Early Xmas

It is unreasonable for there to be a specific time frame to celebrate the Christmas season

At 12:01 a.m., Nov. 1, the minute Halloween is over all I want to do is blast Christmas music. My friends and I put “All I Want for Christmas is You” on full volume in one of my friend’s speakers.

I’m a Christmas enthusiast, and the second Halloween is over my brain immediately goes straight to my favorite time of the year. I love the way the Christmas season is so happy and fun. It reminds me of all my favorite traditions and memories with loved ones over the years, like watching the Polar Express on Christmas Eve and a tour of lights on the first Friday of December. I can’t wait to continue and start making more as soon as possible.

I enjoy every aspect of the holiday and my favorite parts are the jolly music, festive decorations, happy movies and Christmas-scented candles, the tree ones, not the terrible cookie scents.

Last summer, I watched the 2018 animated Grinch movie every single day while it was 98 degrees out and everyone was at the pool. It’s my favorite movie of all time, and I watched it constantly because it transported me to Christmas time. I always feel comforted by the joy of the movie itself because there are no sad parts and it has such an important and kind message.

My family disagrees with my Christmas-oriented lifestyle though, and we don’t put up our family tree until Thanksgiving passes and we don’t play Christmas music until December. Although this is my family’s view, I personally think anyone should be able to decorate their house early if it makes them happy. The turkey still tastes the same whether your Christmas tree is up or not.

I see so many social media influencers posting decorating videos as soon as the date hits Nov. 1 and others will switch out their decor from Halloween back to fall. But I enjoy when my entire Instagram feed is people doing seasonal activities, like gingerbread houses and wrapping gifts with classic Christmas songs as the audio on videos.

Sometimes on these videos, I will see comments bashing people for prepping for the Christmas season early. Also, when I discuss my love for the holiday with family members, who think Christmas should be celebrated only in December, they always make a remark along the lines of, “No, you should always decorate after Thanksgiving is over,” which can make others feel put down and a little stupid for something they are enthusiastic about. 

Also, stores like Target and Costco switch out to their Christmas decor so early and it feels like such a joyous shopping experience seeing all the gift wrap and garlands. I relish shopping in the seasonal sections to get a glimpse of what life will be like when it’s finally that time of year again.

I can understand those who feel that the season is so fleeting they don’t want to make it mundane by celebrating early, but I really believe that if decorating for Christmas early makes someone happy and comforted let them blast Christmas music on Nov. 1 and put up a tree before the Thanksgiving turkey is cooked.