It’s that time of year again—Christmas time. Actually, no; it’s Thanksgiving time. Those premature jingle bells you may be hearing—whether in your residence hall, in a store while shopping or even on your walk to the Marano Campus Center as it blasts throughout central campus—are ringing in that joyful time of year a bit early. But you know what? It’s OK.
There seems to be an obvious divide between people as soon as Nov. 1 hits: Those who enjoy listening to Christmas music the second the snow starts falling and those who would rather curl up in a ball and cover their ears than listen to one more second of a Michael Bublé holiday album. Often times people are judged for playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving. The fact that there’s a big holiday between Halloween and Christmas doesn’t faze those who are pro-Christmas music, but infuriates those against it. The common statements of disagreement include: “It’s not even Thanksgiving yet!” “Let us enjoy Thanksgiving first!” “Rabble rabble rabble!” and “Loud noises!”
You would think riots would ensue the way some people are so against Christmas joy before Thanksgiving (the riots actually ensue the day after). It’s one thing for stores to be selling Christmas items when the leftover Halloween costumes are still on the shelves, but a little friendly Christmas joy in November isn’t anything to be so passionately against. Look at it this way: It’s not as if Thanksgiving has a bevy of songs related to it. I don’t think you can type “Thanksgiving songs” into Pandora and get a playlist loaded with hits. What if we just started thinking of Christmas music as ringing in the holiday season, both Thanksgiving and Christmas? The two aren’t that far from each other anyway. Both involve sitting at a table eating a year’s worth of food in one sitting with family you probably haven’t seen since last year.
If listening to Christmas music in November makes people feel better, while giving them a little extra happiness during a dismal time of year (final exams, sickness, the Oswego wind and snow), then why not let them enjoy it? Here in the office, we’ve already started listening to Christmas music (much to the chagrin of a few cranky staff members) and to be honest, it’s a pretty good pick-me-up. I’m not saying I blast the music all day every day, but I’m not going to get mad when I hear it. Besides, Christmas is a commercial holiday anyway—why not milk it for all its worth?
