Christmas Music (why does it end as early as Boxing day?!)

[ShellacB]

To be clear at the outset, I have no issue with people starting to listen to Christmas music early or not wanting to listen to it after Boxing Day. Personally I wouldn't listen to it as early as August/September and prefer to enjoy it from late November until the end of the twelve days of Christmas. I accept that this is my personal preference.

What annoys me every year though, is how the TV music channels which started in October end on Boxing Day and all sight of Christmas is removed. Again, I totally respect people not wanting to listen to it after Boxing Day as it is individual choice. However, the twelve days of Christmas actually start on Christmas Day and end on 6th January. Those of us who observe the traditional Christmas period would at least like the option of being able to listen to Christmas music during the actual Christmas period

Magic Xmas on the radio started on 30th August last year, but ended on 28th December also! Could they not at least have kept the station running as an option until New Year's Day after starting so early?! To me it is absurd to be starting that early to finish up on day 4 of the actual Christmas period.

I just feel that we are being rushed through the seasons and not given the opportunity to enjoy things when they are actually happening. Months of build up and then finishing before they start.

Anyone else feel the same

Yes, I quite agree. I’m listening to Christmas Carols on Spotify as I type as I find the harsh switch from Christmas music to regular music really difficult each year. I used to feel guilty for continuing to listen to it, but I don’t care anymore…it makes me happy!

Glad to hear someone else feels the same way.

1st to 6th January is far more Christmas than August and September for goodness sake.

I think even continuing it until New Year's Day would be more reasonable than finishing on Boxing Day or 28th. That is the week most of us are on holiday for actual Christmas!

I agree and said so to my DH, I was still feeling very Christmassy and there was no Christmas music on the radio.

I agree. I hate that the period we actually have off work and school after the crazy amount of work to get ready is not considered to be Christmas by most. I know it's not just me though as I still see plenty of Christmas trees in front rooms and wreaths on doors up to the 6th.

Totally agree- it really bothers me when it all stops on the 27th.

I really enjoy having the music channels on in the background and watching the Christmas music videos. They could at least wait until NYE to stop - I don’t understand it.

Same for radio.

I listen until NYD. Although my kids love Nativity! Soundtrack so Nazareth is often blasting in this house in June

Yes, Classic stopped playing them after Boxing Day IIRC. I put my own CDs on instead.
It’s similar to shops taking all their Christmas decs down immediately after the 25th.

Was pleased a couple of days ago to have lunch at the St Martin in the Fields crypt cafe next to Trafalgar Square ( very busy as always) and see that they still had a lovely Christmas tree up.

I don't understand it either.

From memory, several years ago at least one of the TV music channels did continue to play them until early January, as I remember going back to work one year on 5th January and the videos were still on that morning. That was the first Christmas of covid, so it would seem that it is only in the last few years that they have all stopped so abruptly across the board between 26th to 28th December.

I think that even NYE or NYD would be a more sensible cut off point and I could at least understand the rationale of that, with it being a new year etc. I just find stopping on 26th to 28th December is ludicrous. Particularly if it is considered appropriate to start them in August!

They were playing Christmas music at Heathrow this morning

I remember feeling that way as a child about the summer. July 1st and all the clothes shops has "back to school" sections! Let us have 2 weeks without thinking about it!

Definitely agree OP. I think stopping playing Christmas music on Epiphany would be much better!

I'm surprised at Classic FM...I though that would be more traditional

I agree. I've always found the post christmas period hard but have managed well in recent years. This year it has hit me like a tonne of bricks. Everything is SO festive for 1-2 months then very suddenly the rug is pulled out.

It's not even particularly the lack of christmas per say. I think it is the sudden change that just knocks me for six and carries over into my 'regular' life.

Is anyone else struggling mentally this new year? I think the very cold, windy weather isn't helping.

@TheWickerHare I always have a wobble. I find it such an anticlimax and I struggle to get my head around it.

Funnily enough I really like January- I enjoy Winter weather and the chance to hibernate a little, but I still struggle with the “drop”

I keep some fairylights up all year round and find myself daydreaming about my upcoming plans from September to late December and this seems to help.

It annoys me too OP, especially as we get Christmas pushed on us so early and then so many people seem to take trees and decs down on Boxing Day, I can’t fathom it! End of November to 5th Jan I’m usually in Christmas mode but I feel like I’m in the minority these days.

Also get annoyed by shops pushing different seasons on us so early. I don’t want to see Easter eggs in the shops on the 1st January or like someone else, think about back to school stuff at the end of July etc

Still singing Christmas carols in church last Sunday. In fact if you are traditionalist you don’t start singing carols until Christmas Eve (or possibly 4th Sunday in advent) you sing advent carols in advent.

my tree is coming down today, wasn’t on yesterday but wasn’t feeling well enough to stretch up to the top

The 26th December is the beginning of Easter Egg season.
No one is going to buy Easter Eggs while Christmas songs are playing.
(Yes it is madness)

I am presuming there is some commercial reason behind it.

Ala there is nothing to sell anymore as the big present giving day is over and advertisers aren't interested in keeping people in Christmassy mode etc.

I did think with the likes of Magic Xmas is it so they can blend listeners who came along for the Christmas pop up station into the normal station as I noticed that after the Christmas music stopped they kept the pop up on the listing but playing the normal Magic station on it instead.

Even if it is for commercial reasons I think it should be held off to epiphany or at least New Years Day at the earliest.

I am conducting a choir in gentle reflective carols in my local church this evening.

no issue with people starting to listen to Christmas music early

but I think that’s exactly why everything finishes on Boxing Day. It’s been going on for 6 to 8 weeks. If it started later, I think it would go on longer after Christmas.

Couldn’t agree more!

Honestly, I think if it even was just the six to eight weeks beforehand it might carry on until January.

The pop up radio stations started in August this year! One started on 30th August but ended on 28th December!! That's just illogical in my opinion. If you can start that ridiculously early then surely you can hold off until New Year or Epiphany before ending them.

Even the USA holiday season runs from Thanksgiving (last Thursday in November) until New Years Day.

Agree with everyone here. I'm putting decorations away today as I'm working from home because of the weather. It all starts far too early and ends too soon. I'm going to an epiphany service on Sunday weather permitting, kids dress up and follow the star. The Christmas tree exhibition comes down on Monday.

The Christmas music is samey too when on the radio. There's some really good ones we don't ever hear. I heard one by Showaddywaddy for the first time ever on a Christmas CD compilation from the 90s. Mind you it had one by Gary Glitter on as well. It's tiresome hearing Mariah Carey ad infinitum.

The seasons have been pushed out of whack for commercialism.

@HelloDenise That Epiphany service sounds wonderful

I’m so glad there’s plenty of us who feel the music ends too soon!

I really enjoy watching the Christmas music videos every year on the music channels. I hope they never stop playing them 🙈

Totally agree re what gets played being too samey. Every year I seem to end up hearing All I Want For Christmas and Fairytale way too many times (although I do like them both), with One More Sleep following close behind, and sometimes don't hear many of my other faves at all unless I put my Apple playlist on. And I seemed to end up in some sort of reverse Whamageddon this time around, didn't hear Last Christmas for ages! (Not a good thing for me as I love the song!)

Re the Gary Glitter one, ever since it all came out about him I've wished that song had been recorded by someone else as I really like the song! 😫