When Should I Ask My Family What They Want For Christmas?
From October 1st until about December 20th. Start early and keep it casual, because you want useful answers and time to act on them.
Gathering intelligence isn't celebrating. It's reconnaissance. Nobody's going to accuse you of rushing Christmas if you ask your sister in October what kind of coffee maker she has. The Court only asks that you do it casually, over several weeks, the way a professional would.
They'll say they don't need anything. They're lying. Everybody's lying. Your mother, in particular, has told you she doesn't want anything every year since 1994, and she knows exactly what she didn't get. Don't take that as an answer.
So don't ask them directly. Listen instead. When someone complains about a thing that's broken, write it down, right then, in a note on your phone. When someone says "Oh, I love that" in a store, remember the store. Ask the people around them, who'll have heard more than you have. Keep a running list from year to year, and by November you'll look like a very thoughtful person.
If you do need to ask outright, a shared wish list is a perfectly fine option, and for kids and in-laws it's a mercy. Just give them a deadline, or they won't do it.
Don't start in July. Nobody knows what they want in July. After December 20th, it's too late. You're getting them a candle.
The Ruling: Allowed from October 1 through December 20.
This ruling comes from a joke website. There is no court. The dates are our opinion, and the practical tips are ordinary common sense, so use your own judgment.