I prefer to wait until after the US Thanksgiving, or the day I put up the tree (usually the first weekend in December). I like to keep it to a minimum before that, as I agree 100% with Nammu! I like it to feel like a really special and unique time of year.

It's hard to drown it out/ ignore it if it's blaring from some store overhead speakers---and yes, some places have already begun to play Christmas holiday music. But I carry earplugs with me when I go out, anyway---because social anxiety can make ALL canned music hard to take, especially if it's loud.