Halloween has officially ended, which can only mean one thing: you can officially start preparing for Christmas.
The ‘when Christmas season starts’ debate is a tale as old as time and though I understand and recognize both sides, I think that people should be able to celebrate the holidays however they see fit.
Firstly, I do not understand why people are so passionate about forcing other people to not start decorating or listening to festive music before December. If something makes you happy, why not pursue it? As long as it does not harm others, which I do not believe that putting up a Christmas tree does, what is the big deal? Simply put, if you do not want to celebrate Christmas before your designated holiday season, then don’t. And do not get upset when other people do not follow your standards.
Usually, I try to wait until after Thanksgiving to start listening to Christmas music. But since being in college, between finals, moving home and general holiday hustle and bustle, I have not been satisfied with the amount of tunes I get to hear. Christmas music is generally upbeat and has positive messages of hope and joy, so why not incorporate it into my life sooner. As I get busier and more stressed out over work, I think jamming to some holiday cheer will be just the thing to put me in a better mood.
Another aspect of the holiday season that needs to be started before December is gift buying. Obviously, with Black Friday practically being a national holiday, most people at least start purchasing presents in November, but that is still too late in the year. I start planning what I am giving people in the spring or early summer so I can buy it when it is most convenient instead of waiting until the last minute when there are shipping delays and products are out of stock. This year, I bought one gift over the summer at an estate sale and have been planning on how I will wrap it ever since. I know that most people do not wait until the last minute to buy gifts, but this needs to be recognized as part of celebrating the holidays before December, as it is literally preparing you for it.
One aspect of early Christmas that I do not support is putting up a freshly cut tree, simply because by Christmas day, the needles will be falling off the tree and it will not look its best in photos. I prefer a real tree, probably because my family always had one growing up and we still get one every year. I love the smell and the ambiance it brings to the room in a way that a fake tree could never. No hate for those who like fake trees, they are less maintenance and you can keep them for longer, they just are not for me.
To everyone, like myself, who loves the holiday season, I say why not extend it to however long makes you happy. Start celebrating right after Halloween, after Thanksgiving or all year. If decorating or listening to music puts you in a cheery mood, deck the halls and hang the mistletoe whenever you see fit.
Photo by: Gary Spears via Pexels
