We don't have a "Christmas" whereabouts I live (we sure as hell have Christmas though).
I've never really experienced that problem you've had, but seeing a Santa Clause during October is pretty fucking ridiculous.
Even when the Christmas season actually starts, most houses around my area just hang up like, a single line of Christmas light. The majority don't do anything at all. Of course there a the selected few that pimp their houses up, which usually stirs up a crowd of people there.
Also, the people I know don't try 'besting' each other's gifts. According to my common sense, that's just plain rude.