EDITORIAL ? THE LAST WORD:

It’s here.

No, not Halloween. No, not Thanksgiving. We’re talking about Christmas and all the holidays that go along with it.

Last week, one big sign of the season arrived when the South Coast Plaza tree — all 96 feet of it — appeared. It officially lights up on Nov. 27.

This week, the other huge sign of the season comes to town when Fashion Island’s tree arrives on Thursday.

That tree gets two lighting ceremonies on Nov. 17 and 18.

Yes, it may seem early, but that’s just how it is, right? Don’t we all think the holiday season starts just a little earlier each year? Surely it didn’t used to start in September.

But think about the upside. The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is just around the corner, for instance. Holiday decorations throughout Newport-Mesa will begin to shine. And before we all know it, the holidays will be gone and we’ll be trying to figure out ways to get through another January.