Is it too soon for Christmas store displays?

People walk by The Bay department store's Christmas window display in downtown Toronto in 2007. (Doug Ives/CP)

It seems like every year, as soon as Canadians have finished carving their Halloween pumpkins, retail malls start piping in carols and hyping Christmas goods.

And while that's probably an exaggerated time frame, this year it's really true: at The Bay in downtown Toronto, a Christmas installation was already on display by Thanksgiving, Moneyville reports.

If it feels early, it is. The Bay unfurled the temporary holiday-themed sales area known as "Christmas Street" a few weeks early this year, amid reports spending could be soft this year as consumers struggle with debt and are tempted by good deals south of the border. .

However, Arren Williams, the creative director of home for The Bay, tells Moneyville the timing of the Christmas display is in keeping with other major department stores in the U.S. and the U.K., and says "It's already doing incredibly well for us."

Is it too soon for Christmas store displays? Why or why not? When do you start your holiday shopping? Share your comments below.

(This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)