However, it seems like it has been for ages. The major superstores and retail companies have been telling us to do our Christmas shopping for quite sometime.
For Christmas does seem to be starting earlier. I am sure I remember as a young child, the Christmas countdown started on 1st December, you know, when advent started. It was when you got your advent calendar, started your shopping and started to decorate your home.
Nowadays it is different. In my hometown of Warrington, Peter Andre caused much excitement to the locals when he turned on the town's Christmas lights. He did this on 19th November, however. It was more than a month to Christmas. Meanwhile just down the M62 in Manchester, the Christmas markets (pictured) got underway two days earlier.
Christmas is undoubtedly now seen as a way of making money by big businesses, but before this turns into a rant about the rights and wrongs of that ideal, I shall move swiftly on to why I am looking forward to it this year, without sounding like an over excited child.
Christmas is a time for family. And also for being with some of your oldest and best friends. Since I have been at university for the last three and a half years, I scarcely see either that much. But it is different at Christmas time. It definately does seem to be the one time of year where families will get together. Some people argue that the family is a dying institution, Christmas usually proves that it is not. It is something that as you grow older you definately appreciated more. Admittedly there is an element of dread over the inevitable arguing, but in some ways it's all part of the fun.
Another reason I am looking forward to Christmas is because people will actually be happy. This country has become a very bitchy place to be. Everyone is interested in who is cheating on who, who is stealing who's benefits, why such and such a people will not go into work one day etc. At Christmas that does seem to change. This is due in no small part to the fact that many people choose to see who is doing these things on Coronation Street or Eastenders, but that is not the point. People do seem to have more of a smile on their face at Christmas and stop all the pointless arguing and just get along.
Finally, there is the slightly perverse enjoyment of Christmas shopping. Lets be honest, shopping for other people is a largely horrendous experience, but there is something rewarding about it at Christmas. I am of course not talking about the actual shopping itself, but more the atmosphere. Especially in a place like Manchester. There has been a recent sensation regarding Christmas Markets, Birmingham holds the honour of having the biggest one, and they are excellent in my opinion. Manchester's is no exception. You can spend your happy day guzzling mulled wine (or liquor coffee if you prefer) and buy a load of stuff you do not really need and sometimes have never even heard of.
The markets are usually called "German Markets" as well, which shows that at Christmas time, even the best of enemies can become friends.
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