When are you allowed to mention the ‘C word’? Or put up the Christmas tree?
For many, even thinking about tinsel or mince pies this early in the year would be outrageous. But for some, when it comes to getting in the festive spirit – the earlier, the better.
Some people simply love Christmas and want to make the most of the occasion, putting their tree up months before to enjoy the soft glow of the fairy lights while watching TV.
Maybe they’ve taken a leaf out of Britney Spears’ book, as the pop princess recently revealed her Christmas tree was already up and looking festive.
For others, it’s more of a military operation, ensuring there are no shortages or things forgotten when the big day arrives.
Maybe this year is the perfect time to be a bit more organised.
Supermarkets have already opened their Christmas food to order slots, with Hannah Kilburn, a buying manager at Morrisons, saying: ‘We know how early some of our customers like to plan for Christmas and our festive Food to Order service is going to help them do just that.’
Amid an ongoing fuel shortage and threatened lorry strike, there are fears other shortages and delays are looming.
Primrose, a gardening brand that sell Christmas trees, have noticed a spike in the demand to already have one ordered.
They believe there will be an imported tree shortage, and gardening expert Evie Lane says: ‘With a pandemic festive season keeping people apart last year, it’s no surprise that there’s an early demand for Christmas cheer in 2021.’
So there’s even more pressure to make this Christmas special, and for some that means getting the admin sorted months in advance.
Metro.co.uk has spoken to some readers who like to get their Christmas hat on way before Halloween has even been and gone.
Here’s how they get ready for the momentous event:
A family of preppers
Brady, a 29-year-old from Upminster, Essex, comes from a family of early Christmas preppers. It’s her favourite time of year.
She started Christmas shopping in June this year, but has been planning for the day since January with the help of her Christmas planner in which she notes down present ideas, decoration inspiration and recipes.
For the cakes she’ll make closer to the time, she started soaking the fruit for them this summer.
As for the meat, she already has her turkey in the freezer and has her beef for New Years Eve.
‘My mum is the Queen of Christmas and has always been a prepper,’ she says. ‘I have, I suppose, always been a prepper because of her.
‘As my family has got bigger the last few years, I’ve started prepping even further in advance. I’d say I begin my Christmas planning from January really.
‘Whenever I see some Christmas bits and bobs I usually get something and put it away where it can’t be eaten until closer to Christmas.
‘I will keep an eye out for sales, voucher codes, discounts, Clubcard deals as well as using cashback sites like TopCashback.’
Spreading the cost over the year is important to Brady, as is mitigating potentially anxiety-inducing situations.
‘As someone with anxiety, planning ahead helps me keep my stress levels low and means I enjoy the festive season without having to worry about shopping and fighting crowds,’ she says.
‘I know some people really dislike talking about Christmas until late November, but for me the Christmas playlist is going on November 1 and the decorations are up soon after that.’
Brady has been concerned by the prospect of another lockdown and potential shortages, so that’s also been a motivation to get ahead this year.
‘Last year we had everything we needed by October and given our last minute lockdown we were right to prepare,’ she adds.
‘We were able to not stress and lend a hand to friends who needed help instead,’ she explains, adding that she and her partner helped two friends that are frontline workers getting the things they needed.
‘By November this year I will have finished my Christmas shopping and can just enjoy the season and activities like baking and ice skating.’
She also has a savings pot dedicated to Christmas, in which money gets added each month.
Shopping for grandma
Emma, who is 27, has been getting organsied months in advance for 15 years for the benefit of her 82 year old grandmother, Valerie.
Their tradition starts on Boxing Day, when they buy presents for the family for the next year.
‘Nan and Grandad have a lot of people to buy for,’ Emma says, ‘so a bargain or even a small discount can go a long way when you’re buying gifts for three children, seven grandchildren and everyone’s other halves.
‘It has to be done online though, as the thought of rushing out on Boxing Day and the crowds put us off ever physically shopping the boxing day sales in person.
‘It’s much more fun from the comfort of the sofa with a glass of Baileys in hand.
‘We save most of it for the following Christmas and by that time I’ve forgotten what we’ve ordered for me!
‘We keep it all stored in the spare room at my Nan’s, we don’t get to see that carpet much throughout the year.’
Meanwhile, Valerie will be fully stocked up on wine, prosecco and spirits for the big day, and she freezes meats ready for Christmas day.
‘I think for both of us mostly, it’s the love of being together, shopping together and hanging out too,’ she says. ‘We don’t live five minutes away from each other anymore so a full day of shopping together, even online is what we both love doing best.
‘It makes me feel like I’ve suddenly won the lottery, I have a new found power when I’m let loose with my Nans credit card (she signs off all purchases beforehand of course) it’s so much more fun spending her money rather than my own.
‘For Nan, she’s happy we get the ball rolling and glad to be organised for the following year, so that saves a job throughout the year,’ Emma adds.
The tree is already up
While the trees outside are only just dropping their leaves, some Brits have already put their Christmas tree up inside.
31 year old Carl, who lives in Northern Ireland, has almost all of his presents bought and wrapped up under the tree.
He has a tradition of putting his Christmas tree up at the same time each year.
‘My tree goes up every year on the weekend in October dated the 10th, so whenever that weekend is.
‘It takes me two full days to complete the decorations in my flat as I’ve a 10ft tree – to put that up alone and fluff out can take up to three hours.
‘I get organised so early because I’ve worked in retail my whole life and it always gets busier and busier each time, plus some places I’ve seen have increased the prices so I just shop early to save.’
Molly, a 21-year-old from Durham, has also got her tree already up along with presents bought.
She begins the celebrations even earlier, starting as soon as it hits September, saying she’s even excited by it in summer.
‘I celebrate Christmas from September until Christmas Day, it’s truly the best time of year. I started celebrating so early around about five years ago when I moved into my own house.
‘This is what makes me happy so why not?’
Her one-year-old son loves the lights in the house, so it feels extra special this year.
‘I tend to buy some food such as beef gravy, turkey gravy, goose fat as soon as it hits the shops.
‘Also I like to get my family great gifts which don’t come cheap, so I leave myself enough time to make it so special for family and my son.’
She believes delaying celebrating till December means the season ‘flies by’ too quickly.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2021/10/18/meet-the-early-christmas-preppers-who-already-have-their-trees-up-15436275/
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