Mince Pies in Stores? Do you buy yours now? Or do you wait until December?
It’s hard to ignore the signs that Christmas is coming — especially when mince pies start appearing on supermarket shelves in September. This year, M&S didn’t wait for the leaves to fall before bringing out their festive treats. As early as September 7th, just as kids were barely back in school and the sun was still giving us the occasional heatwave, M&S launched their Christmas bundles, including mince pies and seasonal chocolates. The festive rush had clearly begun for some — but was it too soon?
If you took a closer look at the best-before dates, you’d see that the mince pies would need to be eaten before Halloween. That’s right — before most people have even decided what costume to wear, Christmas had already arrived in the bakery aisles. For some, this early arrival sparks excitement and an eagerness to embrace the holiday spirit. For others, it feels like a step too far. The question is: where do you stand? Are you on team “Christmas all year long” or do you think it’s a bit premature to start indulging in mince pies before Halloween even rolls around?
The Early Bird Gets the Mince Pie
Some people love to start their countdown to Christmas as soon as the calendar flips to the second half of the year. They begin watching holiday movies, planning their shopping lists, and setting out festive decorations well before December. For them, seeing mince pies in September feels like a natural progression — they’re ready for the season to begin.
However, there are others who prefer to leave the Christmas cheer until the last possible moment. They want to hold onto the last bit of summer and enjoy the autumn months before diving into holiday mania. For them, the appearance of mince pies in September is an unwelcome reminder that Christmas is already being commercialised, long before the pumpkins and bonfires of Halloween take centre stage.
As a bakery, we get a little insight into how early the festive season really begins. Even though we don’t usually see mince pies hit our own shelves until after Bonfire Night, we’re already thinking about Christmas long before most people are ready to embrace it. The planning, baking, and prepping starts months ahead of time. Behind the scenes, we’re working tirelessly to perfect recipes and test new ideas for the season. But even for us, September feels too early to dive fully into Christmas.
Christmas Preparations: The Bakery Behind the Magic
At our bakery, the build-up to Christmas is a carefully orchestrated process. By the time Bonfire Night (November 5th) has come and gone, we’re in full swing, churning out everything from freshly baked mince pies to our signature Basque cheesecakes. It’s a busy, exciting time of year for our bakers, who work early mornings and late nights to meet the demand for seasonal treats. And while our ovens are working overtime, our front-of-house team is gearing up to handle the queues of customers, all eager to get their hands on a little taste of Christmas.
We pride ourselves on using only the finest ingredients to create delicious, seasonal treats that will make your festive season extra special. But beyond the classic mince pie, we love introducing new creations to keep things fresh and exciting for our customers. One of our recent favourites is the marbled truffle sourdough — a rich, indulgent loaf with a touch of holiday flair. Whether you’re picking up a slice of freshly baked bread or a batch of our signature cakes, our team is here to make sure your festive feasts are memorable.
A Festive Journey: From Bakery to Your Table
As much as we love getting ready for Christmas in the bakery, we understand that not everyone shares our enthusiasm for the season’s early arrival. For some, part of the magic of Christmas is the anticipation — the build-up that starts after Halloween and grows as the days shorten and the weather turns colder. For those people, a mince pie in September might feel like an unnecessary rush into the holiday season, and we get that. We believe that the best part of Christmas is savouring each moment as it comes, whether that’s through a hot drink on a crisp November morning or the excitement of an Advent calendar countdown in December.
And for those who want to get into the holiday spirit a little early, we’re more than happy to indulge. After all, who can resist the comforting combination of buttery pastry and sweet mincemeat filling, especially when it’s made fresh? But for most of us, the arrival of mince pies in September might feel a little like jumping the gun. We’re all for celebrating the season — but maybe, just maybe, we could wait until after Halloween to start cracking open the festive treats.
So, Would You Be Eating Mince Pies in September?
The question remains: would you be eating mince pies in September? Are you ready to embrace the Christmas season months ahead of time, or would you prefer to hold off until the weather turns colder and the holidays are truly on the horizon? Whether you’re an early bird or prefer to wait until December, we can all agree on one thing — Christmas is a time for joy, indulgence, and making memories with loved ones. Whether you start early or leave it until the last minute, there’s no wrong way to enjoy the season.
So, if you find yourself in the mood for a festive treat before Halloween, our bakery doors will be wide open and ready to welcome you. Just don’t be surprised if we’re already thinking about mince pies, marbled truffle sourdough, and all the delicious things that will make your Christmas extra special. After all, the holiday magic starts the moment you walk through the door.
What’s your take? Are you team “Christmas in September” or “Too Soon”? We’d love to hear your thoughts — leave a comment below!
