I like Christmas carols, but like many men, I like them best at Christmas time.

Christmas time, as helpfully noted on every single calendar in the world, is Dec. 25. So it’s fair to say I like Christmas carols on Dec. 25.

Of course, today we live in a ­complex, ­multicultural society where many other people, let’s call them women, prefer Christmas carols to start a week or two before Halloween.

Among other things, this allows women to maximize hearing exactly what Mariah Carey wants for Christmas.

Is it a new set of all-weather tires? No. Is it a ­bottle of Macaloney’s excellent Cath-Nah-Aven single malt whisky? No. All Mariah wants for Christmas is: youuuuu.

I bring this up because men and women have ­different expectations for Christmas time, as reflected in Christmas carols and — not to put too fine a point on it — every single other aspect of Christmas time.

For example:

• Which Christmas movies to watch (Die Hard or Die Hard 2?)

• Exactly how much rum in the eggnog is too much rum in the eggnog

• Would baby Jesus really want fake poinsettias ­lining the front hall?

My daughter-in-law and her mother — both women — really enjoy decorating at Christmas time.

More than you’re thinking. They begin planning next year’s........

© Times Colonist