5 Signs Christmas Is Almost Here
Ho ho ho
BY: JOLENE TEO
(Not) An Art Hoe
Memes by Singaplex
It’s finally December and everyone’s favourite holiday is almost upon us! Who doesn’t love presents, wintery vibes (even though it doesn’t snow in Singapore) and a day off? As we start counting down to the day we can open our gifts, we start to notice all these signs that Christmas is almost here that hypes us up even more for the year-end holiday.
1. Christmas decorations
The Christmas light-up at Orchard Road with participating malls setting up beautiful Christmas trees and shining bright lights hanging above the road is a yearly attraction for many shoppers. Not only is it beautiful and signify Christmas is here, it also makes for a great date idea or yearly family tradition. We stan shopping malls that put up Christmas decorations put up a respectable amount of time after Deepavali and not before.
Image via Christmas Wonderland
It is also the time of the year again where we start seeing social media posts of pictures taken at Gardens By The Bay’s Christmas Wonderland. This is for those who want to enjoy Christmas decorations to the max, with super Instagrammable backdrops. Pictures can be taken at the domes in the daytime with festive decorations amidst the plants and flowers, or at night when the entire area lights up with huge displays and even a special themed light show.
2. Festive Starbucks menu
Image via Starbucks and Great Deals Singapore
Nothing smells more like Christmas than a warm cup of toffee nut latte in my humble opinion. You know it is near the season when Starbucks and Coffee Bean start rolling our their Christmas menu, ranging from peppermint flavoured drinks to log cakes and even themed mugs. What better way to ease into the festive spirit than a warm cuppa on a rainy day?
3. Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé starts showing up on your playlist
Mariah Carey rakes in millions every Christmas in royalties with her hit song “All I Want For Christmas Is You” that plays everywhere, every year the moment it hits December. The song was written in 1994 in under 15 minutes and topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2019, 25 years after its initial release. When you start hearing it in shopping malls or on your Spotify playlist, you know Christmas is around the corner.
Another popular choice for a seasonal playlist is Canadian singer Michael Bublé, what better way to chill while listening to his soothing jazzy voice? His album “Christmas” which was released in 2011 still remains one of my absolute favourites to listen to on loop every December, and there are some who feel very strongly about his music:
Google reviews about Michael Buble’s album “Christmas”
4. Panic gift buying
Whether it is for Secret Santa with close friends or a gift exchange with colleagues, buying and wrapping presents is part of preparing for Christmas. The panic starts when you have either been too busy to get a gift or you have no idea what to get. That last-minute shopping frenzy at the shopping malls trying to find that specific gift for a friend or a generic bath soap set for the colleague you barely say hi to in the office is part of the thrill and excitement of Christmas. Not to mention there are some pretty good year-end sales or Christmas bundles that are worth purchasing for yourself as a treat to boot.
5. Cringey Christmas events
Who doesn’t love celebrating Christmas in an over-the-top all-out fashion? Whether it is participating in cringey lucky draws at malls, poorly planned office parties or bringing your kids to see fake snow in our tropical climate? Much as these events might seem lame, they are a clear sign Christmas is coming and sometimes it doesn’t hurt to let the child-like excitement out in us once in a while.
With all these signs Christmas is almost here, it is hard to not be hyped up and get into the holiday spirit. With the rough two years we have had with the pandemic, we all deserve a good break and hope next year will be better. Singaplex wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
JOLENE TEO | (Not) An Art Hoe
Jolene Teo is a contemporary and modern art enthusiast, writer, curator, and cultural researcher. She enjoys exploring the areas inbetween art, design, critical narratives, pop culture, and the cult of collecting. She is socially awkward but will talk to you about plants, art, anime, and life. Some part of her still wishes she can become an artist one day. Send her memes @joteo_
