It's the most wonderful time of the year... supposedly. You might forgive Sunderland fans for not being entirely in the festive spirit, however, following the appointment of new head coach Michael Beale. The former Rangers manager has been drafted in to replace the departed Tony Mowbray, with many of a red and white persuasion expressing their disappointment at the announcement.
Still, Christmas is a time for giving, and Beale will be given plenty of opportunity to prove himself to his new fanbase over the next couple of weeks. Sunderland begin their festive rush with a clash against Coventry City on Saturday, before facing a tricky encounter with Hull City on Boxing Day. From there, it's a final fixture of 2023 against Rotherham United on the 29th, and then a New Year's Day showdown with Preston North End in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
At the time of writing, the Black Cats lie seventh in the Championship table, three points outside of the play-off places, and Beale will be hoping that with a fast start to life on Wearside, he can catapult his new squad firmly into the running for a top six finish.
Before all of that, however, let's take a moment to soak in the goodwill of the season by looking back on Christmases of yesteryear with a gallery of images comprised of Sunderland fans going all out to get themselves in the festive spirit. And hey, with his propensity for dressing in red and white, who knows, maybe Santa is a Mackem too...
5. The 12 Days of Christmas
In the run up to the big day, Sunderland have faced plenty of turmoil this year. | AFP via Getty Images
6. The Festive Spirit
A Sunderland fan raises a glass to the lads. Tony Mowbray left the club earlier this month after a dip in form that led to two defeats in and a draw in his final three matches on Wearside. | Getty Images
7. New Beginnings
Since then, the Black Cats spent plenty of time looking for a new manager, and eventually settled on out-of-work coach Michael Beale. | Getty Images
8. A Time for Giving
Beale has been out of work since leaving Rangers earlier in the year, but will be hoping to make an immediate impact on Wearside when he takes charge of his first game, against Coventry, on Saturday, and then again against Hull City on Boxing Day. | Getty Images