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Spring is in the air, so it must be Christmas!

Xinhua, April 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

An English village that last year won an accolade for having one of the worse Christmas trees in Britain has redeemed itself, winning praise for entering the festive spirit in style by celebrating Christmas in April.

With 239 shopping days remaining before this year's Christmas, Liscard in north western England decided to fast forward the season of goodwill.

More than 1,000 residents gathered in the village center Wednesday night to witness a spring evening transform into a winter wonderland.

A Christmas tree, almost 10 meters tall and decorated with baubles took pride of place in the main square, snow machines provided a blanket of real snow, there was a reindeer and an early visit from Father Christmas handing out treats to children. The evening ended with fireworks.

Add favorite Christmas carols sung by a choir and it was as it was just like Christmas Day in Liscard, an 11,000-strong community on the banks of the River Mersey.

A group of local businessmen hit on the idea of Britain's earliest ever Christmas celebrations following criticism last year about the village's sorry looking tree and street decorations. Not only did the tree look dreary, it was surrounded by a metal fence secured in stark concrete blocks.

So many complaints were made, the Christmas tree was voted one of the top-10 worst in the country.

Organizers of the 'Christmas is early' campaign hoped to persuade local businesses to help raise 24,000 pounds (37,000 U.S. dollars) to fund a memorable Christmas display later this year.

The idea came about in response to a campaign on social media set up by fed-up shoppers and residents bemoaning Liscard's "depressing" Christmas decorations last December.

About the out-of-season Christmas event, local resident Matthew Coates said his five-year-old daughter, Emma, enjoyed it and luckily didn't question why Father Christmas arrived in April.

Villager Marie Camara said she feared it would be hard to convince her children there would be no Christmas presents when they woke up Thursday morning.

Britons have become increasing irritated at the way the build-up to Christmas starts earlier each year, usually towards the end of October. Now one corner of England has demonstrated it is never too early to start the celebrations. Endit