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Too Early For Shops To Put Up Christmas Decorations?

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Holiday vibes arriving ahead of schedule. Credit: Powelightss / Shutterstock

As supermarkets across Spain start filling their shelves with turrón, polvorones and other festive treats, some shoppers are wondering if the Christmas season is creeping up a little too soon. According to a recent Euro Weekly News article, Spanish supermarkets have already begun stocking Christmas foods as early as mid-October — a trend often dubbed “Christmas creep.” In cities such as Madrid, Málaga and Valencia, shopping centres and high streets are already installing glittering lights and festive displays, sparking mixed reactions from residents and visitors alike.

When asked whether it’s too early to put up Christmas decorations, the responses were varied but leaned strongly towards “yes.” Many agreed that the magic of the season risks being lost when it starts too soon. Franz Arnold commented, “Way too early!” while Jennifer Ancill added, “Way to early, it takes the excitement of Christmas away.” Similarly, Jayne Richardson reminded, “Yes, Christmas is December 25 and there are 12 days of Christmas and not 12 weeks,” and Steve Yorke echoed, “Yes! Keep Christmas in December.” Colin Wheeler, Ross Hennessy and Vivienne Mallinder also agreed that decorations should wait until later in the year.

Several respondents pointed to tradition and timing as key reasons to wait. Stephen Cosgrove said, “Crikey, yes. If they do go up (not always) then it’s a few days before, then straight after Three Kings.” Judith D Altavista agreed, saying, “It sure is, but [lights are] installed already by the Ayuntamiento where I live – Arrecife, Lanzarote (and in Vienna, where I am originally from, as well)… In my home it’s just with the beginning of the advent, and comes down right after the three kings.” Jenny Dodd shared a similar sentiment: “Two weeks before is quite enough, like it used to be in Spain.”

Others preferred to celebrate one holiday at a time. Sheila Hounslow said, “Yes … not before Halloween,” a view echoed by Rabecca Bunny Latumeten, who added, “Not before Halloween! But any time after is fair game, lol.” Deb Horses agreed, asking, “Can we celebrate Halloween first? The ‘tree party’ is currently being planned for mid-November.”

Not everyone took the question seriously, though. Don Taylor joked, “Don’t take them down from last year, then too early or too late become mute points.”

Overall, most respondents said yes, it is too early. While some shop displays may already be starting to twinkle, for many people Christmas should begin in December, not while pumpkins are still on display.

See last week’s EWN poll

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Meghan Markle Comeback Reportedly Underway

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news of her involvement surfaced after she was photographed on set alongside other cast members. Photo credit: Lev radin/Shutterstock

Meghan Markle is preparing to return to acting for the first time since stepping away from her television career in the late 2010s. According to reporting from People, Cosmopolitan and Vogue, the Duchess of Sussex has participated in filming for a new movie titled Close Personal Friends, which is currently in production. The role has been described by sources as a cameo appearance rather than a full dramatic return, indicating a measured step back into the entertainment world.

Her return carries significance beyond the screen. Meghan left her role in Suits shortly before her marriage to Prince Harry, transitioning into royal duties, public advocacy and later charitable and media work following the couple’s decision to step back from senior royal positions in 2020. This makes even a brief on-screen appearance notable as a shift in her public professional identity.

Return to On-Screen Work

A Familiar Space, Approached Selectively

Meghan Markle rose to prominence as Rachel Zane in the legal drama Suits, appearing in seven seasons of the series. The show recently experienced a dramatic resurgence on streaming platforms, introducing Meghan’s earlier work to new viewers and reigniting widespread cultural interest. The renewed spotlight may have indirectly shaped the climate into which her cameo now arrives, though no official link has been stated by the production team or by Meghan herself.

While many film and television transitions involve heavy publicity, this project has remained intentionally low-profile. There has been no formal promotional announcement from the studio or from Meghan’s representatives. Instead, news of her involvement surfaced after she was photographed on set alongside other cast members during filming in Los Angeles.

The film’s confirmed cast includes Lily Collins, Brie Larson, Jack Quaid and Henry Golding, all established actors with a strong presence in contemporary film and streaming. At this stage, no official plot outline has been released, and production details are being kept deliberately limited.

Prince Harry’s Role

Supportive, Not Professionally Involved

Reports emphasise that Prince Harry is supportive of Meghan’s participation in the film, but he has no role in the production and is not involved in the creative side of the project. According to People, Harry’s support is personal, recognising that acting was part of Meghan’s identity and career long before they met. Sources close to the couple suggest that this project represents something chosen by Meghan independently, rather than a coordinated public brand move.

This distinction is important. In recent years, much public conversation around the couple has framed their work as joint. The cameo in Close Personal Friends, by contrast, is being reported as Meghan’s individual professional decision.

Why Now?

Controlled, Intentional and Carefully Scoped

The cameo appears to reflect the couple’s evolving approach to public and media projects since restructuring their charitable foundation, Archewell, and refining their documentary work. Rather than signalling a full-scale return to acting, the role suggests that Meghan is open to participating in selected projects aligned with her comfort, interests and professional identity.

This aligns with broader patterns in public life where figures with complex media histories choose controlled, limited creative re-entries rather than high-profile comebacks.

Summary

  • Meghan Markle has filmed a cameo for the upcoming film Close Personal Friends.
  • It marks her first on-screen appearance since her departure from acting in the late 2010s.
  • Prince Harry is reported to be supportive but is not involved in the film.
  • No further acting projects have been confirmed at this time.

A Gradual and Low-Profile Approach

As production moves forward, more details about the film and Meghan’s exact participation are expected to emerge. For now, the project stands as a small, deliberate and self-directed step rather than a public reinvention.

Whether this cameo becomes a single creative moment or the beginning of a broader pattern remains to be seen. But for audiences familiar with Meghan’s earlier work, it marks a thoughtful re-engagement with a craft she has been publicly associated with for more than a decade.

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Netflix Finds Paradise In The Mango Groves Of Axarquia

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Credit: Screenshot Mango trailer.

Move over Tuscany, because these days Malaga’s mango country is having its big moment. Netflix has just premiered Mango, a romantic drama shot entirely in the sun-drenched hills of the wonderful Axarquia region. That’s where Europe’s sweetest mangoes grow.

Directed by Danish filmmaker Mehdi Avaz, the film stars Dar Salim (Game of Thrones) and Josephine Park (The Nurse). And it tells the story of an ex-lawyer who escapes tragedy to live on a struggling mango farm. The twist? A hotel manager arrives with plans that could change everything. Cue love, conflict, and plenty of Mediterranean light.

A cinematic postcard from Axarquia

But Mango isn’t just another Netflix love story. It’s a cinematic postcard from southern Spain. Velez-Malaga, Frigiliana and a mango plantation in Benamocarra all take centre stage in the production. And they’re captured during the real mango harvest last September. 

The backdrop belongs to Eurofresh, an organic producer whose orchards stretch across 40 years of history and now, onto the global streaming screen.

More than a simple movie for Axarquia

Local producer María Cabello, from the Malaga-based company Anima Stillking, says the project was special for more than one reason. “We wanted it to feel authentic. The heat, the harvest, the community. Everyone who wasn’t Danish was from Malaga. That’s something we try to sell to every production that comes here.”

Filming wasn’t easy: August sun, steep Frigiliana streets, and gear carried by hand through pedestrian lanes. But the payoff? “We ate a lot of mangoes,” Cabello laughs.For the Axarquia, Mango is more than another movie.  It’s a celebration of the place, of the beauty of this area. After years of being Spain’s quiet agricultural powerhouse, the region is finally shining on screen. Under the bright Andalusian sky, even the fruit tells a story of resilience, flavour and love.

Read here more news from Axarquia.

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Catalonia Whets Travellers’ Appetites

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The World Travel Market 2025 in London has seen the Catalonia region reaffirm its standing with the British travel market, reporting 1.89 million UK visitors in 2024 who spent a total of €2.024 billion.

While these figures haven’t yet recovered to pre-Brexit levels, tourism officials say the market is “mature, stable and increasingly focused on higher value experiences.”

At the fair, a delegation from Catalonia – including senior tourism officials – highlighted the region’s shift toward cultural, gastronomic and sustainable travel, rather than just sun-and-sea holidaying.

Spain’s second-largest inbound market from the UK, Catalonia is also strengthening direct flight links with 18 UK airports and four in Ireland, helping keep connectivity solid. As one senior official put it, the aim is to capture a visitor with “value added” who stays longer, spends more, and engages with the region beyond the coastal resorts.

What the Catalonia strategy signals is a maturing of UK tourism: fewer one-week beach escapes and more interest in gastronomy, culture, golf, long stays and off-peak travel.

The presence of chef Paco Pérez at a London cocktail event, hosted by the Catalonia delegation, showed a serious level of ambition on food tourism.

Michelin-starred chef Paco Pérez is one of Spain’s most acclaimed culinary figures, and is the creative force behind several award-winning restaurants, including Miramar in Llançà (Girona) and Enoteca in Barcelona, which together hold five Michelin stars.

This focus on higher-value, experience-led tourism shows why the UK market remains both resilient and evolving.

Keeping flight connections regular and efficient, investing in mid-week stays, high-end premium experiences and diversifying beyond sun and sand will matter more than ever if destinations are to stay ahead.

This also matters for the wider Spanish tourism picture. The UK remains a key source of tourists and revenue; the fact that Catalonia can hold its ground is encouraging for destinations elsewhere.

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