The beginning of November marked a tumultuous time for everybody, with fights breaking out between friends and family members on social media, enemies being made and friendships being broken – and no, I am not referring to the election. The first of November is a day that is frequently argued about between Thanksgiving worshippers and Christmas fanatics. To many, including myself, November 1 is the day to start listening to Christmas music, watching shitty Hallmark movies and planning this year’s holiday decorations. To others, this day is just another fall day where new leaves are falling on the ground and pumpkins from Halloween are being destroyed by squirrels. The debate on when the official start of the Christmas season is has caused strife since the beginning of time. Some delegate just one day for Christmas celebrations while others make it an event that stretches months, sometimes throughout the entire year.
A big reason that Christmas is celebrated for a longer period of time than other holidays is because of its impact on popular culture. If we didn’t have these iconic Christmas songs, movies and stories then the holiday might not have inspired this cult-like behavior among Christmas fanatics. As more holiday-related content is being created, the bigger the impact that the holiday season has on society. Look at Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” or Wham!’s “Last Christmas” as an example. Both songs are Christmas songs that are frequently played on the radio throughout December. Despite their connection to the holiday, both songs are still undeniable bops no matter the time of year. You can look at Christmas movies like “Elf” or “Home Alone,” which are fun and entertaining year-round. No matter where you are or what time of the year it is, it is hard to argue against these pieces of pop culture that are genuinely good. And if songs or movies like these are enjoyable to you, then you shouldn’t be ridiculed for wanting to celebrate the holiday season early through these mediums.
As a Christmas fanatic myself, I am always in the Christmas spirit. Call me cliché, but to me there is nothing better than decorating a tree with Christmas movies or music in the background, the feeling of restless anticipation for the holiday to come. I’d rather feel this way as early and as often as I can and completely bypass Thanksgiving than limit my happiness.
Do I care about Thanksgiving? Absolutely not. Do I like inhaling food and watching balloons float around the city? Who doesn’t? Despite my lack of care for this holiday, I understand why people want to give Thanksgiving some credit. But why does celebrating Thanksgiving put a restriction on when we can celebrate Christmas? If people really liked Thanksgiving that much they’d start celebrating it early too. Christmas, whether or not it is celebrated before or after Thanksgiving, has represented more than just the date of December 25. Christmas looks like snow on the ground, hot chocolate, lit trees, candy canes, fireplaces, ugly sweaters, snuggling, friends, family, giving, believing – none of which can be tied down to one day. If you don’t want to celebrate Christmas or the holiday season until after Thanksgiving then that’s fine, but don’t police other people on when they can get into the holiday spirit, especially if it means feeling and experiencing anything I listed above.
For those who find it abhorrent to celebrate early, if the holiday season can’t start at the beginning of November then when is the appropriate time for it to start? The first of December? Twelve days before Christmas like in the song? Only on Christmas day? Why gatekeep when people celebrate? In times like these, it’s difficult to find things to look forward to. If dreaming of a white Christmas when it’s 70 degrees outside gives you hope and excitement, then hold onto that dream and keep jamming to Irving Berlin until it comes true! If watching “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” gives you that boost of serotonin that you need to get through the week, then go watch that holiday classic! Christmas is not about the date it occurs on but about the feeling it evokes. If those feelings are positive ones, why limit your happiness to one day in December?
It may seem sacrilegious, but I start to listen to Christmas music in July and watch “Elf” year-round. Why? Because it makes me happy and that should be enough. Whether you’re barely making a dent in your Thanksgiving leftovers or already putting up your tree, have a happy holiday and enjoy it the way you want to, when you want to. ‘Tis the season!
