scarecrows sold in July is nothing short of bizarre. Who exactly is buying a Cupid lawn gnome in November?! If you’ve ever wondered something like this, you’re not alone: hundreds of papers have been written about the phenomenon first coined in the 1980s as ‘Christmas Creep.’

But what is Christmas Creep? Contrary to popular expectation, it isn’t a Sleigh Bells cover of the most iconic Radiohead song. Christmas Creep, as defined by Triblive.com, is “the practice of stores putting out seasonal merchandise further and further in advance of the actual holidays.” Something notable here is that Christmas Creep isn’t necessarily just about Christmas. That’s right, that lawn gnome is creepy the same way Christmas Trees and scarecrows are!

But why is this phenomenon so widespread? What incentivizes companies to start the Christmas season and begin blasting Mariah Carey so soon? Initially, the motive was as flat as improving employee morale at the end of the year. With time though, things have expanded. One CNN business article puts it simply: “Christmas music and aesthetics and scenery affects their purchase behavior. It might give consumers an opportunity to indulge a little bit more and spend.” Are people actually buying these items and taking these deals so early? Maybe not. But seeing the year move at lightning-speed around you can make you remove money from your credit card without a second thought. Halloween is the season of candy and mischief, both of which can be purchased in droves right here! Christmas is a time for gift giving, so why not cave and buy that super expensive shirt you’ve been eyeing since last summer? Christmas Creep has crept past morale in scope now that early August holly is a deliberate choice to take your cash.

So, what can we do about Christmas Creep? In my unprofessional opinion, simple preparation is enough. Make sure you have a budget when you enter a store, and manage your expectations. Supermarkets don’t define when your holiday season starts, you do. The four month Christmas can’t stress you out if you’re well aware it doesn’t actually exist! But beyond all else, the most important thing is to always, always point out how early they’re selling pumpkin carving kits, because everyone else finds this just as fascinating as you do. Merry Christmas, or Happy Halloween, or whatever else tickles your fancy. Toodaloo!