A Reminder: Christmas Is Coming

Promptly on 1 November, our nearby Starbucks began playing Christmas music.  It was a broiling hot and sticky day, but we were listening to "O Holy Night" as we had breakfast.

Since then, I've noticed Christmas stuff going up all over the city.  The malls are filled with the usual Christmas items:  trees in every color (have you ever seen one in hot pink?), ornaments, wrapping paper, and cards.  Then there's this elaborate display going up just outside Kowloon Park:

My guidebook tells me that Christmas is a two-day holiday here, as Boxing Day is also observed.  In addition, the Winter Solstice on 21 December is a holiday (though not an official one).  All this will be followed by two New Year's holidays:  the regular one on 1 January, then Lunar New Year, which in 2009 begins on 26 January and lasts for three days.  With all these holidays, I can see why people are starting to get ready now!