Is it nearly Christmas?
There are two, and only two, distinct responses I have ever received after posing such a question in public. The first, and most terrifying, is an angry yell of “No! It’s October. We haven’t even had Halloween yet!” The second, almost as terrifying, is a delighted squeal of “Yes! Yes! Yes!” followed by a rambling explanation of exactly why It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year.
Popular choices include food, presents, Christmas Lights, music, family, and for everyone between the ages of four and 18, time away from school. (Let’s spare a thought for Years 11 to 13, who effectively have to take school home with them over the holidays.) I do not disagree with any of these things. There is no food better than a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings and I absolutely adore the sight of Jingle Bells and holly littered about town centre whilst glittering lights of red, green and white dance in shop windows. There is no doubt that the advance of Christmas is beautiful, magical and awe-inspiring. But, regrettably, I agree with the first response. I am afraid to say… it is not Christmas yet.
That is not to say that I, nor anyone else in that first group, dislike the Wonderful Christmastime. On the contrary, I enjoy Christmas more than any other holiday; my birthday included! But, we are weeks – MONTHS – off Christmas yet.
Let me put it into perspective.
At the time of writing this article, we are 45 days away from opening the first door of our advent calendars. Everyone in education is roughly 160 lessons away. You will have to respond to the register another 190 times before 1 December, when, at last, you can open up that cardboard calendar, pop out that first precious chocolate, and devour it before you have even considered eating something sufficient for breakfast.
That first chocolate represents the beginning of a Christmas which is currently 70 days away. At least - in my view. The rest of the world, it seems, has very different ideas:
The first Christmas adverts appear on the television from early September. To break out the maths again (sorry!), Christmas adverts first appear on television four months before Christmas and continue right up until Christmas Day. Four months out of 12. Every year. As a country, we spend about one third of our life preparing for a hopefully White Christmas – a holiday that lasts a single day! One day!
This horrifying evidence is not enough to stop some people, however. Just the other day, one of my friends was caught listening to Christmas music; I could expect nothing more from a person who wrapped a birthday present in Christmas wrapping paper and possesses an – admittedly amazing – light-up Christmas jumper. But, no matter how cheerful the song, no matter how pretty the wrapping paper, this is not acceptable! No one would really Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday.
I know that half of you will agree with me and half of you will very much disagree, so let me know whether you think it’s nearly Christmas.
Email me your responses at [email protected] along with any quirky Christmas traditions you and your family have. I can’t wait to read everyone’s opinions!
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Emily Thompson, Year 12
Popular choices include food, presents, Christmas Lights, music, family, and for everyone between the ages of four and 18, time away from school. (Let’s spare a thought for Years 11 to 13, who effectively have to take school home with them over the holidays.) I do not disagree with any of these things. There is no food better than a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings and I absolutely adore the sight of Jingle Bells and holly littered about town centre whilst glittering lights of red, green and white dance in shop windows. There is no doubt that the advance of Christmas is beautiful, magical and awe-inspiring. But, regrettably, I agree with the first response. I am afraid to say… it is not Christmas yet.
That is not to say that I, nor anyone else in that first group, dislike the Wonderful Christmastime. On the contrary, I enjoy Christmas more than any other holiday; my birthday included! But, we are weeks – MONTHS – off Christmas yet.
Let me put it into perspective.
At the time of writing this article, we are 45 days away from opening the first door of our advent calendars. Everyone in education is roughly 160 lessons away. You will have to respond to the register another 190 times before 1 December, when, at last, you can open up that cardboard calendar, pop out that first precious chocolate, and devour it before you have even considered eating something sufficient for breakfast.
That first chocolate represents the beginning of a Christmas which is currently 70 days away. At least - in my view. The rest of the world, it seems, has very different ideas:
The first Christmas adverts appear on the television from early September. To break out the maths again (sorry!), Christmas adverts first appear on television four months before Christmas and continue right up until Christmas Day. Four months out of 12. Every year. As a country, we spend about one third of our life preparing for a hopefully White Christmas – a holiday that lasts a single day! One day!
This horrifying evidence is not enough to stop some people, however. Just the other day, one of my friends was caught listening to Christmas music; I could expect nothing more from a person who wrapped a birthday present in Christmas wrapping paper and possesses an – admittedly amazing – light-up Christmas jumper. But, no matter how cheerful the song, no matter how pretty the wrapping paper, this is not acceptable! No one would really Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday.
I know that half of you will agree with me and half of you will very much disagree, so let me know whether you think it’s nearly Christmas.
Email me your responses at [email protected] along with any quirky Christmas traditions you and your family have. I can’t wait to read everyone’s opinions!
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Emily Thompson, Year 12