• By Annabel Sharp and Toby Hudson

Thousands of people visited Manchester’s annual Christmas Markets over the weekend – with many more expected over the next few weeks. But is it too soon for the markets to start on November 6? Annabel Sharp argues it is, while Toby Hudson insists there’s nothing wrong with starting the festive countdown so soon…

YES, writes Annabel Sharp

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have seen bits of Christmas tat creeping up on us in shops since, well, I think August. My memory is a haze clouded by artificial snow and cinnamon spice and all things nice candle smoke. 

It has been within us, beneath us, beside us, for almost half a year, against our will. 

So I find it hard to maintain any sort of momentum for being excited about Christmas, and all the commercial tat that comes with it, especially in November. 

It’s like people think at the stroke of midnight on November 1, Mariah Carey will magically defrost singing, All I Want for Christmas Is You, with as much energy as it takes to power Elon Musk’s flying car.

At least let her warm up, people!

I feel a bit like Cinderella, when her carriage made from a fabulous pumpkin, immediately turned into something much more disappointing as the clock struck 12.

Except the pumpkins, in this case, are the characterful glowing pumpkins that were around Manchester for Halloween.

At midnight on November 1, they turned into some underwhelming stalls of overpriced hot chocolate, repetitive music and giant inflatable… things.

That are somehow dead behind the eyes. They are watching you. 

Watching and waiting for you to give in and buy an overpriced hot chocolate in November. 

Maybe even let out a little dance to poor Mariah who is still half asleep. 

Well, I won’t. 

I’ll be rebelliously playing Stevie Nicks, Madonna and maybe even a bit of James Blunt, seen as he reckons even The Three Wise Men are in their semi by the sea instead of rocking up to the nativity nowadays. 

Probably because Christmas isn’t anything to do with Jesus anymore, it’s just a marketing scheme disguised as fun. But I digress…

So, in the words of Mr Blunt “gotta ask yourself the question, where are you now?”

Because now is November, and I hope you are nowhere near any Christmas market’s tat, overpriced hot chocolate or inflatable things.

At least wait until December, when the 24-day countdown to Christmas actually begins.

NO, writes Toby Hudson

It’s the start of November which can mean many things to many people: the leaves turning red, the cold setting in… and the Christmas Market starting in Manchester. 

Whiles some turn their heads at the idea of a Christmas market starting in early November, I see it as a way of spreading the festive fun as early as possible (which can only be a good thing, right?).

If Christmas is about spreading love and festivity there shouldn’t be a time limit for when you should be allowed to do it. 

The Manchester Christmas Market, which started on Friday November 6, brings so many benefits to the city.

Not only is it great for the local economy, attracting tens of thousands of shoppers all ready to spend money on festive goods, it also brings a sense of community to all those that attend. Whether you’re having a Christmas dinner with your family or going ice skating with your partner, a sense of connection and warmth is something we all need. 

There should be no constraints on people coming together, no start date on when to feel festive. The Manchester Christmas Market provides the perfect location for these feelings to come to fruition.

So whether you’re looking for a warm glass of mould wine or a new Christmas jumper to add to your collection (I know I am), The Manchester Christmas Market is here for you to indulge yourself in, who cares if its November?