When does it start for you?

When I was teaching, I had a huge carol concert to organise in the local priory, so it started in September, more or less. With all the Christmassy stuff going on at school, I felt that Christmas was over when we broke up. The Carol Concert was the highlight, and even though it was a very stressful event to organise, the results always moved me to Christmassy tears, and I felt that THIS was Christmas. Everything else was an extra.

Nowadays.......I think I start to feel the magic when DH and I put on Christmas carols/music and wrap the presents.

This year ours starts on the 23rd as my daughter, who works for the NHS, is working all over Christmas. Christmas lunch/dinner (see a previous thread) with DD, DS, DDiL and DGC, cooked by my DH. Then, 2 lovely quiet days with the two of us before we go to DS & DDiL for Boxing Day.

Christmas started today for me - watched Elf followed by Its a Wonderful Life. Christmas has started ?

tonight for me. Just waiting for son and his wife. and gd's to arrive and we'll decorate the tree, and put as much tinsel as we can all over the downstairs of my house! Have all my children( 3 of them) and their other halves and my 6 gandchildren for lunch tomorrow, plus daughter's puppy - our annual pre-xmas get-together - then they are free to go to in-laws or my ex husband on xmas day! I then cook xmas lunch on the day for my husband's family.........no peace for the wicked!

This year it starts today! I'm having Xmas dinner with my dd & dgd complete with presents tomorrow! I'm going home for Xmas this year so santa is coming early to me! I'm very excited ?

It will start for me on 21st when we travel to Cornwall to spend Christmas with both daughters, their partners and the grandchildren. We stay at the local Premier Inn and spend time with both families. DD1 is doing christmas day for everyone. It's also my birthday so they do not allow me to get involved in any cooking or clearing up so I get to spend all day playing with the DGSs and this year also DGD who will be 1 on New Years Day. Can't wait.

I have a sister for whom it starts in January ?

When the Christmas tree is lit up on a local tower, about two weeks before Christmas. (It's not really a tree, but a tree shape made of metal - when the lights go on, then it's really Christmas).

It doesn’t start properly for me until the boy from King’s College Choir sings the opening solo verse of Once in Royal David’s City, on Christmas Eve.

Really starts for me walking to First Mass on Christmas morning - perfect no matter what the weather!

that's when it starts for me too glass of sherry (never drink it at any other time) and first mince pie of the season in hand

After Christmas when I can relax and no longer feel pressured by all this supposed Christmas merriment.

I think Christmas starts around the end of November when I start buying Christmas presents and extra food bits.
This year proper Christmas will start on Friday when the DGDs will arrive with my youngest DS. They will be staying until after Christmas. DS2 will also be here on Christmas Eve and Day with partner.