I probably ask this every year but when does Christmas start for you?
Judging by UK TV ads it begins the day after Bonfire Night here. November 6th. I know this is simply the start of their marketing campaigns but there are so many excessive ads displaying the perfect Christmas that its hard to tell when it actually starts anymore.
There are Christmas markets around in November. Big ones in town squares and little ones in libraries and such. Still, it feels too early to truly be called Christmas.
However, we got our first Christmas 'card' the other day. Its always the first one every year. A printed list of all the Christmas masses in our village made in the form of a card and dropped in the letter box. Having said that I think Xmas card writing is one the wane in these environmentally-conscious times. I limit cards to my immediate family these days and I always leave it too late.
As always some pioneering spirits of luminosity have decorated the outside of their homes already and the first big displays of Santas, Reindeers and Snowmen have appeared on some lawns, much to the delight of sleepy drivers going to work in the dark. Yet these early switch-ons are just that. Early.
A more immediate test of when Christmas starts is when you can comfortably say Seasons Greetings in an email [or indeed a letter!]. I tried it this week but it felt far too early so I won't be signing off like that again until December I don't think.
December maybe it. December could be the key to Christmas meaning Christmas. Having grown up in an RC household and gone to RC schools in the Sixties and early Seventies Advent was always really important and if not the first of December then the first of Advent was the beginning of the festive season proper, both culturally and ecclesiastically.
I don't go to Church anymore yet Advent still holds some meaning for me but it's not the moment I'm after. Maybe its simpler than that.
Forgetting all the November shopping, the Black Fridays, the TV ads after Bonfire Night, the pictures of roasted turkey dinners on every magazine cover, no-one can argue that if there is a single moment, a single event that is the thing that ushers Christmas in, it is putting up the tree!
There can be no more a festive ritual than decorating its branches in the spot we lovingly give over to it in the home. Like an evergreen lift-off to a new world this is surely where Christmas begins.
When does Christmas start for you readers?
My tree is already up!I usually wait until the weekend after Thanksgiving(which would be this coming weekend),But I just had nothing better to do last Sunday afternoon!Many people here have their yard decorations up,and the radio stations are already heavy with Christmas music.I think we're all rushing things a bit, but I'm just going to go with the flow on this one.
ReplyDeleteBlimey, the trees up already Brian! Now that is keen as mustard! Last year was a damp squib everywhere I guess so why not! I can't wait to find out what your cooking over the festive season!
DeleteOctober here in New Zealand. The shops have their first Christmas decorations, cards, puddings, and other Christmas items on sale some time in October, side by side with all the Halloween items. That just seems weird. Christmas music is playing in the shops right now, and malls have decorations up. It is still November. Far too early. Yes, December is the Christmas season, but it is now only one month to the Big Day. Time to sort out my cards, and Christmas presents for a few special people.
ReplyDeleteSorting cards and prezzies is so very festive Paul and maybe the very essence of Christmas. Does anyone else get any die-casts as gifts?
DeleteStarted already. Wakey wakey Woodsy!
ReplyDeleteI'm hibernating Arto! See you next Spring!
DeleteI've just posted my third Xmas post so I guess it's started for me! It's a build-up though isn't it? Corporation lights are up in Basingrad, but not yet in Fleet (they go up the Friday before the 1st of December with a fair in the closed-off high-street that Saturday), some shops (Boots is usually first) start sneaking a half-an-aisle of crimbo stuff in from late September or October, by now they're all fully away, it's a ramping-up to the big day . . .
ReplyDeleteH
ha ha, Basingrad and Fleet. Names I know. I used to live in Farnborough [North Camp] and Farnham in the 80's Hugh! Its a small [scale] world!
DeleteI lived in North Camp twice 39 Queens Road ('97-2006) and somewhere in Park Road . . . shared house - 46? Can't remember it was for a few months in '88 after I got out of the Army! They leave you where you stand!
ReplyDeleteH
Me and the Missus rented whilst I studied. First in Farnham, where we shared with two others, but it was way too expensive to last and then North Camp, where we shared with four others to make it more affordable. Happy Days really. Had to be, we were in our twenties Hugh! We'd gone by the summer of 88. Moved to Devon!
DeleteStarted on Veteran's Day (Remembrance Day in the UK) with my granddaughter bugging the ever lovin' livin' heck outta me to put up the tree!!
ReplyDeleteha ha, I like that Ed! Ever lovin livin heck! Bet your tree looks great!
Deleteya know Woodsy, unless you've got a Charlie Brown tree, Christmas trees are hard to screw up! Yup, it looks good :-) Because we have such a tiny house we bought one those tall, but narrow-at-the bottom type and it works pretty well shoehorned into the corner!
Delete