To be super excited Christmas starts tomorrow!

[Imanautumn]

The elves have arrived, they’ve brought advent calendars, fluffy socks, Christmas teddies, Christmas pyjamas and Christmas bedding and a Christmas book to read :) not all new things I’ve got lots from charity shops so old but new to us :) I’m so excited I love seeing my kids happy faces - tell me about your Christmas traditions!

I’m not a huge Christmas person but I don’t mind people celebrating it for the whole of December.
If it makes you happy go for it op, your DC’s are only young for such a short time make the most of it

I'm very fond of Advent. It's a season of preparation and waiting, of looking forward to the Light of Christmas.

For me, not Christmas...yet....but of anticipation.
Start Christmas now, and you've lost all of that.

Um, who said Christmas starts tomorrow, well today now?

24th of December is when many Europeans celebrate.

This is an example of how language and traditions change.

You aren't more correct. The whole holiday is a social construct. People can celebrate and define as they like!

And yet I will continue to believe myself to be more correct! So that's nice for me.

It’s just me an DS 16 at home. DS 26 will be home from travelling on Boxing Day.
So no elves or Father Christmas magic, but after some months of unemployment following residency I learnt last week that I have secured work.
So yes, considering how difficult the season this year might have been, I am now very much looking forward to having some fun evenings, buying Christmas food and being able to buy presents guilt free.

My teenager has been trying to find part time work to no avail. I’ve told him he should try pubs and hotels as surely they’ll want extra staff. I hope I’m right.
Thank you for your hard work.

Bringbackcatseyes yes pubs cafes shops always need extra washer ups,shelf stackers.Dependant on age bar staff.
I would ask local places.My dcs both worked as kitchen and batr staff as youngsters and there are usually tips.😁

Like some people pretend lots of things about Christmas. Virgins being pregnant anyone? 😂

I can decide when my own Christmas starts. Trees are up, decorations are up inside and out, gifts are being purchased, wrapping is ongoing, I’ve eaten mince pies, my oldest is due home today after being away for months, Christmas dos started last week….its Christmas for me and lots of others.

Congratulations! That must have been very stressful for you in the run-up to December.

People maybe different but you are still wrong

Well then they should say that.

Maybe a new name for whatever you're doing...
Presentmas
Foodmas
Partymas
Boozemas?

But not Christmas.

@Gingernaut
Russian Orthodox.
The Greek Orthodox rite follow the same calendar as here.

New Christmas bedding every year? Where do you put it all? 😮

Thank you OP for giving me a Christmas nudge!

I have a four hour Christmas playlist on Spotify that I start playing on 1st December. I always start with Johnny Mathis’ It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas when I get up to feed the cats, and it makes my family feel very festive.

i woke up with a streaming cold this morning though, after a big weekend in London, and completely forgot, so this thread is cheering me up no end.

In the next week or so we’ll drive to a a beautiful Christmas tree farm in the countryside to choose the tree, which really feels festive as they serve home made mince pies and coffee and have music playing and animals to pet.

retail for money (just like September Christmas things in shops), Its nonsense.

Absolutely this. Christmas starts on 25th December (I'll make an exception for 24th, when the tree can go up, good dinner, midnight Mass).
It never started on 1st December when I was a kid.

It’s Advent, not Christmas. A period of reflection, and four weeks of “getting our hearts ready”, at least, that’s what I remember from catechism.

I should add that the Christmas tree farm trees are actually cheaper than the inferior city-centre trees!

And a slogan that went with the elves when they were new was “a Christmas tradition”. Er, no. A tradition has been in place for some time. It has echoes of “Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia”.

Yes, I know, it’s a children’s thing, blah blah, don’t be Scrooge (who I think was a little misunderstood).

Christmas in our house is determined by the kids and they decided it was today as the elves have arrived. They basically mean festive period but to them its Christmas. I like to think it starts when we do out first Christmas activity - but October was too early this year when we tagged the tree!

Elves arrived here too! They just bring advent calendars in our house. The rest comes in the Christmas eve box they leave on obviously Christmas eve.

We put our tree up yesterday (always the closest weekend to the 1st). Outside lights went up the weekend before (very early for us!) and I will finish the final house decorations this week.

Not sure how many more years DS8 will believe so making the most of it this year. Grotto trip is booked and we've got the Lap of Lights thing as Silverstone this year to look forward too. Friends meetups have been arranged too.

I've been playing the Christmas radio for a good 2 weeks so I'm well into the festive spirit already

Also Coptic Orthodox (celebrate on the 7th).

Christmas/Advent started for us yesterday - went to mass for the first Sunday of advent. Gave the DC their advent calenders this morning.

Next Christmas thing to do is to remember to post Christmas cards out. I left it too late last year.

I like Christmas but I find the run up a bit stressful (2x work parties mainly). I love the nativity (DS2), and Carol service (DS1, though just DH can go this year).

But 99% of British people aren't Christians.