WELL, YESTERDAY THE John Lewis Christmas ad was released.
To many, this means that Christmas has officially begun. It’s time to stock up on comfy pyjamas, get the fire going and stuff your face with mince pies while blasting Christmas FM and relax.
If only.
In reality, it’s time to garner the patience to get a packed bus into town, endure hours of frustration walking around busy shopping areas and feel intermittent bouts of sheer panic as you realise that you forgot something else on your shopping list.
On top of all of the effort it takes to buy gifts for your family, friends and loved ones, many people also have to worry about buying presents for people they don’t even like, out of politeness or – even worse – obligation because you pulled their name from the hat for this year’s Secret Santa.
We’re talking about your cousins, nieces and nephews that you aren’t particularly fond of, or that weird person in your office who might secretly be keeping a pet cat in the drawer under their desk.
You don’t know anything about them. They don’t appear to have any interests or hobbies. Is it acceptable to give them that musky bath-set you received last year, from someone who felt the exact same way about you as you feel about this person? At least with Secret Santa, you’re protected by anonymity.
What if it wasn’t a Secret Santa gift? Would you have the guts to regift someone a present and watch them unwrap it in front of your very eyes? Or are you just setting yourself up for trouble? There’s always a chance that you’re regifting a gift that you had received from this person and forgotten about.
