It is a common belief across the UK that Christmas just keeps on getting earlier.
Whether that be the cheerful John Lewis Christmas advert being released on November 9 this year, or the honey-rich tones of Michael Bublé appearing on November 4 on Asda’s festive ad, it seems as if early November is the new start of the Christmas season.
At the heart of the fierce festive debate is the Christmas tree, a staple of any Christmas-celebrating living room since it first reached the UK back in the 1840s.
The question at the heart of this, and the one we posed to the Sheffield public is this: When should the Christmas Tree go up?
Is November too early?
According to a poll conducted by Sheffield Wire, 72% of people believe that it is currently too early to put up your tree.
However, according to Christmas Tree World, the ideal date to put up your tree is this Sunday, as for many Advent begins on the Sunday closest to the feast of St Andrew the Apostle, which took place on November 30 and lasts for four weeks.
For Keeley Dowse, who works at the Christmas Shop on Fargate, it is “never too early” to put the tree up.
She added: “We’ve found over the last couple of years that people want to buy Christmas decorations earlier to spread the cost.”
The shop opens in October and shuts a few days after Christmas Day.
Other Sheffielders were not so keen to get in the spirit early. A former supermarket manager, said “Yes, I think it is. I don’t believe in celebrating too early.”
When asked when the right date was, he said: “Around the 20th, but we’re old fashioned. When they start in September that’s a bit too early!”
A local charity worker agreed: “Yes it’s way too early. You can’t be putting your Christmas tree up this early.” He suggested December 10 as the ideal date to get the box of baubles and trinkets out and get decorating.
Research conducted by confused.com found that 47% of Brits put their Christmas decorations up between December 1 and December 10.
What’s your take? Let us know in the comments.
