Data from supermarkets, music charts, and local events confirms what many have long suspected: Christmas is indeed arriving earlier each year. A Guardian analysis reveals that Christmas-themed merchandise, songs, and decorations are appearing earlier in the season, a phenomenon known as 'Christmas creep'.
In the UK music charts, Christmas songs are entering the Top 40 earlier than in previous decades. Last year, Wham's 'Last Christmas' and Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' entered the charts on 10 November, marking the second earliest appearance since the 1960s. In the 1990s, Christmas songs typically reached the Top 40 only in the last two weeks of the year.
Supermarket data shows that mince pies and Christmas puddings are hitting shelves in summer. This year, a six-pack of Mr Kipling mince pies launched on 7 September, earlier than 9 September in 2023 and 28 September in 2020. A Mr Kipling spokesperson noted that consumers are happy to start stocking up on Christmas goodies in September, driving demand.
Christmas markets are also opening earlier. Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market opens on 1 November this year, continuing a trend since at least 2010. Exeter's market opens on 15 November, compared to 23 November in 2012, and Manchester's opens on 8 November, up from 18 November in 2010. However, some events like the Oxford Street Christmas light switch-on and the John Lewis advert have resisted the creep, with dates fluctuating over the past decade.
