You could pretty much see this one coming. Business is down just about everywhere. People are pulling back on their purchases. Stores are increasingly concerned about the holidays and what is shaping up to be a bleak holiday shopping season.

They are looking to ways to create some interest and get people in the holiday mood.

So we have radio stations playing Christmas carols 24 hours a day before we had a chance to take down the Halloween displays. Even the local all-news radio station is piping Chrismtas music through its Web site.

Malls are increasingly fearful of a distinct lack of shoppers. They need to get people into the malls, and into the mood, then into the stores, then reaching into their wallets.

And who better to turn to than jolly old St. Nick. That’s right. It used to be the guy with the red outfit and white beard was a staple of the Thanksgiving holiday, arriving – often in a parade – to officially usher in the holiday shopping season.

But with all the bad news, store can no longer afford to wait for Thanksgiving and Black Friday sales, not with many experts saying we could be facing the worst holiday shopping season in 17 years.

That’s why the store decorations have been up for weeks. That’s why Santa arrived in several stores this weekend.

It’s time to give the heave-ho, ho, ho to the Thanksgiving tradition. Remember the magic of Santa arriving in the Turkey Day parade?

Now the guy is working overtime. Hey, if it recharges the economic doldrums we’re swimming in, maybe it’s worth it.

But it no doubt will draw a tear from traditionalists who see it as one more long-held practice going by the boards.