Rather than lurid decorations or mawkish TV ads, we choose to believe the true arbiter of the beginning of the festive season to be the annual Rooney family Christmas card.
With dad Wayne back in the UK for his international swansong recently, mum Colleen seized the chance to take the kids along to her photographer of choice and get the 2018 card done.
The four Rooney boys -- Kai, Klay, Kitt and Cass (from oldest to youngest) -- clambered into their matching pyjamas and posed for several suitably seasonal pictures.
That's it. It's official: Christmas is upon us.