When does Christmas start?

So many people consider Christmas to be all about December 25^th, and for some, one day is enough! Is this right though? When does Christmas start? I think it seems like such an anti-climax when the enormous build-up is over in twenty-four hours, and particularly for children, it seems a shame to try to keep Slade and company from entering the house until Christmas Eve!

So in my house, we like to start early and drag the festive season out for as long as possible – what else is winter good for other than indulging in everything Christmassy?

Think ‘Christmas Time’ rather than ‘Christmas Day’. That way, children learn to appreciate the atmosphere and spirit of the season as a whole, rather than just the presents on the ‘big day’.

When does Christmas start? The season begins with the arrival of the advent calendars and candles, and soon after comes the tree and the decorating, with the obligatory trip to the garden centre to see the various displays and maybe come away with one or two new baubles!

Christmas fairs in our village start in the first week of December, and are the perfect place to buy little gifts and decorations, as well as usually being the first chance we get to taste the mulled wine and mince pies! Then there is the school nativity, carol concert and end of term Christmas party. And all this by around December 16^th!

Then we like to make something of Christmas Eve other than a last minute rush to the finish that leaves us all exhausted for the next morning.

There is no shopping allowed, and we try to get the extended family together for some food before going home to put out a mince pie and a carrot for our overnight visitors…

By the time the 25^th arrives, we are well into the swing of things, and the excitement of the day itself is the cherry on the cake, instead of the entire focus that is over and done with all too quickly. And then comes the welcome lull when we can watch some Christmas TV and enjoy all our new books and toys, before the New Year…