My habit is just opposite. I waited until Dec. 24th at noon to head out for the search for my wife's presents -- traffic, mall madness, and all. It's my one time in the year for conforming to Murican Custom -- joining the rest of the men wandering through Dillard's with haunted expressions on their faces :-)

Think of it as an anthropological expedition. I generally find it rather fun, though wearing. Wouldn't care to do it every day, tho.