Traditionally, and still in the Orthodox tradition, Advent is to Christmas what Lent is to Easter, and lasts the same length of time: about six weeks. The Western Churches, over time, reduced Advent to the four Sundays before Christmas, and the Commercial World begins it, every year, on the 1^st December.

My Christmas Elf would probably have begun the Christmas Season at the beginning of November, or earlier, if I’d allow it. But, while I draw the line at setting up decorations, I don’t object to getting started on Christmas baking (the Anglican “Stir-Up Sunday” for cake and pudding approaches), nor, now the evenings are so much darker, to watching the sparkly Christmas films, however silly and ridiculous.

Because, if you really want something escapist to watch, there’s nothing better than the candyfloss that is a Hallmark Christmas movie.

Don’t get me wrong, I also enjoy the other Christmas movies – The Muppets’ Christmas Carol, Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, The Hogfather, for example – but, really, to accompany the hot chocolate and gingerbread, the feel-good fluffiness of, for example, A Royal Christmas Engagement just can’t be beat. Even as you snort at the name of Candashire for a tiny European kingdom only known for chocolate and whisky. And royals, in a Disney castle perched high on a mountain (probably Neuschwanstein).

You don’t have to think, you just have to soak up the festive spirit of Glad Tidings to All, even the workaholic grouch with no time for the blind-dates or obvious set-ups from well-meaning friends. Or the city-to-the-core character learning to love the small town to which he or she has been unexpectedly transplanted for the season and gets dragged kicking and screaming to all the traditional festive activities of the town.

And then watch as, obviously, their icy hearts are melted, won over by the basic human niceness of a tall, dark, handsome stranger, who just keeps crossing their path. Or thrown across it, depending on the desperation of the friend setting them up.

In the same way that most religions have a Light Festival during the dark, cold months of the year, these silly films lift the spirit, giving hope and optimism when it’s cold and dark outside. I suspect that’s also why Bridgerton took off in the way it did, landing mid-winter between lockdowns when so many of us were otherwise fed-up.

A bit of fun and frivolity. Just what everyone needs from time to time.