Debenhams reports snow and recession create earliest ever start for Christmas
Second largest UK department store chain has reported the earliest start to the festive season ever, with Christmas decorations going up in homes all over Britain already
Early snow and cold weather combined with the gloom of recession has encouraged thousands of people to reach for the tinsel and fairy lights to brighten up their days, sales figures have revealed.
Sales figures for Christmas decorations started soaring at Debenhams on November 22, over two weeks earlier than normal. However, the trend is bound to outrage traditionalists who believe that Christmas is already spreading well beyond the traditional twelve day celebration period.
Debenhams spokeswoman Ruth Attridge said,”It’s clear that thousands of people are putting more faith in Santa Claus than the IMF or politicians to bring joy into their lives this year. The bad weather has made it feel like Christmas, and so everyone is saying, ‘Forget tradition, and seasonal dates. It’s been a tough year, we need a break, so let’s get stuck in.”
The news means that Christmas celebrations in the UK are set to last for an incredible six weeks this year.
Already Debenhams’ sales of tinsel, Christmas trees, fairy lights and other decorations have reached a record high. Demand for Christmas trees has leapt by 1,658 per cent, crackers are up 2,374 per cent, Christmas stockings by 190 per cent, cards and gift wrap by 412 per cent and table decorations by 980 per cent.
Until now, sales of Christmas decorations have followed a totally predictable path, year in year out, with demand starting at the start of the second week in December.
