Home   News   Opinion   Article

Phil and Holly dressed as elves on This Morning and cost of living crisis means Christmas has started too early

Candles had barely been extinguished in Halloween pumpkins when Mariah Carey appeared to defrost before our very eyes showing up in full Christmas get-up.

The singer's come-to-be-expected social media switch from spooky siren to festive fairy is part of a fast growing trend that Christmas begins in November, just hours after we've cleared the cobwebs and trick or treat sweet wrappers.

Scroll down to take our poll

Christmas is starting too early, says columnist Lauren Abbott
Christmas is starting too early, says columnist Lauren Abbott

We weren't even a day into November when Phil and Holly - still trying hard to win back the public back after Queue-gate - popped up on This Morning dressed like two over-excited elves whose sugar-powered batteries risk running low long before they might need to do a proper job for Santa on Christmas Eve.

And while activating full-festive mode this month perhaps says more about the political and social turmoil we can only dream of drowning out with a few twinkling lights and renditions of 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' (no, not you Rishi) it's likely to be bank accounts as much as batteries that can't hack the pace if an eight week run-up to December 25 fast becomes the norm.

To give an example - one under-pressure parent underneath an online story asking when Christmas should 'officially' start, defended her decision to get the tree up before mid-November - explaining any time after this is occupied by Christmas planning so it's a case of now or never.

"If a two-month advent risks more splurging and less spreading the cost and leaves us longing for low-key January far sooner than it should then I'm going full bah humbug..."

Organising outings, Nativity costumes, filling (personalised) calendars, buying Christmas jumpers, late-night shopping, producing homemade cakes and treats for the neighbours/teachers/refuse collectors, tracking down matching PJs for the family (in all the correct sizes) crafting Christmas Eve boxes, photographing the kids for personalised cards, getting involved in the endless stream of school/PTA activities likely require anything from a month's wage to a kidney, and keeping an eye on the squatter on the shelf who was about to pitch-up for an unwelcome 24-night break were among the to-dos on a job list that left you exhausted reading it.

If decking the halls at home early doors is about squeezing out every ounce of festive joy - or maybe because fairy lights give off the same cosy glow radiators and affordable heating once did - then hand me a bauble and I am here for it.

But if a two-month advent (without the chocolate) risks more splurging and less spreading the cost - as we have more time to get sucked into every must-have the internet has ever seen - which leaves us longing for low-key January far sooner than it should then I'm going full bah humbug until December 1.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More