Yes, it’s that time of year again - when the contagious and pervasive spirit of Christmas descends upon us. Symptoms include singing along to jolly songs on the radio, having a wardrobe that consists of 50% scarves and gearing up for the physically-tasking feat that is Christmas shopping.
See ELLE’s top 6 ways that you know it’s Christmas.
Gingerbread, Toffee Nut, Eggnog, Honey and Almond – it’s back, and it’s been too long. As the long evenings settle in, it’s not unnatural to become fully diet-dependent on a seasoned latte or hot chocolate. Oh, and we usually throw a muffin in for good measure.
What comes with winter? A regular blanket of darkness to clumsily navigate through. But to the rescue? Christmas lights and displays, and lots of them. Dazzling every street are LED reindeers, baubles, and snowflakes – and we couldn’t be happier. Last night, Taylor Swift performed her new album before turning on Westfield London’s Christmas lights on - and there’s plenty more of where that came from.
It might seem a little premature, but you can’t dispute the excited feeling that comes when you frequent the fourth floor in Liberty department store. What’s on offer? Unlimited glass baubles, felt animals galore, and enough miniature Christmas cracker sets to make any Scrooge merry.
Every year around this time, picturesque locations in London are transformed into ice rinks for revellers to practice their spins, backwards skates and alternatively, a place to just clutch onto the barriers for dear life. The National History Museum, Somerset House, Hyde Park – the possibilities are endless.
Team ELLE is no stranger to the good old Christmas jumper. Chunky, goofy, and unreservedly appropriate for the season’s chill, the more pom-poms and knitted winter montages, the better.
This is not just a mince pie. This is an Marks & Spencer's mince pie... And you definitely know it's Christmas when these are stacked sky-high in the cupboard to enjoy with a goblet (yes, a whole goblet) of mulled wine. We have our eye on the cranberry and clementine variety this year.
Oh, and one last thing – you know it’s Christmas when Wham! comes on the radio, and it almost feels natural…
