After a year to forget, it is little wonder Christmas is coming early

I’m normally one of those people who despairs at premature Christmas shenanigans. Our tree goes up two weeks before the big day and is chucked out the living room window before the Hogmanay hangover has worn off.

But this year I get why so many people are tempted to start the celebrations early.

My neighbours boldly nailed their colours to the mast just after Halloween, with an unashamedly festive display illuminating their window. Since then a rash of twinkling lights have spread to dozens of other households across our town.

This kind of behaviour usually has me rolling my eyes but instead I feel a pang of sympathy. It’s been such a dark and unsettling few months, it’s no wonder we are so desperate to let some light into our lives.

So, this week we have decided to embrace the festive spirit, too, starting with style expert Wendy Rigg’s Christmas jumper edit on pages 8&9. From the prettiest to the silliest, there’s something for all the family.

We’ve got festive food – blogger Kate Young recreates her favourite fictional feasts on pages 12&13 – and on page 17, former Doctor Who Sylvester Mccoy tells us about his new feel-good Christmas movie set in the Highlands. And our gardening expert Agnes Stevenson writes in celebration of the season’s berrystudded holly trees on pages 32&33.

Covid may have stolen our summer holidays, our weddings and, for some, much much, more than that. But it won’t steal our Christmas. Now where did I put those decorations...?