The Great Christmas Debate...

I have seen on facebook a few (only a few I must admit) complaints about how early the Christmas 'hoopla' has begun this year.

I did exclaim surprise myself when the Christmas cards appeared in the shops in September, that was even a wee bit early for me.

However I am MRS CLAUS...well I would be if I could.   The day after Samhain/Halloween I get the festive CDs out and start my yuletide shopping.  I love everything about the season except being in shops in December - way too many people, so I do my shopping in November.  Although I do like to go and sit in a cafe in the middle of town in December and sit with a hot chocolate watching all the shoppers and soaking up the energy of the season.

I have never lost that child like excitement that comes at this time of the year and I am very grateful for that.

My decorations go up on the first weekend of December but they come down on 26th/27th December, I don't like them in the house in January, for me once Boxing Day comes it is all done and dusted.  It is the build up to the celebration that I like the most.

But not everyone likes the festivity and I can totally appreciate that everyone is an individual and entitled to feel exactly how they want to, I really do, but it has to work both ways.  I have purposely not posted loads of festive pictures on my facebook page yet because I don't want to upset those of my friends that prefer to wait until closer to the day, but in return please don't berate me for liking and enjoying the season - it is my own personal choice and I am entitled to that and in fact it is my facebook page and if I wanted to post photos of Yule logs in August I can!

Bear in mind as well that today is 25th November - one month until Christmas Day and just over three weeks until the Winter Solstice...I don't think it is too early to be getting into the festive spirit. In fact I was looking at Halloween pictures on facebook in early September...two months away from the actual date - no one seemed to complain about Halloween decorations being in the stores too early?

Yep I get the whole 'it's too commercialised' thing but it doesn't have to be - it is us as the consumer that holds the power to change that.    We can choose to only buy one present for each person, we can choose to make presents, we can choose to shop locally, we can choose to buy from crafters and artisans...our choice.

A lot of businesses rely on the Christmas 'spend' to keep them afloat, whether it is the big businesses or the small ones.  Those businesses employ people...they employ people like us...they provide jobs and wages to pay our bills to keep food on our tables and a roof over our heads...

For me this time of the year is about celebrating, about being with family and friends - I work with the building energies of the season, I watch silly Christmas films that make me cry and feel good about the Christmas Spirit and on the Winter Solstice I celebrate the return of the sun.

My cards are all written, charities rely on selling Christmas cards to make money for their cause and I always recycle the ones I receive as well but I also accept that some people prefer not to send cards, again that is your choice to make, personally I absolutely love to send and receive cards but that is my choice to make too.

Life is a roller coaster ride, the energies of the year ebb and flow...I like to 'ride the wave' of the build up to Yule, I love cards, I love Yule trees, I love festive food, celebrations, catching up with friends and family, I love sparkly lights, I love tinsel and I love the festive spirit...good will to all...now if we could only extend that spirit throughout the whole year...