Some people agree that the holiday season should begin immediately after Halloween, while others argue that Thanksgiving should be honored first. So the question is, when should Christmas celebrations really begin? 

Christmas Should Begin Immediately After Halloween:

Even though the crisp fall air is enticing to commence Christmas festivities, I believe that Christmas should begin after Thanksgiving, otherwise people are more likely to get tired of the holiday before it even begins. Listening to Mariah Carey in every store and on each car ride and watching Home Alone on repeat may seem fun throughout November, but as soon as December hits, you will likely feel exhausted and Christmased-out. This is a major factor that contributes to why most teenagers lack the seasonal joy and Christmas spirit that prospered within them as a child. By the time Christmas rolls around, you will be itching to pack up all of your decorations and move into summer to avoid the typical winter depression, when you could have elongated the festivities until Christmas rather than wearing them out a month early.  I think enough has been said about this perspective…

Wait for Thanksgiving:

On the contrary, several people believe that Christmas music should become a norm after Thanksgiving and not a minute sooner. If Christmas is celebrated right after Halloween, then the entire holiday and exuberance of Thanksgiving is completely looked over. You are less likely to enjoy the traditional Thanksgiving celebrations because you will be so fixated on the arrival of Christmas, such as watching the New York City Rockettes and decadent cartoon character floats bounce through the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, acting as a sous-chef while preparing every Thanksgiving dish you can think of, watching the classic A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, playing family football, and feasting with the family and friends that you love most. It would be tragic for all of these traditions to be overlooked and unappreciated just because you couldn’t wait one more week to listen to Last Christmas.

Additionally, the historical and cultural aspects of Thanksgiving should not be forgotten, as it has been an American and Canadian tradition to celebrate the harvest and bounty of the previous year with an elaborate feast accompanied by an essence of gratitude and love since the Pilgrims arrival at Plymouth years ago.

Most importantly, if you wait until after Thanksgiving to begin your Christmas karaoke, you will be much more excited and into the Christmas spirit after 11 months of waiting and anticipation. In simpler terms, Thanksgiving is an essential holiday that should be celebrated, too. 

My Take: Slow Immersion

I believe that Christmas music should be integrated into your daily routine very slowly throughout November, so that you are even more enticed to bring out your Christmas spirit as the holiday approaches. My technique is to begin listening to holiday music in the second week of November because during the first week, most people are still winding down from Halloween and packing up all of their costumes and decorations, and you don’t want to make the seasonal transition seem too uncomfortable and abrupt.

Additionally, I think that people should begin by listening to winter music at the start of November so that the magic of the classic Christmas songs will be preserved until the holiday is closer to approaching. For example, songs like “Let is Snow” and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Dean Martin, “Skating” by Vince Guaraldi, “My Favorite Things” by Julie Andrews, “Forever Winter” and “Christmas Tree Farm” by Taylor Swift (really the whole Taylor Swift holiday collection), and possibly even “Winter Wonderland” by Johnny Mathis and “Frosty the Snowman.” Songs that I would consider strictly Christmas include “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey, “Last Christmas” by Wham!, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Bublé, “Feliz Navidad” by José Feliciano, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Darlene Love, “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCarteny, and many more.

I also recommend alternating your winter music with what you would usually listen to throughout the rest of the year during November, then switch to Christmas music only throughout the month of December. This way, you won’t be dying to switch the station or playlist as soon as a Christmas song comes on before Christmas even arrives. Don’t get me wrong, I love Thanksgiving, and Christmas even more, but I believe that both holidays should be celebrated somewhat equivalently (with a little more emphasis on Christmas). 

*Side note: I don’t really apologize if this article has made the “Post-Thanksgiving Only” group want to listen to Christmas music early.