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From Comedian & writer Paul Kerensa

Is that a creak and a munching sound I hear? Yes, a million Advent calendar doors are being opened today. So, Advent: it’s not just a moan about TV commercials… (that’s an ad vent – sorry that joke could be the creaking sound) It’s part of an old Latin word meaning ‘coming’. According to the ads, holidays are coming… According to the song, Santa’s coming, to town… and according to the church, in two days’ time: Advent is coming.

Yes our calendars are early – it’s not technically Advent till Sunday, the first of four Sundays building up to Christmas. It’s all about the build-up, the anticip…ation.

While in days gone by, Advent was a time of fasting till Christmas, today those calendar doors open onto more than just chocolate. It’s barely Advent and I’ve enjoyed five turkey sandwiches from supermarkets – I had one labelled ‘The Boxing Day Sandwich’ in mid-November. Kitchens nationwide host party nibbles and fine music, making it feel like Christmas. Whether we’re holding a Jamie Oliver cookbook, or a tub of popcorn at a Christmas cinema trip, tis the season for sharing some grub. My kids even share what’s in the Advent calendar, with generous, chocolate-melty hands, that you just can’t say no to.

Sharing food and opening doors, really, is at the very heart of Christmas. The Holy family, finding no open doors, sheltered in a barn, as animals chomped and shepherds brought lambs.

Through the centuries, a spirit of charity has been the backbone of the season. At medieval Christmases, the doors of Westminster Hall were opened to the homeless, with Christmas dinners at the expense of the king. And this week I visited Trafalgar Square’s church, St Martin’s-in-the-Fields: known as the Church of the Ever-Open Door, welcoming thousands of homeless and dispossessed through the year, but especially in the cold winter.

Whenever we start opening our doors, I don’t think we need to take our cue from the church. But as we count down to Christmas, helping folks find shelter, or sharing a bite to eat, with neighbours, strangers, family, strange family even… Well those doors can open as early as they like. (Oh, and my grubby-handed kids asked me to share with you this chocolate…)