Social Newsdesk reporter Danielle Kate Wroe opened a 54-day advent calendar from Celebrations and was floored by its contents, as new data shows many Brits want a longer run-up to Christmas.
A Longer Festive Countdown
Celebrations is encouraging people to make the most of the countdown in 2026 by offering an advent calendar with a whopping 54 days of doors. The calendar starts counting down from November 1, which feels correct to many festive fans.
The move comes as 43% of Brits, or four in 10, say the traditional 24-day Christmas countdown is too short and they want more time before the big day. Additionally, 17% of Brits start feeling festive as soon as Halloween is over, while 26% are already playing Christmas songs this month.
Early Festive Habits
Almost one in five Brits (18%) start their Christmas shopping in September, and 23% begin putting up decorations in November. Some even start gift hunting before autumn has finished.
Wroe described opening the calendar during November as feeling a little cheeky, but noted that when so many things in the world are bleak, people need to take little joys as they come. She has not yet reached the final door, but said there appears to be a seriously juicy treat waiting for Christmas Eve, with her and her fiancé guessing it might be a mini box of Celebrations.
Signs You're a Christmasmaxxer
Celebrations has also released a top 15 list of signs that someone is a Christmasmaxxer, based on survey data. The most common signs include going to Christmas markets (28%), owning a Christmas jumper (28%), and playing Christmas songs in November (26%).
Other signs include starting Christmas films on 1st November (22%), cooking Christmas lunch from scratch (21%), buying new decorations every year (21%), and putting the tree up in November (20%). The full list also covers festive PJs (20%), shopping for gifts throughout the year (18%), buying Christmas sandwiches as soon as they arrive (16%), taking kids to Santa's grotto (11%), making festive drinks like mulled wine (10%), owning Christmas bedding (9%), decorating an office desk in December (9%), and making colleagues listen to Christmas songs (6%).
