A post office in Hale has put up a Christmas tree – three months before the big day.
And with many shops already stocking festive gifts, decorations and treats, we ask: is it too early to begin the Christmas countdown? MM’s James Taylor argues ‘yes’ it’s too soon, while Mark Strickland makes a case for ‘no’ and says now is a good time to begin the celebrations…
James Taylor:
Advent calendars have already made December a seemingly never-ending countdown for one day, so there should be no desire to extend the Christmas hype into September.
And are shops forgetting there are other events they can desperately promote between now and Christmas? What happened to Halloween and Bonfire Night?
This is not me morphing into Scrooge as I’ve gotten older and the excitement of watching a Santa tracker on Christmas Eve has declined.
I now love the occasion as an opportunity to spend time with friends and family, whilst eating and drinking more than a GP may be comfortable with.
The pub on Christmas Eve, heaps of food on Christmas Day, and back-to-back football matches on Boxing Day provide the ingredients for one of the best times of the year.
But if we start allowing Christmas trees in September, then soon enough we’ll have three months of nativity plays, Last Christmas on the radio, and Elf on TV.
And where will it stop? Soon enough we’ll be starting our advent calendars in August.
All I want for Christmas is for trees to wait until the start of December.
Mark Strickland:
Winter – the cold, dark mornings and nights and short days – is miserable enough without the #KeepChristmasInDecember brigade complaining.
It is no coincidence many put their Christmas trees up early and took them down later than usual during lockdown.
It brought joy at the most wonderful time of the year in a year – 2020 – that was anything but wonderful.
Additionally, Christmas Day is just that – only one day – with time flying away as if it is on 2x speed.
Boxing Day Blues and the depressing realisation it is another 365 days before we get to go again soon hit.
I love the build-up – from the launch of the John Lewis advert to memories of Christmas Eves in Liverpool.
As a child – and still now – I decorate the tree with my family with the musical channels playing Christmas songs.
Do not be an Ebenezer Scrooge – make a change to your life and put your Christmas tree up early this year!
