First signs of Christmas

I recently read, that Rome cannot compete with Paris, London or New York with regard to Christmas spirit. I must admit that, although Romans are very much into Christmas celebrations, the city does not express their excitement with the same intensity. 
After having spent a dozen years in the Italian capital, I have noticed a growing impoverishment in the Christmas ornaments of the streets. When I moved to Rome the central Via Condotti looked gorgeous: fir trees with big red bows and lights adorned the sides of the road, and a long red carpet ran along the entire route. But 3 days later,
half of the trees was gone...puff...disappeared! And Via Condotti looked so miserable.
The following Christmas I remember poinsettias hanging high at the side of each shop. Unreachable without a ladder. They were beautiful, but one had to look up or from afar to have an overview of the street, and the final effect was of much lower impact.
How will the city look this year?
The first signs of Christmas have started to show up

in shopping malls

 and in some shop windows, like Ladurée's one,

though the official date to adobe streets and houses is the 8th of December.
I promise: I'll face the ice cold wind and low temperature to take as much pictures as I can of the eternal city at Christmas time! Meanwhile I have to buy a few new balls, to unpack both my white and silver old ones, and to assemble my tree as to have all set by this Saturday. A very exciting weekend awaits every Italian family! What about you?