No, it's not a person; it's the anticipated Feast of the Incarnation getting even more anticipated by the nation's retailers. As we all recognize, and especially in a time of economic fluctuation, the sooner a business can get out its seasonal inventory, the better for the bottom line.
Some examples from The Consumerist:
On Sept. 27th
On August 27th
On Sept. 9th, a Big Lots was already having its "Christmas Clearance" sale.
From last year, a Halloween Tree
And, on a related note, Easter candy for sale in December.
Just so you know, in Christianity, the Christmas season still begins at sundown on December 24th.