Christmas Comes But Once a Year — But Does It Have to Start in November? Or Even Earlier?

I nipped into my local ASDA yesterday and was greeted — actually, I was ambushed — by their Grinch-inspired Christmas extravaganza plastered across the entrance. And apparently I’m already behind the times: the whole thing kicked off on the first of November. 

In true modern fashion, there’s even a YouTube video to usher us into the season of goodwill and maximum spending.

Here it is:

It’s all very commercial, of course. But then, that’s what Christmas has become — a festive excuse to flog as much stuff as possible. Step past the cheery Grinch, and you’re immediately confronted by neat piles of chocolates in “tins.” 

Except they’re not tins any more, are they? They’re round plastic containers, half the size of the tins from my youth. At least, it feels that way. I remember those big tins; you could make your own drum set out of them, and we did.

A fine example of shrinkflation wrapped in festive plastic.

And let’s be honest: anything bought in early November labelled “Christmas chocolates” will never survive until Christmas. I can already hear the household negotiations:

“Mum, can I have a chocolate? Just one.”

The child eyes up the container like a pirate sizing up treasure.

“No.”

“Why not? I only want one!”

“Because they’re for Christmas, that’s why.”

Of course, one eventually gets eaten, then another… Then everyone joins in, and the plastic tub is empty by the weekend. The shop makes another sale, the cycle repeats, and Christmas creeps ever earlier.

I suppose this makes me a bit of a Grinch myself. I refuse to get involved so early — it’s simply too soon. And besides, I haven’t yet heard Noddy Holder yelling “It’s Christmassssss…!” across a supermarket PA system. Until that happens, it’s definitely not Christmas.

Well, a modern Christmas.

But it wasn’t always like this. At least, I don’t remember it being like this. Back in the so-called “good old days” — which probably weren’t as good as we now like to imagine — Christmas didn’t start in October or November. We had the decency to wait until December before diving into festive mode.

Yes, as kids, we’d spend months dropping heavily hinted clues about what we hoped might appear under the tree. But Christmas began in December, when it was supposed to.

There was no internet back then, and no instant access to every toy imaginable, no online wish lists, and no social media countdowns declaring “only 72 sleeps to go!” 

But we did have one magical thing: it was called the club book. A thick, glossy catalogue crammed with everything a child could dream of. Because they had to be printed and delivered, they had to release their Christmas editions early — our only real glimpse at what Santa might be persuaded to bring.

I’d pore over that catalogue for hours, making lists as long as my arm. I knew perfectly well I’d only get one or two things. Maybe this year would bring a new Action Man. Perhaps an Airfix kit. A shiny Dinky or Corgi car. Or perhaps something straight from the TV: Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, Batman… the classics.

Times change, of course — as they do.

And this year, nature seems to be joining in early. After several heatwaves during the summer, we’re now dealing with an unexpected Arctic blast. They’re even forecasting snow. Snow! In November. I can’t remember the last time that happened.

I suppose for once, it is a little like Christmas in November. But I’ll stick to being a Grinch, or a Scrooge. Although it is definitely too early to watch A Christmas Carol.

So, with the world insisting Christmas starts earlier each year, I’ve decided to do something slightly festive myself: resurrect my Twelve Posts of Christmas. The last time I did them — a couple of years ago now — they were surprisingly popular. And judging by the stats, they still are.

Here’s a link.

Twelve Posts of Christmas 2024

Image by Tyli Jura from Pixabay