Normally I try hard to keep all preparations for events throughout the year consigned to the month in which they occur. I like things in order. Valentine’s Day stuff in February, Easter in the month it falls in, Halloween in October, Bonfire night in November and Christmas stuff consigned to December, with no decorations hung until mid-month and removed the day after New Year.
However, this year I am again breaking a life-long tradition with a visit to Christmas markets and fayres today … five days before the start of December.
Everything this year seems to be earlier for some reason. The festivities in most of the large cities have begun at the beginning of November, some even before Bonfire night. I still find it strange to see places festooned with all lights and decorations so far in advance. Locally the Christmas lights switch-on events started last week and so I have had no option this year but to join in regardless of my previous principles.
Of-course I still love the atmosphere, the drama and the traditional customs of all these events and will have no trouble indulging myself in the spirit of them, but I have to say a little bit of me thinks it sad that the anticipations I had as a child, the longing for the magic of it all to start and the excitement when December arrives … is something that is now missing.