It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in downtown Toronto, as window dressers prepare for the annual big display.

At the Bay’s Queen and Yonge location, the windows are already in seasonal mode, while the Elves at Holt Renfrew have seven windows to prepare.

The latter’s 2012 theme is ‘Let it Snow’ and features large baby blue ice blinking snow crystals, ice bergs and snowflakes.  

The displays means shopping time has officially arrived, and for those who aren’t sure what to get certain people on their list, The Toronto Star reports a gift card is a good solution.

In Canada, cards for the Apple Store are most popular, followed by Best Buy, Chapters Indigo, Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) and The Keg.