I feel it cheapens Christmas and doesn't give the kids the thrill it used to when lights went on and stores became Christmassy at the beginning of December.
Christmas is pretty much just a commercial point in the year these days. I know churches get higher numbers at Christmas too and persoanlly I feel that it says more negative things about Christmas-only worshippers than positive.
Not that I should really get wound-up about all of this because I don't celebrate Christmas anyway (I do however celebrate mid-winters which my family celebrate on the 25th as its just a lot easier as we're all off work and going to be in one place anyway :p).