IF THE SANTA EMOJI in the headline looks a little downcast it could be because the wreath displays are looking a little underpowered this year 2020. 

Loving Dalston never does surveys but as its photographer walked Hackney to photograph doors he reckoned that fewer than ever had Christmas wreaths on them.

It would hardly be a surprise. After all, the nation has had months of bumbling politicians and doomster scientists flapping their arms and waving at graphs as they crash into to our TVs to save us from the plague that has brought the world to a stop. 

Not surprisingly, the frequent lockdowns have driven some of us a little dinilo: eg, the person who was seen stealing Christmas wreaths in Hackney.

Thank goodness some Hackneyites still have the heart to hang a circle of holly or something like at the front of their houses. Take it as a tiny protest at the commercialisation of what started as a commemoration of the birth of someone who grew up to be a religious revolutionary. Or so the holy Bible say.

Hamish Scott 211220

* Backstory: Festive doors 2019; Christmas Day pubs 2019; Hackney Christmas competitiveness 2018; Loving you, loving Christmas

* Links to articles in The Guardiando not imply any approval of the newspaper’s historic involvement with slavery.

* Pictures © DavidAltheer@gmail.com. All available for sale via that eddress. Emboldened underscored words in most cases indicate a hyperlink.