Early Christmas

[garybaldy]

Someone at work has had his christmas tree and dec's up for a month now.

He said he was a bit late this year, as he normally puts them up in August.

As someone who totally ignores christmas ( I offer to work, to keep out of the way!) I find this crazy.

Still, each to their own I suppose. He enjoys it.

[rapidfire72]

Yeh, some people are sad, Christmas tree in August, next it will be July. I can understand late November, even then it's early, some people never grow up, bit like Peter Pan in fantasy land.

[byegad]

We used to live opposite someone who put his up in early October and took them down at Easter. That's 6 months most years!


Nutter.

[gilesjuk]

They should rename Winter as Christmas.

It's crazy that Halloween, Bonfire night and Xmas are all blurring into one. It makes you consider making a big scary Xmas tree with fireworks on that you burn. It would do all three in one go.

[eileithyia]

I agree, stuff comes out far too early for every event, be it Christmas, hallowe'en, bonfire night etc., It takes away some of the magic and enjoyment of seeing the appropriate items at the right time.
Christmas? bah humbug!

[glueman]

It's crazy that Halloween, Bonfire night and Xmas are all blurring into one.

That's the problem, we have witch masks, bonfire toffee and Father Christmas items in the supermarkets. I like Christmas but 12 days before and twelve days after (if we don't get thoroughly cheesed off with the decorations by 2nd January) is a rule we follow in our house.

I'd like to know what happened to bonfire night, which I used to thoroughly enjoy before it became bonfire week, as well as the by-laws that used to proscribe letting fireworks off at other times.

[rbrian]

If Christmas was special, I might enjoy it - as it is, I get bored of it by September. Also, Cadbury's Roses are not very nice this year, and I can't have Quality Street because of the baby milk. The others are just miniature versions of chocolates you can buy all year round, so what's the point? A tin of Roses used to be an event! Bah humbug indeed! Still, at least there should be some good films on. I can't remember the last time I saw The Great Escape...

[glueman]

Remember the Famous Names liquer advert with Terry-Thomas in the 70s? 'Reginald Bosanquet, Dennis Compton, etc, etc' with TT saying 'every Christmas we go through this absurd ritual'. Would anyone under 45 have an idea who they were?
What about candied fruits, what we refer to as Granny sweets, always popular. M&S have some very nice Christmas biscuit tins this year with a Scotty dog, if anyone would like to play Santa?

[lisap]

I have a confession to make. This year we are celebrating Christmas on November 1st. But I have good mitigating circumstances (honestly)

I am going away for Christmas and want to do presents for my niece and nephew before I go. The last time I will see them is Halloween so once they are asleep we are going to take the Halloween stuff down and put the christmas tree and decorations up. I can't wait to see their faces when they come down on the Sunday morning, confused - I hope so.

As for chocolate and sweets, I am going to do a tear and share hamper this year. Get a small cheap wicker basket from TK Max, fill it with goodies the whole family like and let them go for it.

I am actually looking forward to it which is something I haven't done in a very long time.

[mw3230]

I seem to remember a news story some while ago about a family who love Christmas so much they keep their decorations up all year round and have Christmas dinner every week!

[Manx Cat]

I am going away for Christmas and want to do presents for my niece and nephew before I go. The last time I will see them is Halloween so once they are asleep we are going to take the Halloween stuff down and put the christmas tree and decorations up. I can't wait to see their faces when they come down on the Sunday morning, confused - I hope so.

That is a really wonderful idea! THey will be so surprised.


I really really like this time of year, its my very favourite. I love Halloween, coming from a Scottish family, it was a proper event both for my parents as children and us. The trick or treat bit has been going on in Scotland for generations, children were taken round to neighbours homes and either had to perform a dance or a song for their reward, all dressed up of course!

My parents always put on a spread, and as children we hollowed out sugar beets and placed candles in them or torches and told horror stories around a bonfire in the garden. Our village was a thatched one, so never celebrated Guys Fawlks, but on the IOM we always go to a communial event and for a short hour the sky is splendid indeed and no mess for us to clear away.

Thankfully, Halloween is an important part of the start of the Celtic festivals that lie ahead, Hop-tu-Naa (means 'This is the Night') and is the eve of the Celtic new year. Most sung song on the 31st Oct is Jinnie the Witch, and the traditional lantern is a hollowed turnip (hard as nails to carve out, no wonder pumpkins took over). This is no americanised occasion, remember these events took place in Britian long before they were taken to the Americas.

Then Christmas.... Look, Ive had to give up my baking ok.... fat tummys and cakes dont mix, so Christmas is the only time left for me to endulge in cake making and pie baking, and all those wee yummies we all like, memories of my childhood run deep, I cannot not bake a clootie dumpling and have it fried with bacon on Christmas morn!

I look forward to all of these events enormously. I hope you all have a grand season ahead.

Mary

[Mick F]

We have a General Election coming up next year.

The first party that says they are going to pass legislation that Christmas only comes once per Leap Year will get my vote!

Bah Humbug .........

[AlanD]

I really look forward to marking the birth of my Redeemer; The church service on Christmas morning, singing Carols heartily, greeting friends and relatives. It also gives me an excited feeling when my children and my Girlfriend open the presents that I have chosen for them. It's nice to have a few days off work, the Christmas dinner is most welcome, perhaps a glass of wine or two. What I don't like is the over commercialisation of this occasion, the cheap tackyness that I see overwhelming the shops. For many, Christ is just is not in Christmas, likewise Easter; but that's what it should all be about.

Alan (currently trying to chill out to Classic FM, not doing it very well)

[Mick F]

What I don't like is the over commercialisation of this occasion, the cheap tackyness that I see overwhelming the shops. For many, Christ is just is not in Christmas, likewise Easter; but that's what it should all be about.

Completely and utterly agree with you!


If Christmas could really be Christmas, wouldn't life be different!

[Si]

I look forward to the traffic free roads on Christmas morning, and the fact that virtually every ped' that I pass cheerily answers my "Merry Christmas".

Also look forward to watching "A Muppet Christmas Carol" on Christmas day afternoon .

And, of course, going up the allotment on Christmas Eve to pick the makings of the Christmas dinner.

The over commercialisation really does suck the heart out of the occasion- it should just be a time when you can relax with the family and count your blessings. these people that stress themselves so much with all the running around shopping, the hassle of having to put on a special spread for everyone, and the debt that they get into - they've just lost their way somewhere.

I was told off last year when I said that I didn't want people to send me Christmas cards - give the money to charity instead of spending £3 or £4 on a bit of card that'll go straight to the recycling. "That's not entering the spirit of Christmas" I was told. Bar humbug.

Although I do miss the church bit - that was always nice, but as I am no longer a Christian I don't feel right going to church just for a sing-song.