As someone who has worked professionally within a range of church structures, the truth is some people do not celebrate Christmas until Advent is over which is in effect Christmas Eve. Many of them carry on celebrating Christmas albeit with less fervour until 2nd February. Others would begin their celebrations at or around the beginning of Advent, which this year begins on 3rd December, (which is later than in some years). Thus if we took the widest range of dates from people who are attuned to various traditions then a 2 month window seems long enough. However retailers are less limited in their thinking and according to a friend of mine, Kathy who often reads this blog, a department store here in Sunny Brighton has already opened up its Christmas display at the rear of the shop. One of her friends commented that a window display was set up (I am not sure if it is in the same shop) on Wednesday, so 23rd August. So Christmas is on its way, never mind Autumn which is one of my favourite seasons. If we take the 4 months to Christmas day and then the 6 week period after it, we have two seasons of the year. A 5.2 month Christmas season which has just begun, and then the other 6.8 months which we have yet to name. Nevertheless Happy Christmas.

I am on holiday for the next few days so instead of blogging (apart from on Monday to coincide with my Argus column) I will be posting a series of Christmas images until I return to my normal routine on Monday 4th September.