In a world of ever-decreasing certainties, the enduring hype of the Christmas advertising season is a welcome reminder of advertising’s role in culture.

John Lewis delivers on the festive hype year in, year out. Yet the 2024 Christmas advertising season was far more than a one-hit wonder.

Disney’s stand-out campaign from Adam&EveDDB underlined the magic of long-form storytelling. While VML’s lavish campaign for Boots was the Christmas casting choice of the season with Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh in the starring role of Mrs Claus.

BBH London and Tesco beautifully articulated the painful truth of the empty chairs around many of our festive tables this year. A pitch perfect piece of storytelling which underlines that Christmas is not the most wonderful time of year for those experiencing the sharp edges of grief. It is not possible to watch it without shedding a tear.

The necessity of breathing space in the hectic festive season was the insight that cuts through in Starbucks’ Christmas campaign from TBWA\London. The ‘Drink In Breathe Out’ ethos will resonate with consumers and marketing professionals alike at this increasingly hectic time of year.

So with that spirit of slowing down front of mind, sit down, relax and enjoy the best of the Christmas advertising season so far in BITE’s annual festive advertising round up:

Very kickstarts Christmas shopping bonanza with Flamingos and Charli XCX

Argos rocks into Christmas with upbeat campaign from T&Pm

John Lewis unveils festive second chapter of three-part trilogy

Sainsbury’s teams up with the BFG in phizz-whizzing Christmas spot

Morrisons brings back oven gloves for Christmas spot

Asda unleashes the Christmas Gnome squad

M&M’s partners with holiday film ‘Red One’

Aldi’s Kevin the Carrot is back for his ninth season of Christmas ads

Waitrose Christmas whodunnit keeps audiences guessing

Which? launches festive advertising campaign

Mrs Claus brings the beauty to Boots in festive spot

Will Christmas 2024 be the ultimate silly season?

Freemans and Sophie Ellis-Bextor deliver Christmas shopping convenience

Chelsea Football Club launches festive ‘Wrap Up Warm’ campaign to tackle homeless

Debenhams calms Christmas shopping chaos with new campaign

M&S Clothing and Home shakes up Christmas

Festive ad spend to reach £10.5bn in 2024

Amazon delivers joy for Christmas

Matalan has customers' backs through the chaos of the festive season

Greater Anglia’s Red Hare takes customers on a Christmas journey

Jo Malone London’s pop-ups offer festive shopping fun

Etsy gets to know Where’s Wally in Christmas spot

O2 tackles data poverty in festive campaign

Starbucks offers moments of peace during Christmas stress

Shaun the Sheep is back for Barbour in festive spot

Post Office aims to reduce festive stress with CGI

Disney wins Christmas with feel good film

Dawn French’s Christmas fairy returns in M&S Food’s festive campaign

Tesco taps into joy and nostalgia to feed Christmas spirit

Alison Hammond adds sparkle to Christmas as the Very Godmother

Gap champions individuality with ‘Give Your Gift’ campaign

John Lewis takes audiences on a journey to find the perfect gift

Shelter appeals for donations for children at Christmas

Lego Christmas cat celebrates the power of play

McDonald’s lights up Christmas will feel-good spot

Christian Aid launches Christmas appeal with a song

The best Christmas ads could be set in June

How can Christmas advertising better embrace the shift towards underconsumption?

Nigella Lawson launches Greggs’ first Christmas advert

JD celebrates family in all its forms at Christmas

Three Things on a Thursday: Festive authenticity, Christmas mystery and creator sing-songs

Pepsi Max clocks out for Christmas

Selfridges transforms stores into maximalist celebration of festive joy

All I want for Christmas… is experiential

Waitrose Christmas mystery is solved

TUI’s children’s book tells the story of the flight before Christmas

Rightmove launches festive spot

How can the industry bring the joy back to Christmas advertising?

Top 10 Marketing Moments of the year: Thankyou for the Christmas ads

Snapchat brings ‘Little Joys’ to the festive period

Twix taps D Double E and Nella Rose for Twixmas anthem