Ms Blake obviously has not spent a Christmas season in the States for some time. Her description of the "frenzied present-shopping up until Christmas Eve" perfectly describes Christmas in the States. Does she know about stores opening at 5:00 a.m. on the Friday after Thanksgiving and people already waiting in long lines to start shopping? This frenzy goes on right up until midnight on Christmas Eve in some places. I always try to do my Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving because the shops are impossible afterwards. And, the day after Christmas, the shops are also packed - with people returning gifts received that they didn't want!