Whether you're in the Christmas zone yet or not, here are all the important dates you need to know. We've covered the supermarket delivery dates, last post dates, when to shop, and more. To make sure you're organised, get them marked in your diary and circled on your calendar today.
Key Christmas Dates for Your Calendar
2nd November on - City lights
Cities will be holding their Christmas lights switch-ons from 2nd November onwards. Check local press or online for details of your closest switch on events.
21st November - Switch-on Saturday (and Friday)
Most smaller towns and villages will be having their switch on this Friday or Saturday. Although, some are waiting until the next weekend for theirs. Look out for local event listings or search online for details of what's going on near you.
22nd November - Stir-up Sunday
The traditional day to make your Christmas pudding. Will you make your own this year? You could also make your own Christmas cake, or if that seems too much, just batch bake some of these easy mince pies to get in the zone!
29th November - First Sunday of Advent
The first of the four Advent Sundays, and the perfect day to go to church if you've been meaning to all year!
Last Posting Dates for Christmas
Most post offices will be open for longer hours from late November on. Check your 'Something for you' missed delivery card for local details.
Key Christmas Dates for Your Calendar
2nd November on - City lights
Cities will be holding their Christmas lights switch-ons from 2nd November onwards. Check local press or online for details of your closest switch on events.
21st November - Switch-on Saturday (and Friday)
Most smaller towns and villages will be having their switch on this Friday or Saturday. Although, some are waiting until the next weekend for theirs. Look out for local event listings or search online for details of what's going on near you.
22nd November - Stir-up Sunday
The traditional day to make your Christmas pudding. Will you make your own this year? You could also make your own Christmas cake, or if that seems too much, just batch bake some of these easy mince pies to get in the zone!
29th November - First Sunday of Advent
The first of the four Advent Sundays, and the perfect day to go to church if you've been meaning to all year!
Last Posting Dates for Christmas
Most post offices will be open for longer hours from late November on. Check your 'Something for you' missed delivery card for local details.
Here are the last posting dates for different parts of the world:
2nd November - Royal Mail International Economy to Eastern Europe, Greece, Cyprus, USA, Turkey, Malta and Iceland
16th November - Royal Mail International Economy to Western Europe
30th November - Airmail to Operational HM forces overseas
9th December - Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Central and South America, and the Far and Middle East
10th December - Canada, Cyprus and Malta
11th December - Greece, Turkey and Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland)
12th December - Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Poland and USA
16th December - Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland
21st December - last day for 1st class post and Royal Mail Tracked 48
22nd December - last day for Royal Mail Tracked 24
23rd December - last day for Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed
Deliveries and collections will be as normal up to and including Christmas Eve and normal service will resume from Friday 27th December.
Supermarket Christmas Delivery Slots
Lots of delivery slots are open now, but the ones closest to Christmas are booking up fast. Just pop a bottle of Champagne over £25 in your trolley and check out, then you have up to around 24 hours before delivery to amend your order. (You can always remove the Champagne!)
Asda
Christmas slots open on 30th October for Delivery Pass customers, 6th November for everyone else.
Waitrose
Open now!
When to Shop
15th November - Amazon deals week
Having saved Prime Day till October this year, Amazon won't be running their usual deals week. But there are plenty of early Black Friday bargains available on site now.
27th November - Black Friday
This year will be a bumper year as businesses seek to make some Christmas profits.
28th November - Civilised Saturday
Launched by bookshops last year as an antidote to the Black Friday mayhem, there will be events, deals and discounts nationwide, including free bubbly and hand massages.
29th November - Sofa Sunday
30th November - Cyber Monday
Having heard the tills ringing on Friday, the major retailers will be upping the ante further online today, with many amazing deals going live from 00.01am.
2nd November - Royal Mail International Economy to Eastern Europe, Greece, Cyprus, USA, Turkey, Malta and Iceland
16th November - Royal Mail International Economy to Western Europe
30th November - Airmail to Operational HM forces overseas
4th December - Australia and New Zealand
7th December - Airmail to Static HM Forces overseas
9th December - Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Central and South America, and the Far and Middle East
10th December - Canada, Cyprus and Malta
11th December - Greece, Turkey and Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland)
12th December - Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Poland and USA
16th December - Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland
18th December - Ireland, Belgium, France and Luxembourg
Last posting dates within the UK:
18th December - last day for 2nd class post
18th December - last day for 2nd class post
21st December - last day for 1st class post and Royal Mail Tracked 48
22nd December - last day for Royal Mail Tracked 24
23rd December - last day for Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed
Deliveries and collections will be as normal up to and including Christmas Eve and normal service will resume from Friday 27th December.
Don't forget to write to Father Christmas - he'll even send a reply!
Santa Claus / Father Christmas
Santa's Grotto
Reindeerland
XM4 5HQ
Or in Welsh:
Sion Corn
Ogof Sion Corn
Gwlad Y Ceirw
XM4 5HQ
Supermarket Christmas Delivery Slots
Lots of delivery slots are open now, but the ones closest to Christmas are booking up fast. Just pop a bottle of Champagne over £25 in your trolley and check out, then you have up to around 24 hours before delivery to amend your order. (You can always remove the Champagne!)
Asda
Christmas slots open on 30th October for Delivery Pass customers, 6th November for everyone else.
Iceland
You can order up to Christmas Eve for free delivery over £35 but slots will only open up 2 weeks before.
Marks & Spencer
Not available for delivery (yet!), but you can order food online for collection. Get free wine or chocolates if you order before 10th November.
Morrisons
Christmas slots open on 6th November for Delivery Pass customers, 27th November for everyone else.
Ocado
Apparently already sold out!
Sainsbury's
Not confirmed yet, but probably opening up 2-3 weeks before.
Tesco
Slots open on 13th November for Delivery Saver customers; at 7am on 20th November for everyone else. Find out more here.
Marks & Spencer
Not available for delivery (yet!), but you can order food online for collection. Get free wine or chocolates if you order before 10th November.
Morrisons
Christmas slots open on 6th November for Delivery Pass customers, 27th November for everyone else.
Ocado
Apparently already sold out!
Sainsbury's
Not confirmed yet, but probably opening up 2-3 weeks before.
Tesco
Slots open on 13th November for Delivery Saver customers; at 7am on 20th November for everyone else. Find out more here.
Waitrose
Open now!
When to Shop
15th November - Amazon deals week
Having saved Prime Day till October this year, Amazon won't be running their usual deals week. But there are plenty of early Black Friday bargains available on site now.
27th November - Black Friday
This year will be a bumper year as businesses seek to make some Christmas profits.
With all of us shopping online it's going to be a busy day, so get items in your online shopping baskets now and look for those deals to start rolling in.
Our popular Christmas gift guides are a great place to start!
28th November - Civilised Saturday
Launched by bookshops last year as an antidote to the Black Friday mayhem, there will be events, deals and discounts nationwide, including free bubbly and hand massages.
What could be better than browsing a book shop on a chilly autumn day? Not sure if this will happen online this year - well, perhaps without the massages!
29th November - Sofa Sunday
Sofa Sunday will see many of us slumped over laptops, tablets and phones on the sofa, made-for-TV Christmas movies murmuring in the background.
It's the biggest online shopping day of the year, with the most purchases being made 9-11pm. Will you be one of the spenders?
Get your loungewear ready now! (Alternatively, head to the real shops while everyone else is at home!)
30th November - Cyber Monday
Having heard the tills ringing on Friday, the major retailers will be upping the ante further online today, with many amazing deals going live from 00.01am.
Many sites also release new deals every hour, so sign up to your favourite stores' e-mailing lists now, or keep a keen eye on them during the day.
The only problem is many of us have to work, so if you can get online during working hours you'll be at an advantage.
Just make sure with all the super sale frenzy that these are things you actually want/need. It's all too easy to get carried away.
1st December - Giving Tuesday
Fed up with the commercial frenzy? Donate your time, skills, money or resources to charity today. Find out more at www.givingtuesday.org
1st December - Giving Tuesday
Fed up with the commercial frenzy? Donate your time, skills, money or resources to charity today. Find out more at www.givingtuesday.org
5th December - Small Business Saturday
23rd December - The Big Supermarket Shop
Capitalism with conscience, why not support your local high street on Small Business Saturday when lots of local shops will be offering discounts and special offers, and hosting special events.
You may even be offered a complimentary mince pie or glass of mulled wine...
Find out more at www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com
9th December - Manic Monday
(Just another) Manic Monday. This is another key day for those big deals as the retailers assess how much stock needs to go over the next couple of weeks. Grab a bargain!
17th-21st December - Last Orders!
Last order dates for most retailers:
17th-21st December - Last Orders!
Last order dates for most retailers:
Boots 17th December
Cadbury Gifts Direct 22nd December
Currys PC World 22nd December
Emma Bridgewater 11th December
Interflora 24th December
Marks & Spencer 22nd December
Ted Baker 16th December
TopShop / TopMan 16th December
23rd December - The Big Supermarket Shop
The busiest supermarket shopping day of the year, with mid-morning being the quieter time.
Check our Ultimate Christmas Shopping List so you don't forget anything.
3.30pm is the last order time for Amazon Prime next day deliveries for all those last-minute gifts!
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3.30pm is the last order time for Amazon Prime next day deliveries for all those last-minute gifts!
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