It starts few days after everybody is recovering from their summer holidays.  The sight of Christmas pudding being sold at supermarkets by mid September is too much for me.  It is the overwhelming reminder of the spending waiting ahead.  It feels like every year, it arrives earlier and earlier loosing its appeal on the way.  By the end of October, every shop in the High Street has a full display of Christmas decorations.  Around this time too, the clocks go back one hour and the days are shorter and shorter...another shock for people like me, coming from sunny places.  This period of the year can be very depressing or very enchanting.  Depressing, because the light fades around 3 pm during the shortest days and enchanting, because the candles and lights inside homes make the whole atmosphere cosy and a perfect setting for the Christmas image.  The temperature starts to drop too but never too much to have the so called White Christmas.  This is something strange to me since I still have in my heart the portrayal of the typical London alley covered in snow and people skating in the Thames.  But ten years or so later, I have better seen snow in April than on a Christmas Day and the only places to skate are artificial. 

By mid November, towns and cities all over the country start to cover with beautiful decorations and every High Street switches on their Christmas lights.  But I have to say never like for example, in the US.  The British are more reserved and less outrageous with their decorations than in North America with its amazing displays of exuberance, abundance and colour.  The Brits consider this cheesy (tasteless) and plenty of people, a terrible waste of energy.  I can see their point too but I can't help to feel nostalgic when I think that the fun is over.  And even last year, political correctness saw many working places prohibiting Christmas decorations for fear they may offend non-Christians, being Britain a multi cultural society (which personally I see it as even less fun). 

When December arrives, the streets are a chaos and vivid example of a commercial world.  London in particular is a big mess with people moving everywhere in frenzy shopping and travellers leaving and arriving for the festivities.  Bus, trains stations and airports are extremely busy carrying people from all over the globe.  No meaning traditions, religious connotations or the spirit of the season in sight.  It is instead more focused in consumerism. Of course we in Mexico shop and drink too, but not with the enthusiasm as the British.  I guess Mexicans are more interested in partying and socialising but all Christmas season goes hand in hand with religious connotations that complement the atmosphere.

One week to go and here the festivities are in full swing: plenty of cards coming through your letter box, more than usual drunk people on the trains, non stop shopping for presents and other goodies in stores where you cannot escape listening to all the Christmas classics.  And just few days before...the panic food shopping with supermarkets opening even 24 hours! 

Here is the big day itself.  In Mexico, we celebrate with friends and family on Christmas Eve, on the 24^th but in Britain it is on the 25th with lunch or dinner.  Family and friends prepare to spend time indoors for two days since the 26^th of December is a holiday too in England, called Boxing Day.  It is two days of opening gifts, watching the never ending display of Christmas TV specials and eating, because nothing happens outside since it is cold, dark and calm...very quiet indeed.  That is why my compatriots and I run away during this time of the year at first opportunity. 

And what is going on after the big day is gone?  More shopping!  Yes, it is the Christmas sales with incredible discounts in all unsold stock with queues (and sometimes even stampedes) at 6 am to grab the best bits.  This is a concept never seen in Mexico: the famous sales that run up until January.  

My British favourites for the season? Well, I have to say that I love ex changing Christmas cards (in my country this costume is virtually non existent), the delicious mulled wine and mince pies (which we don't have either) and of course, the price cuts! All of which I have to enjoy this year, since no Mexican Christmas for me but instead I will have to take pleasure in all I just described and that Britain has to offer...Although I still keep my fingers crossed for a White Christmas!  

Finally, I cannot finish this blog (the last one for this year) without a Christmas though for you: I would like to wish all readers a merry season wherever you are and a better 2009.  All the best.