Are you planning on putting up your Christmas this weekend? Ignore the Scrooges and Grinches, and go for it! The earlier the better I say!
I don’t usually write opinion pieces on this blog, it tends to be tutorials and how to do this, that or the other when it comes to your home or garden.
But, decorating our homes for Christmas is something a lot of us do and this year I’ve seen a lot of criticism online of people who have already put up their decorations.
While it’s not really anyone else’s business what others do with their home, comments can still be cruel, especially on social media.
Many consumers already moan that Christmas starts earlier each year, with some shops selling Christmas cards as early as July and most supermarkets launching at least part of their Christmas ranges during September and October.
However, this can actually help consumers on low incomes that need to start buying things as early as possible to help spread the cost, especially during this cost of living crisis.
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So, back to the decorations.
I think we can all agree the last couple of years have been pretty tough. Between Covid, worries about finances, an incredibly incompetent government and the death of Queen Elizabeth II it can feel like everything has been all doom and gloom.
Can we really blame people for wanting to bring a little bit of Christmas magic into their homes early?
For some, the extra cosiness and warm lighting can help combat the darkness as the nights draw in. For others, it can be a way to remember a lost loved one or battle against worsening mental health.
Putting decorations up can also be something to do as a family when there’s not much money left to do anything else.
I hope we can change our thinking around early Christmas decorations from ‘It’s too early, they shouldn’t be doing that!’ to ‘I hope those lights are bringing people joy’ because after all, isn’t that what Christmas is all about? Hope, joy, and a little bit of magic.
