Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat (as they say). Time to kick back, grab a mince pie and take a look at our selection of the best bits of the festive season so far.
A Christmas to Savour
It feels like we’ve waited a long time to celebrate Christmas properly and we can’t wait to share Christmas dinner with all the family – crackers, paper hats and all. Sainsbury’s have captured what we’re all hoping for in this year's ad, saying "It’s been a long time coming so let's savour every heart warming, present opening, roast potato munching moment of it."
Metro's 12 Days of Kindness
An advent calendar with a difference – rather than a daily dose of chocolate or booze, Metro are inspiring readers with a random act of kindness each day. So far they’ve included a phone call to someone you miss, donating goods to charity and a handwritten letter for a loved one. You can join in here.
Amazon's Top Toy Predictions
Amazon have announced their top 10 toys for Christmas 2021. The list features a 3ft high Batcave (that’ll look lovely in the dining room), Squeakee the Balloon Dino (no, I don’t know either) and a pink turtle that goes to the toilet. Looks like we’re spoilt for choice! There’s also some nice picks from old favourites LEGO and Polly Pocket.
Strictly's Glitterball is Lifted
Whether you’re a fan or not, you’ve got to admit that this season's final was pretty awesome with Strictly’s first ever deaf contestant Rose lifting the coveted glitterball, closely followed by same sex couple John and Johannes. Having repeatedly said that she wanted to raise awareness of the deaf community and make them proud, Rose had already won everyone over with her iconic ‘Couple’s Choice’ routine. Judges praised both finalists as having ‘groundbreaking roles' in the series.
Liverpool's Santa Dash
For the first time since the pandemic, Liverpool’s Santa Dash was back up and running with around 5,000 participants taking to the streets of Liverpool. Four year old Betty opened the race, which is held to raise money for the Alder Hey hospital. Betty's mother Karen said participants were helping to "make it possible for families to be together and in the safest of hands".
Nana Baubles
Welsh Grandmother Sylvia Pope (aka Nana Baubles) has broken a festive record with the world's largest collection of Christmas baubles. Proud owner of 1,760 festive ornaments, Sylvia is already recognised by the Guinness World Records but hopes to increase her total to 2,000 by the end of the year. Her favourites include a decorative lobster, a hamburger and various Disney characters, alongside sentimental baubles made by her family and friends.
Ebanana Scrooge
Aldi have turned Ebenezer Scrooge into a banana. That’s all.
Sausage Dog Stroll
The fifth annual Sausage Dog stroll has taken place in Hyde Park with canines (and their owners) donning their best festive attire - think Christmas jumpers and festive fancy dress for doggos. If Boris cancels Christmas again and you need some cheering up, we recommend these photos.
Save our Sprouts
Not only have they created an animated Ebanana Scrooge, Aldi are pulling out all the stops this year and have partnered with Paul McKenna to run a mass hypnosis, with the aim of converting the nation’s sprout-haters to sprout-lovers. The ‘Save Our Sprouts’ trance is available on Aldi's YouTube channel. And if that isn’t enough, they’ve also provided a range of inspiring recipes to encourage us to make the most of those wonderful little vegetables, including sprout cupcakes, sprouts in the hole and bloody sprout-Mary. Lovely.
The Nation's Favourite Carol
In what we imagine was a tense and heated debate, Classic FM have provided a definitive answer to “what are the best carols ever written?” Topping the chart at number 1: O Holy Night, written by Placide Cappeau in 1847. Silent Night comes in at a solid 2nd place, with In the Bleak Mid-Winter claiming 3rd and 4th places, having perhaps been made more popular over recent years after featuring in Peaky Blinders. You can have a listen to their playlist on Global Player.
From everyone at Turbine Creative, we wish you a very Merry Christmas. We hope you have a wonderful time celebrating with the ones you love, and wish you all the best for the year ahead.