What marks your "official" start to Christmas?

faceman

Listening to the radio this morning and some people have strange traditions that indicates to them that Christmas has started. For example:

- The Barry's Tea radio Christmas ad (WTF?)
- Writing a letter to Santy (adults said they still do it)
- the smell of scented Christmas candles melting on their radiator.

And I thought I was weird!! Its funny tho how the little things are the things that stand out.

For me, its all to do with the Beano comic. I remember as a kid, Minnie the Minx looked at her Calendar and saw it was 4th December and decided it was time to write a letter to Santy. So for me Xmas cant begin before that. I still have the comic strip, im sure its worth money now!

What about you lot?

biko

Putting up decorations and the tree. Will do it this week sometime.

tony1kenobi

faceman wrote: »

For me, its all to do with the Beano comic. I remember as a kid, Minnie the Minx looked at her Calendar and saw it was 4th December and decided it was time to write a letter to Santy. So for me Xmas cant begin before that. I still have the comic strip, im sure its worth money now!

What about you lot?

No I don't own any vintage Beano comics.

javaboy

The publication of the Christmas RTÉ guide.

Niall09

The Coca-Cola ads. "Holidays are comin'!"
:pac:

slipss

For me it's

Budweiser Clydesdale advert

Guiness "Don't forget to turn out the lights" advert

Coca Cola "Hollidays are coming" advert

......and who said Christmas is becoming to commercialized

SoWatchaWant

Mince pies, RTE guide, and officially being on your holidays from school/wprk.

Dudess

faceman wrote: »

- The Barry's Tea radio Christmas ad (WTF?)

Oh god, that ad. I find it as painful to listen to as Diana from X Factor. It's one of those "story" ads, narrated by a middle-aged guy pining about how toys today are a bit "space age" for him but then he spots just a simple train set and it takes him back to when he was a lad and got a train set for Christmas.
Supremely sanctimonious and terribly acted... imo.

My official start to Christmas is buying the Christmas RTE Guide! Love it when it's out!

Cianos

Getting the tree. Usually on Christmas eve

James Forde

when I see christmas stock in shops in october. bah humbug!

unreggd

Hearing Mariah Carey - All I want For Christmas


and the An Post ad!
[we're walking in the aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir]

Biggins

What marks your "official" start to Christmas?

...When the ratio of drunks I fall across in the street suddenly increases dramatically every few feet I take at night and day in the December month!

anonymous_joe

Coke ad.

As a marketing student it gives me a warm glow. I can't even begin to be cynical about it. It makes me all happy and mushy. :pac:

Terry

Waking up on the 25th.
It ends for me when I go to bed that night.

RadioGaGa

always used to get a day off on December 8th in school so that's when I put up the tree and chomp on a tin of roses.

javaboy

Dudess wrote: »

Oh god, that ad. I find it as painful to listen to as Diana from X Factor. It's one of those "story" ads, narrated by a middle-aged guy pining about how toys today are a bit "space age" for him but then he spots just a simple train set and it takes him back to when he was a lad and got a train set for Christmas.
Supremely sanctimonious and terribly acted... imo.

+1. I hate those storyline teabag ads.
"Oh and mam, can I bring a friend?"
"I'm not done yet." "I know you're not. I'm making you captain"

Every day should have its golden moments.

/puke

My official start to Christmas is buying the Christmas RTE Guide! Love it when it's out!

SoWatchaWant wrote: »

Mince pies, RTE guide, and officially being on your holidays from school/wprk.

Jaysus I was only taking the piss about the RTÉ guide. Do people actually love it that much?

Fizman

faceman wrote: »

What about you lot?

When Santa climbs off your mum.

Its ridiculous, he can't get enough.:pac:

Turd Ferguson

For me its dressing up in a Santa outfit and stealing children...ah I Christmas

slipss

Fizman wrote: »

When Santa climbs off your mum.

Its ridiculous, he can't get enough.:pac:

Can't get enough?? Ahh now c'mon man, fair enough he has a big sack, but he only comes once a year.

Fizman

Turd Ferguson wrote: »

For me its dressing up in a Santa outfit and stealing children...ah I Christmas

Are you the same Santa who refuses to climb off Facemans mum? If so, can I have your cardio regime?

When he is finished, she is left panting like a three-legged rhino running in the desert. Uphill.



Back on topic, christmas really starts for me when I get my hols. Lounging around for days on end doing nothin but eating bread-crumb stuffing!! Mmmmmm

flanzer

The Christmas' Guinness ad is the new Budweiser and Coca Cola ad for me.....It's class and shows Dublin as it should be on Christmas Day. That the start of Christmas for me

BTW Where did the 'Penny's, gotta a whole lot of things for Christmas, gotta lot for the family' ad go to? I miss that

Danbo!

javaboy wrote: »

The publication of the Christmas RTÉ guide.

haha, In the shop I used to work in, as soon as this would be on the shelf, all you'd hear from the aul wans was "ah jaysus, I never buy dis, but shor woulden be chrissmess wirrout i' ". So many people base their christmas around Derek Mooney's ugly head being published on the cover of a magazine.

For me its getting absolutely bladdered on christmas eve in the local.

Doc

When I get off the airplane back in Dublin that’s when Christmas will start for me and I can not wait!

sdanseo

For me its when you start to see Christmas trees etc on sale and the stalls going up on Henry Street.

Dudess

javaboy wrote: »

Jaysus I was only taking the piss about the RTÉ guide. Do people actually love it that much?

You betcha.

noblestee wrote: »

haha, In the shop I used to work in, as soon as this would be on the shelf, all you'd hear from the aul wans was "ah jaysus, I never buy dis, but shor woulden be chrissmess wirrout i' ".

Those auld ones are bang on the money.

When I go back to my family home and my mam feeds me to bursting point.

javaboy

Deleted User wrote: »

When I go back to my family home and my mam feeds me to bursting point.

She's brought me to bursting point once or twice.



Ugh I feel dirty. I know I didn't actually use the words Yo** M* but I'm still ashamed.

javaboy

javaboy wrote: »

She's brought me to bursting point once or twice.



Ugh I feel dirty. I know I didn't actually use the words Yo** M* but I'm still ashamed.

Yeah well.

Yore Ma's yore Da!

deleriumtremens

Hearing the official peter griffen christmas collection on the radio!

stovelid

The sight of the first tasteless balcony decorations on my estate. Thing is though, I resent officially starting my Christmas in September.

jane86

The Guinness Christmas Ad

My mother making the Christmas pudding and the smell from it

loyatemu

"Penny's! Got a whole lot of things for Christmas..." (or Primark... if watching UTV).

they don't seem to run the ad anymore though - modern equivalent is "Buy a bear, show you care, hurrah for Santa Bear" which torments me the whole month of December.

without ad jingles, it appears my life has no meaning...

Turd Ferguson

Fizman wrote: »

Are you the same Santa who refuses to climb off Facemans mum? If so, can I have your cardio regime?

Yes the very same. And my cardio regime is pretty basic. I fly over to Ethiopia with a suit made entirely of bread and oats. I generally get chased through the desert for days on end. Does wonders for my quads also.

RubyXI

The last day of work, or school or college back in the day.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Terry wrote: »

Waking up on the 25th.
It ends for me when I go to bed that night.

Ditto

Bottle_of_Smoke

Hearing Fairytale of New York whilst in a pub.

abi2007

phi3 wrote: »

The last day of work, or school or college back in the day.

me too! roll on the 23rd...

caesar

It's has been mentioned already but here it is.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWfdbYbDVzg

Aside form that, this year is a bit different for me.....it wont really feel like Christmas for me until I get off the plane in 10 days.

ciano1

Snow

Christmas hasnt existed for me for years

Aurora Borealis

For me it's putting up my Christmas Tree which I will indulge in taking my time doing this coming Saturday. My Mum gives me a christmas cake too which is definite milestone in my Advent Calendar... Yum!!

Stabshauptmann

SoWatchaWant wrote: »

Mince pies, RTE guide, and officially being on your holidays from school/wprk.

Me thinks you are in school, if you get more than 2 days off at christmas in the working world consider yourself lucky

4zn76tysfajdxp

Watching Die Hard on christmas eve.

Dudess wrote: »

Oh god, that ad. I find it as painful to listen to as Diana from X Factor. It's one of those "story" ads, narrated by a middle-aged guy pining about how toys today are a bit "space age" for him but then he spots just a simple train set and it takes him back to when he was a lad and got a train set for Christmas.
Supremely sanctimonious and terribly acted... imo.

So...you don't want a train set for christmas?

javaboy wrote: »

"Oh and mam, can I bring a friend?"

I'd say there was plenty of teabagging going on in that house that weekend.

Aurora Borealis

O yeah meant to add watching "The Snowman" and hearing Christmas Songs on the radio. They certainly lighten the mood at work. Doubt I'll ever lose my childlike fascination with this time of year. I love it!

FlutterinBantam

When I check my dump and discover raisins and sultanas....Yaaaaaay Christmas Pud.

Zangetsu

First pint of guinness (seasonal for me).

SpookyDoll

The chloroform soaked rag over me face :eek:

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

When the story lines in Corrie and Eastenders that are all going to come to a head on Christmas day get into full swing.

That coke ad.

Hearing John and Yoko "war is over" for the first time on the radio. It doesn't tend to get played until well into December

Dudess

Usually from today, as it's his anniversary. Heard it for the first time this year today.

Kairi Loud Thermodynamics wrote: »

So...you don't want a train set for christmas?

Never said I didn't!

Finishing my exams on the 17th of December.

Saibh

usually the week leading up to christmas - in general everyone seems to be in good humour - looking forward to time off work, eat loads, watch some good films

emeraldstar

loyatemu wrote: »

"Penny's! Got a whole lot of things for Christmas..." (or Primark... if watching UTV).

they don't seem to run the ad anymore though -

I actually heard it on the radio yesterday. Never liked that ad though.