It's not Christmas until...

[TheCrow]

What's everyone's ultimate 'it's not Christmas until...' list? For me it's not Christmas until I see the Fenwick's Christmas window in Newcastle. Although I'm very sad to not see it in person this year I just watched the live video unveiling and feel very warm and festive! Also on my list-
The Coca-Cola advert being on TV and seeing Father Ted getting lost in the lingerie department 😂

Magic radio starts its 'all Christmas songs all day every day'.

The 24th December.

It used to be "...until the coca-cola advert is on TV but they put that on earlier and earlier every year"

I just watched that! Got a bit teary. Haven't lived in the NE for over 20 years, but it brought back many happy memories.

Where we live now usually a fabulous Christmas lights switch on extravaganza, and that usually marks the start of Christmas for me, but obviously it won't be happening this year. Always put up our tree on the first weekend in December, whilst watching The Muppets Christmas Carol and eating chocolate and drinking mulled wine, so I guess that's the start of Christmas for us this year.

Iv just taken some food to my mums and driven past about 5 houses with Xmas lights on, it's 8th November people 🙄
For me Xmas starts on Xmas eve when I put the tree up and ends boxing day when I take the tree down, I'm serious 🎄😁

The tree goes up....although I am eating a mince pie as I write this!

Me and DP have a very odd Xmas tradition of following the World's Strongest Man competition. It's not Christmas until we've picked our competitors to back and LOCKED IT IN. (basically just yelling 'locked in') at each other

In more traditionally festive ways, it's not Christmas until we get the mulled wine out and watch Bad Santa on Xmas eve

The John Lewis ad comes on Tv

Mine is the same as yours @TheCrow Fenwick's window and a wander in to the Christmas department has always been the start of Christmas for me?

I hear driving home for Christmas on the radio. We always used to cruise the radio channels searching for it when we were driving home for christmas.

Nowadays when I hear it I call my sister and play it down the phone to her. Have to do it to her before she does it to me. Ideally she doesn’t answer and I just record it for her.

Chris Rea version though, obvs.

It starts to get dark on Christmas Eve. Then it’s Christmas until New Year. And one last day of indulging one New Years Day before back to reality.

Midnight Mass. DHs birthday is a few days before Christmas so that comes first.

...until I see a small child wearing a tea-towel and tinsel. I miss school nativity! I managed to eek it out a couple of years because youngest was in the choir, but there’s nothing like that this year.

December.

@cherry321 driving home for Christmas is my favourite Christmas song, love it!

@greeboismyspiritanimal have to admit I was a little bit misty eyed too, until my 8 year old daughter said 'this is just an advert for fenwicks' at the start 😂 we liked the actual window part though! I usually get a bit miffed when I get spoilered for the window before I have a chance to go and see it so I'm glad we saw the unveiling this year!

Coca Cola advert for me.
I got sent this...

@idroppedthescrewinthetuna well this year has taught me that we just have to make do with what we can 😂 also your username made me laugh, that's a good nostalgic throwback

[quote TheCrow]@idroppedthescrewinthetuna well this year has taught me that we just have to make do with what we can 😂 also your username made me laugh, that's a good nostalgic throwback[/quote]
Thanks, 90's girl through and through! Loved the show!

If I get a rusty coca cola advert that is fine, I just want something to make it feel real. This year is going to be so small compared to last year! We are calling it 'a cosy Christmas!'
I bet my family still manage to find some Xmas day drama though

19:38Herbertzlinger your Christmas tradition has cracked me up! Might add it to my list! Love driving home for Christmas- quality song.

For us it’s not Christmas until the 8th of December. Up to that point we have a birthday almost every week so then we can fully give our attention to Christmas 🎅🏼

For me, it used to me hearing the old Toys R Us theme tune. Nowadays, it starts on 1st December when we set out calendars, pyjamas and other Xmas tat for the children as a surprise at breakfast to mark the start of our countdown to the big day. It's also when we can count how many Christmas trees we can spot in windows as we're walking or driving along.

We watched the virtual unveiling - very wholesome and like a warm hug, although didn't think Santa was very realistic. Alnwick Garden has the best!

For me it starts on the first Sunday of Advent.

Our town has a Christmas festival the first weekend of December, which starts with turning on the lights and fireworks on Friday night then two days of market stalls and fairground rides. I will really miss it this year.

It's not Christmas until at least the middle of December.

Tree will reluctantly go up on the 12th I would rather wait another week.

Kids breaking up and stopping work. I take two weeks off.

The first time I hear Fairytale of New York on the radio. Contentious, I know, but that's the way it is.

The day everyone finishes work/school/college we watch Jason and The Argonauts and start on the Christmas chocolate. Not sure how it will work with most of us working/learning from home this year.