After feeling the consumer backlash of one too many unappreciated Christmases in October, some retail stores have been scaling back the pre-December mistletoe in favor of autumn-inspired themes.

Instead of just letting consumers maintain the normal cycle of the slow fall and the buy winter buying season, companies are trying to sell harvest foods and autumn furniture, much in the way the fashion industry has insisted upon separating out fall clothes from their wintry counterparts.

What do I mean? Well, have you visited Crate and Barrel lately? They now have promotion dubbed "Layer in the New Warmth." Same with Pier 1 Imports and Bath & Body Works's promotion "Happy Fallidays".

Autumn....apparently, it's the new Christmas.