Four reasons to get Christmassy earlier this year

It’s traditional to pop Christmas trees and decorations up on the first day of Advent, December 1, and embracing full-on Christmas mode as soon as possible is a great mood booster, according to research.

So, here are some of the reasons why you should deck the halls sooner this year.

Boosting calm

Keeping calm during the festive period can be tricky. By planning ahead, you can take on tasks in advance and tick them off your ‘to do’ list. This will also allow you time to slow down, head out for some winter walks and try out some relaxing crafting or even give our free biscotti recipe a go, if you enjoy cooking.

Getting organised

Getting ahead of the game will take the stress out of the festivities. Buying more sustainably, can also positively boost your mood. Shopping locally is also a terrific way of reducing your Christmas carbon footprint but also means your supporting a business in your community, which is good for everyone. This year your can order your Christmas cakes, yule logs and mince pies from us is advance and arrange to collect them. Pre-order here.

Fostering festive feelings

Getting into the festive spirit earlier than normal can give your mental health a real boost says a 2022 study.

University of Bristol social sciences lecturer, Dr Nilufar Ahmed, told The Conversation: “Research shows that Christmas rituals specifically can play a role in creating a sense of wellbeing and satisfaction. They evoke memories of other times in our lives when we have gone through the same rituals. Every time we put up Christmas decorations, our brain fires up our stored-up festive feelings.”

Creating community

According to research by Science Direct, those who decorate their homes with Christmas lights early are viewed as more ‘friendly and sociable.’ Researchers also found that decorated houses were seen as more ‘open’ or ‘accessible’, with recipients saying that in a street or neighbourhood it created a sense of community spirit among residents.