There was a time, not to long ago, when it was clear when Christmas started. There has really only ever been on signifier of Christmas and that comes from the Coca-Cola company who’s genius thinking an creativity brought the world the first visuals of the modern day Santa Clause.

Nothing really compares to hearing in mid-November the sound of bells and wind blowing followed by the unforgettable “the holidays are coming, the holidays are coming”. Much like a Disney spectacle on acid the viewer is carefully and loving whisked into a world we all long to live in. Peaceful, loving, multiracial, honest, snowy, and just a touch over the top.

That screams Christmas and the best people to do it have done it least because they own Santa’s arse. So you can imagine my shock and horror that some twitter twits started to tweet that they where excited about the forthcoming red cups from Starbucks. What!? Did I miss something, had christmas really come that early ‘cos down my ways the only sign of Christmas is the Coke commercial, and to a lesser extent the Toys “r” Us commercial which hasn’t changed since the mid-90s.

Starbucks don’t seem to do anything good, am not sure any chain store coffee house can really make good coffee. You only have to watch from the sidelines how they make it and you see the reality of fast-food style coffee making. There is no love, no care or feeling, and you can almost guarantee that the “baristas” are all green tea drinkers. But the biggest weakness the ‘bucks has comes from their filtered coffee which sites there in its huge vats for hours on end and dare you ask for one its like tasting burnt wood.

For the love of all things Christmas can we just get back to what we know and keep Christmas free from the hands of those awful coffee assassins.