Christmas comes but once a year

Christmas comes but once a year

A phrase that defends enthusiastic celebrations of Christmas, on the basis that Christmas only happens once a year. I know the amount of gifts is a little excessive, but Christmas comes but once a year, right?
See also: but, Christmas, come, once, year
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Christmas comes but once a year.

Prov. Since Christmas only happens once a year, we should treat it as a special time by being good to others or by indulging children. Christmas comes but once a year, so we urge you to give to those less fortunate through this Christmas charity campaign.
See also: but, Christmas, come, once, year
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

Christmas comes but once a year

Take this opportunity to enjoy yourself to the fullest. This seemingly modern cliché actually dates from the sixteenth century, when Thomas Tusser included it as one of his Five Hundreth Pointes of Good Husbandrie (1573): “At Christmas play and make good cheere, for Christmas comes but once a yeere.”
See also: but, Christmas, come, once, year
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a white Christmas
  • Christmas
  • Happy Christmas
  • cancel (one's) Christmas
  • cancel Christmas
  • cancel someone’s Christmas
  • Merry Christmas
  • Christmas tree
  • stocking stuffer
  • stuffer
References in periodicals archive
CHRISTMAS Christmas comes but once a year And that's too much for me I've never been a fan Of sitting round a dead pine tree Bing Crosby's on the radio, Dreaming about the snow And fat blokes in red suits and beards Are everywhere you go The Queen comes on the telly Saying how she's had it rough Then Steve McQueen escapes again And now I've had enough I'll get my coat and take a walk The pubs just down the road But that is closed for Christmas Day So back to my abode Brian Murphy, Walsgrave, Coventry.
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