What marks the start of Christmas for you?

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Depressingly, my friend think when she sees the Coca Cola ad for the first time that's the start....

For me, Advent Sunday marks the start of the winter, and then the Solstice is when we put our tree up (so yes sometimes only a few days before) and that's when Christmas begins. For about a week

There is a tree festival where I live that kicks it off for us....but they have it too early IMO. I wish it was in Dec but it's always in end of November. - this year Nov 25 weekend. Santa will be there who nine yards so what can you do really?!

Lots of people around here have their lights up already - I think it's because we've had unseasonably warm weather and people want to get it done before it snows but I would prefer they stay off until Dec 1st myself. I've seen full Christmas trees up in two windows already

Are you Santa GeorgiesGirl?

The season starts for me the first Sunday of advent when I light the first Advent candle. Haven't bought any yet although I do have the Yankee Candle advent calendar!

I have sort of started decorating today! Well building really. I got two Christmas Lego sets last year - Santa's Workshop and a Toy Shop. Built Santa's sleigh this afternoon. Hoping to get both done to use as decorations on a book shelf.

Tree goes up start of December. Christmas activities with the dc etc. But I really start feeling Christmasy mid December. I'm a cub leader and we attend a church service led by the minister of the church we use. It's in another tiny wee country church. It's beautiful. All the guided, brownies etc that use the hall come and the local congregation. It always feels festive and being high ground in the Highlands there is usually snow. I always feel like it's really Christmas time.

I'm a TA and it's our Christmas decorating evening at school which is the last week day in November. We plan amazing Christmas displays and a lot of work goes into them, then it all comes together on the night and it's Christmas! I also bring out my Christmas jumper for the occasion but I'm in the minority 😂

1st December when I get the Christmas mugs out. Decorations go up 12 days before Christmas but will start wreath making before them. Do get a little frisson on excitement when the Famous Grouse starts, as I know Christmas is on its way.

The day after Thanksgiving, so this year it starts 25 Nov. The 'good china' all gets washed up and gets packed away and the Christmas china gets put in the china cabinet. I usually have all the decs up and the Xmas music going by 4 Dec.

Putting the tree up

When I here the warbling sounds of Mariah singing 'all I want for Christmas'. It heard it today in dobbies so it's official, the festive season has begun!!

Christmas Eve. Getting the tree up and finishing work. This year it may be the 23rd as the 24th is a weekend

PussyPatches that would be telling. Ho ho ho. I mean ha ha ha

The first Friday of December, DH and I go to Costa or Starbucks at lunchtime and get our first festive drink. That's the start of the build up for us.

Stir up Sunday (ie yesterday).

We stirred up next year's Christmas pudding (this year's has been mulling all year and is moist and alcoholically delicious) after church.

This week marks official Christmas shopping week. Aiming to have it all done before Advent Sunday.

Then, from Advent Sunday we light candles every day, and it's open season on Christmas reading (No Holly for Miss Quin, Winter Solstice, a Country Child, The Box of Delights, Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter), and Christmas films (Muppet Christmas Carol, Nativity, Love Actually, When Harry Met Sally, etc. )

Festive bowl of nuts will officially move into the sitting room on Advent Sunday too, and There Will Be Baileys.

First Sunday of advent

1 December

Oh, and the first time I hear Fairytale of New York is a huge one for me : )

No christmas films until after the early december public holiday.

Tree up on wedding anniversary.

When dd's birthday is out of the way (end of Nov)

Yes, 1st December is when I permit the feeling of Christmassyness to begin - Christmas decorations, songs, activities, etc are all permissable after this time.

The actual Christmas period begins on 24th December though. That's when I allow the opening of chocolates, crack open the Christmas drinks, start on the food. Pretty much continues until the New Year, or whenever it all runs out, whichever comes first.

I would start in December but for me it starts when true Christmas starts! Or Christmas 24, need 2months to watch all the film's!!

Advent here too. Due to circumstances this year, as far as I'm concerned Christmas is being delayed to the 29th.

When I was at school, as soon as Advent started we'd sing 'O Come, O come, Emmanuel' in assembly, and I still love that, since it meant the beginning of Christmas.
I might find it on YouTube on Sunday...

Officially for us it's 1st December as before then makes DH roll his eyes as it too early - but really for me there's always a day early in November when I wake up, stick my arm out of the duvet and feel the cold. It's usually a dark morning, crisp and cold outside and it gets dark early, and that's the day I feel truly festive and it all kicks off for me although I start planning in September after all the family birthdays are over

Happens every year