WHEN WE THINK of words that encapsulate Christmas, joy, excitement, family and blessings spring to mind.

Here’s one I heard very recently from someone describing their sentiments regarding the holiday season: Disgusting.

A little context. Chats at the coffee collection point were circling around a certain Christmas song (I’m looking at you, Mariah) having been played just two days after Halloween. The general consensus amongst the group was, it is far too early for such music to be played. Far too early. A contentious annual debate, for sure.

We shook our heads in solemn, judgy agreement and the barista told us they had heard the same song several times across the recent midterm break. “Christmas for me,” they said, “has become disgusting.”

This person has worked the Christmas retail period for the last decade and is of the opinion that silly season, along with its relentless marketing ploys, is being shoved down our necks earlier each year. It was at this point in the conversation that they dropped the “disgusting” adjective.

This year, they will not be putting up a Christmas tree and along with their husband, have decided to treat the day the same as any other. It is a sentiment that could be accused of having a slight tinge of bah-humbug to it but really, it’s difficult not to be stressed over the whole thing when a particular Christmas shop opened its doors for business on 7 September.

Back in 2020, John Lewis aired their Christmas ad on 13 November. This year, it was released on 4 November, a whole nine days earlier.

The festive phenomenon of Christmas arriving........

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