I haven't really noticed the xmas ad onslaught yet. Some car commercials but you expect those. I can't believe so many vendors are waiting until t-day or post to shoot their wad.
Just out of curiosity, I've heard 2 etymologies for that phrase - one R-rated and one that seems to have a historical basis. Specifically, in the age of single-shot firearms, you needed to shove some wadding down the barrel to hold the ball and powder and plug up the gaps. So once you fired, you had to re-wad, so to say.