4 Ways To Kick Off Your Christmas Spirit

I have insulted all of the Christmas ads, defended?(and appointed myself champion of) retail staff, scoffed at Black Friday, questioned whether Christmas now is about the worship of Christ or the worship of products, and generally stayed away from all Christmassyness. However, today is the first of December and there is no more avoiding it. We are hours into December, you are late to the spirit of premature holiday celebrations. Have you heard Mariah Carey yet?

Whether you, too, are a Christmas Scrooge, or you’re one of those people who has watched all of the Christmas movies as soon as Hallowe’en ended and have Snapchatted your excitement for the return of Christmas FM, here are five ways to either kick off or inflate your *Christmas Spirit*.

BUY AN ADVENT CALENDAR

I’m on board for any holiday that involves lots of chocolate. Somebody decided that for Christmas we should get to eat a little bit of chocolate every single morning for the month of December and that person is a gentleman and a scholar and I’d like to buy them a drink. What says Christmas more than steadily gaining weight and eating your recommended daily calories for breakfast? You can’t go wrong with a Cadbury’s Advent Calendar naturally, and the Cadbury’s Cadvent Convoy truck will arrive at a different location every day for the next 24 days to spread festive cheer with a magical Cadbury grotto and a host of entertainment, performances and treats. Check out if they’re coming to your hometown at www.cadburycadvent.ie. Also, if you are very passionate about advent calendars and cheese – stay with me here – you can sign up now?to eat cheese every day next December with the first ever cheese advent calendar. What a time to be alive.

LISTEN TO THE CAROL OF THE BELLS

Orchestras are class, no? Come on, they are. Especially when combined with a choir. Carol Of The Bells is an absolute choon?and if this video of The Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing it doesn’t put you in the Christmas spirit, nothing will. What’s that? It’s still too soon for Christmas songs? I’m sorry, I can’t hear you over the sound of jingle bells and Mormons.

READ MORE: What’s Coming This December On Netflix

GO FOR A HOT PORT

The Shelbourne Hotel gave us three excellent Christmas cocktail recipes?(pictured above) but does it get more festive than a hot port in front of a fire? It’s the Pumpkin Spice Latte of the Christmas period. Just like the arrival of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, it’s arrival has less to do with the time of year and more to do with the commodification of the seasons, but we’ll leave hot port off because it’s delicious.

CHECK OUT A CHRISTMAS POP-UP

We’ve picked some of our favourite Irish pop-ups and markets from local businesses to make gift shopping a breeze here, but don’t miss the Etsy Dublin Friends & Family Market at The Chocolate Factory on the 8th of December, a great?opportunity to support talented local makers under the same roof and enjoy some mulled wine and mince pies too.

READ MORE: I Was Forced To Watch All The Christmas Ads Of 2016

May your days be merry and bright!