I'm not really feeling 'Christmassy'; I think it's the effect of having been bombarded with Christmas ad's, trees, shop windows, street lights, mince pies, etc, ever since mid-November.
The two week build-up to that wretched 'Black Friday' has become no more than a transparently commercial path towards Dec' 25th. And I fear it's getting worse.
I probably say the same thing every year; Christmas should remain traditional, and we should stick to the twelve days, six either side of the big day. Twelve days of decorations and festivities are long enough.
You are so right! The first cHristmas cookies turn up in the supermarkets in September, the Christmas markets start in November, and people decorate their houses with the start of dEcember. When I was a child, my parents would put up the Christman tree on Christmas Eve,and we children were not allowed in the living room.
ReplyDeleteOur only early decoration now is the traditional Advent wreath, which is put up four Sundays before Christmas. And have you seen all the Advent calenders? They started with tiny pieces of chocolate or even just tiny pictures, and now you can spend more than hundred Euros for 24 packages of all kinds of things. Food, cosmetics, toys - a lot of expensive package for things you could get much cheaper or in better quality, but not "Christmassy" enough.
Hilde in Germany
As a child we would make paper chains a few days before Christmas, and the tree would go up around the same time. I don't remember everything staying there for too long after Christmas. It seemed just right.
DeleteWe get Christmas goodies arriving in supermarkets as early as October and by January 1st, Hot Cross Buns are in the shops, with Easter eggs following soon after. It's ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet, when we celebrate our birthdays, it's a one day event.
DeleteYes! I keep on telling everyone that the tree goes up on Xmas Eve and comes down on the 6th. That's the Tradition!! My English friend reinforces this but no one else is listening .
ReplyDeleteIt's all long, no big build up of excitement, no mystery. By Xmas Eve it's all blasé.
But I'm still making more mince pies. They give the taste and the smell of the season. After Xmas lunch there are so many other goodies hanging around we don't appreciate these seasonal treats.
Our tree is still in the box. I'm hanging on as long as I can
My wife put a Christmas wreath on the front door yesterday, but that's as far as it goes so far (she did it whilst I was out).
DeleteChristmas 'appears' gradually in my house but never before the beginning of December and I try to avoid the commercial side of things.
ReplyDeleteTreat yourself to a mince pie and see if that helps. X
I have been eating Mince Pies, but they are simply Late Autumn Mince Pies. Christmas Mince Pies are eaten after Dec 15th.
DeleteI'm with you. Too early, too long. Bound to be an anti climax. Our tree hasn't gone up yet, but I am expecting it any day soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling pressure over the tree, but resisting so far!
DeleteFor a lot of retailers this is the time when their business makes it's money and I don't begrudge it them. One does not have to buy, buy, buy. What we do in our own homes is up to us and I am very grateful that outdoor lights have been going on early- it cheers me up. I wish that mince pies and hot cross buns were available all the year round! They are of course if you DIY or have it Done4Y.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the Mince Pies, and Hot Cross buns (and Crumpets). Luckily Lady Magnon usually makes her own, and they're consumed in huge numbers.
DeleteEasy peasy, just ignore it all and do it how you want to do it. I do. No bother.
ReplyDeleteI'm doing my best. At least I've haven't yet seen hoards of shoppers wearing Santa hats!
DeleteWhere have I been? as Ive not noticed being bombarded by Christmas since November.
ReplyDeletePerhaps I just don't take any notice of what I don't want to see until I do want to see it!
Try it - it's a useful way to live
You're lucky. Here it's Christmas, Christmas, Christmas.
DeleteIn the past I would have agreed but we didn't get a proper Christmas last year (are we still under threat for this year?) so people are making the most of it this year. We have both lost our mums this year - one to death the other to Dementia. We need joy and I actually don't care how early it starts. x
ReplyDeleteThe new variant is doing its best to halt festivities. We should all enjoy ourselves this year; but with caution.
DeleteI have to agree with Andy. These are strange times and I think a lot of us are in need of extending the twinkle this holiday season. Bring it on!
DeleteI can’t play radio 2 , the constant Christmas songs just get on my tits
ReplyDeleteTry Radio 4 Extra... much more fun, and no songs.
DeleteI agree that it all seems to start too early every year now. Our Christmas tree and decorations are currently all still packed away so will not emerge until after we move in. I do have a little Santa though that I bought last week. My only contribution so far to the festive season.
ReplyDeleteJust the wreath on the front door here. It's pine cones with a red bow!
DeleteTalking of traditions, Yuletide is two weeks before and after Solstice...
ReplyDeleteWe will welcome the light..but this year have foregone all the plastic dust collecting tat!!
Cards are being made and letters written...but I prefer keeping in contact all the year and gifting what is needed when it is needed
I stick with the twelve days of Christmas. I was brought-up to think of them as the Christmas period; full stop.
DeleteIf you look like that when you give out gifts at the local playgroup, the kiddies will be traumatised. Now repeat after me: "Ho! Ho! Ho!"
ReplyDeleteThe last time I donned a Santa Suit, none of the people I was visiting were at home. Very disappointing.
DeleteChristmas decorations stay up a long time up here near the North Pole, but then it makes sense as we are getting 20 hours of darkness at the moment and we need those twinkly lights to cheer us up.
ReplyDeleteThe tradition here is to put up lit Christmas stars and advent lights in the window on the first Sunday of Advent (though people are starting a week or two earlier as the darkness creeps in). We set up all the little gnomes, tealight candles, advent wreaths, outdoor lights etc as well. The tree goes up Christmas Eve and stays up until January 13th (since the 17th century, Christmas ends on the 20th day after Christmas in Sweden).
This is very different from what I did back home in Australia, where I took everything down before NYE, but then as I said, with such darkness it makes total sense. Each country seems to have their own take on decorating.
My wife is half Swedish, but other than a few traditional decorations (Bock, spinning candle holder, etc) she doesn't stick to any other traditions. Her mother was more traditional, but Christmas never lasted for 20 days after Christmas. We did always go to the Santa Lucia service at Westminster Abbey, which was lovely.
DeleteI love Lucia! It's such a lovely tradition and very moving. Because of Covid, we've not been to the local concert for the last couple of years and I miss both it and the parade through town.
DeleteMy husband is Swedish and quite traditional. Our lights do not go up before the first Sunday in Advent, the tree on the 23rd and we eat Lucia buns only on December 13th. He's a bit like the Christmas Police, tut-tutting at those who start early. And he's strict that the decorations stay up until we "dance out Christmas" on January 13th. I figure, when in Rome... :)
I am focused on the festive Christmas meal and gathering of family and friends. Forget all the drama and do as you like. You'll be happier.
ReplyDeleteI'm much the same, my Christmas will begin when my son comes down from London on Christmas Day.
DeleteWe will put our tree up next week, have a wreath on the door & have some greenery on the mantelpieces as usual …. our children and grandchildren would kill me us if we didn’t bother !!! It’s a lovely time of year. XXXX
ReplyDeleteOur tree arrives next week, but I shall try to slow its installing until mid-week at the earliest.
DeleteI try hard to ignore it.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed in Sainsbury's that Jingle Bells has replaced their usually rock music. I knew something was afoot!
DeleteMy ballet classes this week have swapped traditional music for instrumental Xmas-y fare! It's rather amusing to have to leap and spin around to the tune of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and his kith and kin. It's like being 8 years old again!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you did Ballet Classes; good for you. Everywhere I go I hear Christmas classics. See above.
DeleteI'm with you on this. Christmas used to be fun but I dread it more each year now.
ReplyDeleteBriony
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