12 reasons to quit complaining and jump on the Christmas bandwagon

We’re talking to you, Scrooge.

“Oh, Christmas is starting earlier every yeeeaaaar!” you tell anyone who will listen. For the fifth time this week. ‘It’s too eeaaaaaarrrly!’

Hush up and pay attention. The Christmas spirit is setting up shop and it’s time to accept it – because with just six weeks until Christmas day, you had best dust off your jolly hat and smile.

Here’s why.

1. Get your Christmas shopping done before everyone else – and be smug about it

The sooner you embrace the idea of it being Christmas time, the sooner you can get stuff done. No seriously - imagine what it would be like to get all your Christmas shopping done by the end of November.

You’d have that new hard-to-get item all sorted. Time to think about personal touches. And, most importantly, when your friends and co-workers start worrying about getting it all done, you’ll lean back, beam a smug and contented smile, and say:

“Oh? Mine’s been finished for weeks.”

2. It’s officially state-sponsored

Oh yes, that’s right. You’ve probably noticed streetlights and trees springing into being around towns and cities lately, and Dublin switches them on from Thursday, November 14 at 5.30pm. Cork does the same on November 17 at 6pm.

So it doesn't matter if you think it’s Christmas season or not from then - it will be official.

3. Mince pies

… are the most amazing foodstuff known to man, and can only be eaten during the festive season. So the sooner you admit it’s begun, the sooner you can have the first one.

4. The Coca-Cola ad has started

So it’s Christmas. Those are the rules.

I've seen the Coca-Cola Xmas Ad on telly twice tonight.

So that's it, it's all over, there's no point fighting it any more.

Merry Xmas.

— Alana Benson (@LaniBeno) November 12, 2013

5. Christmas music speeds your work day

Ever have one of those days where everything seems to drag? BAM. Happiest music on earth in your ears. Even the one about starving kids in Africa is cheerful. That shouldn’t be possible.

Christmas FM starts broadcasting this year on November 28, at 8am. Bit late, really.

6. Christmas markets

Ideally, you’d jet off to Paris, or Prague, or – well, anywhere else, really, because Christmas markets with roasted nuts and hot glühwein are pretty great on the continent.

But Dublin will be holding its own brand of Christmas market in the Docklands and another out in Dun Laoghaire, and Cork will have one down near Bishop Lucey Park on Grand Parade.

But, even better, Dublin’s Henry Street will be entering Tobe-a-ler-own season, only €2.

7. Mulled wine

Speaking of glühwein, it is absolutely the best possible solution to Ireland’s miserable rainy winter weather. I mean, it’s red wine (yes), heated (yes!), with spices (hell yes).

But for some unknown reason, it’s strictly a Christmas thing. So get in the bloody mood and follow a video recipe - or just keep an emergency packet from the supermarket in the press.

8. FACT: Halloween ends, Christmas begins

There used to be a gap between Halloween and Christmas of about four weeks. Then Tim Burton came along with his brilliant film The Nightmare Before Christmas, which everyone loved, and connected the two in people’s heads.

So now there's a whole spread of people who watch the film at Halloween and start thinking about Christmas. And another bunch who didn’t watch it then, but figure: hey, it’s practically Christmas now, so…

Thus began the slippery slope.

9. Not-Christmas but Christmas movies

Yes, yes, we all love Miracle on 34th Street and all that, but there’s a whole other breed of family movie that no-one has ever watched outside of the Christmas season.

Like, say, Home Alone, which is only coincidentally at Christmas time, but mostly about torture; or Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which we think only pops into existence once a year.

Also, Die Hard. The best Christmas movie.

10. Tins of Roses / USA biscuits

This is the only time of year it’s acceptable to eat, in one sitting, 1kg of sweets and biscuits. Because, for some completely unknown reason, it’s become and Irish Christmas tradition. And if you get fat, it’s just “holiday weight”. WIN.

Do you even know anyone who buys the USA biscuit tin selection the rest of the year?

11. ‘Tis the most party-ful time of the year

The office Christmas party. The other half’s christmas party. The catch-up with old friends. The 12 pubs. A trip to the let’s-pretend-we’re-New-York ice skating rink. “Just the one” Christmas pint every day of the week.

This is the best social season of the year, even if you don’t like the rest of it. Raise a glass.

12. Kids

Seriously, you might not like the early onset of Christmas - go spend time with a child. As soon as the lights go on and the trees go up, being around excited little kids is just brilliant. It’s like catnip for them.

If nothing else gets you in the festive mood, spend some time with your kids, cousins, nieces or nephews, grandkids – they’ll probably change your mind.

So, stop being like this:

And be a little more like this:

Merry six-weeks-until Christmas.