There are many reasons why so many of us love Christmas. The festive feeling it brings. The beauty of the world when it is covered in lights. The gift giving. The sweet delights baking. I mean there is honestly nothing better than Christmas. Halloween is a dream, but for me Christmas is the best time of the year. As soon as it is over, I start planning the next one. 

With the idea of Christmas in July being a strong contender to when it should really begin within the year, I have already started to spot little signs in shops. Decorations being made and placed on shelves. Present ideas popping up online. New foods being announced for the big season. If it is going to be trying to leave its mark, it is already being announced. All of which makes me super excited. 

I think I get this excitement from my dad, who always wanted to make sure that we had a big Christmas event. He would moan about buying more decorations, yet he would be the first one out there getting them. He would make sure we had the huge inflatables. The best presents. The illuminated, music playing decorations. He went big. And now I go big in honour of his love. 

Don’t get me wrong, I find the festive season hard to celebrate now. Especially, when it was around this time in which he sadly passed away. But I know he wouldn’t want us to spend the Christmas season being sad. He would say that it was utter, ‘bollocks,’ to be upset and to not celebrate. I know that the weather is always a little bit warmer on Christmas day, because he wants us to see him. He loved it and he will always leave his mark on it. 

Therefore, when someone says it is too early to start to celebrate, I tell them to shut up. Life's too short to worry about what people like and don’t. When we want to start celebrating the biggest day of the year for many of us is well up to us. I will buy presents and decorations from January up until the big events and even days after. 

I will decorate my home in November, maybe even in July. I will keep a countdown calendar on my phone all year round. I will talk and talk about it, as much as I can. And I hope that if you love it as much as I do that you feel free enough to do the same thing. You deserve it. We have been through some tough years and now we need to party. 

So, if you want to get that tree out now, in the middle of August, do it. If you want to listen to Christmas songs, blast them out. You are officially allowed to start now. Go forth and be Christmas strong. 

Joey X