Christmas is celebrated all around the world as the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and it is also celebrated by many non-Christian families. As the festive season approaches, people seem to be celebrating earlier every year…
Traditionally, Christmas would be celebrated in the days of advent (hence advent calendars) leading up to Christmas day, but members of the public are seeing festive products in the supermarkets earlier and earlier, even before the celebration of Halloween.
This phenomenon is commonly known as the Christmas creep, and it is where the commercialisation of Christmas comes seemingly increasingly prematurely every year.
Annually, retailers introduce Christmas themed products early to make as much profit as possible over the holiday season, even trying to get on the market first so that customers will come to them for their festive purchases.
Some say that mince pies being sold in supermarkets mark the beginning of the Christmas season, as they are widely known as the best festive treat you can have, but some shops have been selling their mince pies since October or even as early as September time: before Halloween or Guy Fawkes night!
Most members of the public recall heart-warming Christmas adverts leading up to December 25th, such as John Lewis and Aldi, including the Sainsbury’s ‘Christmas truce’ advert released on the 11th of November 2014. Sainsbury’s often released their Christmas ads around the 10th- 14th of November, but in recent years it has creeped to the very beginning of the month.
This year, thanks to the Christmas creep, Sainsbury’s festive advert (featuring Roald Dahl’s BFG) was released on November 1st, 2024. That is nearly one day earlier every year!
But really, who doesn’t love the festive cheer of December? Will it turn into a full year celebration one day – like how hot cross buns (a traditional easter treat) are available all year round?
