About two weeks ago, waterfront businesses began to clear out their storefronts. Jack-o’-lanterns were packed away, the plastic goblins went back into hiding and the tacky fake spider webs were discarded, thankfully.

With Halloween in the rearview, out came the tinsel, garland and evergreens. It’s now strings of lights, wreaths and ceramic Santas scattered throughout window displays and entranceways.

And what’s on the general public’s mind? Christmas shopping, undoubtedly. Siblings wondering what they’re going to get each other, parents trying to figure out what their kids are into and everyone worried about travel arrangements. A lot of that has to do with Black Friday — the mid-level shopper’s favorite unofficial holiday. In a week, dozens, maybe even hundreds of shoppers will be chugging coffee, Christmas lists in hand, waiting outside the doors of their favorite Washington or Greenville store at 5 a.m.

But the concept of gifting and Christmas cheer has overshadowed another important holiday. While Dec. 25 is associated with bringing the immediate family together, Thanksgiving focuses on food and extended family. This year, almost more than any other year, people seem to be skipping a step, jumping right to the Christmas countdown and forgetting about the turkey.

Once cliché, the idea of Christmas coming prematurely has become all-too commonplace, so much so that most people no longer notice it. Think about it.

Not too long ago, Thanksgiving decorations were actually a thing — window decals, pilgrim table settings and gourds, along with the occasional left over pumpkin.

Now, nothing.

Christmas cheer and gifting seems to be far more attractive to than elaborate spreads of fixings and football. It is to advertisers anyway, as commercials have also bypassed Thanksgiving and made a break for late December.

I’m sure most fortunate people will be sitting down with their families next Thursday, but the holiday deserves a bit more respect.