A THIRD of Brits will buy a Christmas tree this weekend, kicking off the festive season earlier than ever.
Supermarket bosses say tree shopping has come sooner than usual because of the timing of the first weekend of Advent.
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The cold snap has also put more people into the festive spirit, along with a general enthusiasm to start celebrating early after years of Christmas Covid restrictions.
Supermarkets started putting trees on sale last weekend to cater to eager shoppers.
Ryan McDonnell, chief executive of Lidl, said if they had not done so, they would have lost huge numbers of sales.
Higher costs have added an extra £5 for the most popular type of tree, the Nordmann fir, favoured because they drop their needles the slowest.
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Discounters Aldi and Lidl are selling the cheapest trees this year, with a medium 6ft Nordmann costing £16.99, according to Which?.
Argos has the cheapest 4ft artificial tree on the high street at £8.
Ben Wightman, of Christmas Tree World, said: “Traditionally, the suggested time to set up your tree is at the start of Advent, which starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.
“This year, the first Sunday of Advent falls on December 3, presenting the perfect opportunity to kick off your holiday celebrations.
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“And with several Black Friday offers still lingering, this weekend could be the perfect time to select your decorations in preparation for the joyful season ahead.”
A spokesman for the British Christmas Tree Growers Association said: “This weekend is when the retail season really begins in earnest for Christmas tree growers.”
