When does Christmas begin?
1. Putting that first decoration on the Christmas tree 2. Hearing your first Christmas tune 3. Watching that first festive movie 4. Wrapping your first Christmas present 5. Switching on the Christmas lights 6. Taking a bite of your first mince pie 7. Visiting a Christmas market 8. Receiving your first Christmas card 9. Buying that first Christmas gift 10. Seeing the first Christmas decoration in the shops CHRISTMAS comes but once a year and is usually on December 25.
But when is it the right time to start feeling festive?
If you work in some of the shops in Hinckley, the Christmas goods start to sneak out before the summer holidays have ended in late August.
To others, the festive season starts on Christmas Eve and ends around midnight on Boxing Day.
One former Hinckley Times Scrooge used to refuse to put the Christmas tree up until Christmas Eve afternoon. And we think it was back in the attic before the New Year had moved in.
We do have the traditional 12 days of Christmas which starts on the big day itself and ends on January 6 with the feast of the Epiphany.
In this age of rampant commercialism, it seems for many Christmas begins when the John Lewis advert gets its first airing on TV which is normally early November. At least that allows us to get Bonfire Night off with a bang without any tinsel getting in the way. But what do you think? A poll carried out by the Post Office shows that many prefer a late start to the festive season.
It only really begins to feel like Christmas December 24.
The poll shows that, on average, for Brits the ‘festive feeling’ kicks in early on the evening of Chistmas Eve.
But for one in six (16 per cent) its takes until the end of Christmas Day to get the festive feeling, while 17 per cent actually enjoying Boxing Day more than Christmas Day itself.
The survey of 2,000 people for the Post Office shows that when it comes to what gets us in the festive mood it is still the traditional elements that really bring some Christmas cheer.
Decorating the Christmas tree is the favourite festive task with 38 per cent citing it as top of the list to kick-start the seasonal joy.
The more modern seasonal traits - such as ‘Secret Santa’ or wearing a Christmas jumper - don’t live up to the classic festive traditions.
And sipping beats kissing as more Brits prefer a festive tipple than a Christmas kiss, with one in eight (13 per cent) choosing a glass of mulled wine to get them in the seasonal mood over a smooch under the mistletoe (seven per cent).
One in five (21 per cent) say receiving their first Christmas card is guaranteed to inspire at 7pm on that festive feeling.
The survey also reveals that one in nine (11 per cent) begin planning for Christmas as early as the summer.
Women are more likely to plan ahead with (18 per cent) thinking about Christmas three months in advance, compared to only 10 per cent of men.
The study shows the differing activities across the country that gets us in the Christmas mood. In Belfast, hearing the first Christmas song tops the list, while for Glaswegians it’s decorating the Christmas tree.
Pete Markey, chief marketing officer for the Post Office says: “It’s nice to see that it’s still the traditional things that bring us the most joy at Christmas, from getting the Christmas decorations up to receiving that first Christmas card.
“We want to help people get their Christmas sorted. More of our branches are open for longer this year and with over 600 extra people working in branches over the festive period we want to make it as easy as possible to spread some Christmas cheer.”
Let us know when Christmas starts for you - hinckleytimes@ trinitymirror.com