Just a couple of days before Thanksgiving break, one of my suitemates breaks out the always jolly Christmas music playlist. We happily danced along to versions of “White Christmas” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful” as we packed and eagerly waited to return home. A few days after Thanksgiving, the topic of Christmas music was brought up once again with friends from home. These two days got me thinking; when is the “right” time to play Christmas music?
A poll done by CBC News in 2014 showed that about 46 percent of people think it is okay to hear Christmas music in December. Approximately 30 percent say it’s okay after Remembrance Day; 10 percent state the week before Christmas; 5 percent say it’s acceptable after Halloween; 6 percent say never; and 2 percent say any time.
A study outlined by Fox News focuses on the harmful effects of Christmas music on a person’s psychological health. Clinical psychologist Linda Blair states that the usual jolly music forces people to remember all the stressful aspects of the holiday season such as buying presents. Blair also focuses on health of employees who constantly listen to the music on repeat. She states it could be distracting and irritating to people if it is played too early. These effects can lead to a decline in a person’s mental health.
Blair’s study has weaved its way into many articles on other news websites such as Cosmopolitan and Daily News. It first made an appearance in a Sky News article, where Adam Parsons examined how a retail shop called The Entertainer in England uses Christmas music to attract shoppers.
“That is the key. Christmas music is played in shops for one reason—to make us feel in the mood to celebrate with families and friends. And in the world of retail, you celebrate by spending money,” Parsons said.
According to another study completed by Victoria Williamson referenced in an NBC article, the effect music has on a person depends on how that person is feeling prior to listening to the music. Williamson states if a person is stressed about the upcoming holiday season, they may be less likely to enjoy the newest rendition of that classic Christmas song playing in the mall than a person who is stress-free. As a result, a calmer person may create “happy associations” that in turn make a person feel even better than they were.
These “happy associations” are what retail shops like The Entertainer feed off of. As people get lost in a blissful nostalgia from the cheery tunes, retailers shove product after product down their throats. It’s highly unlikely that stores will cease the endless loop of Christmas songs even with new studies such as Blair’s showing the detrimental effects on mental health.
So, when is it the right time to break out the original “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” or one of its many covers? According to retailers, Christmas music should make its yearly grand debut as soon as possible—such as October for owner of The Entertainer Gary Grant. According to people like Blair, the Christmas music should be put on hold for as long as possible because of how frustrating, disrupting, and damaging it can be. Where is the happy medium?
Currently, there is no happy medium and there probably won’t be one for a long time. So, start playing Christmas music whenever you desire. It doesn’t matter if it is in October, December, or even July. Satisfy your own needs, but be sure to be courteous to those around you who may not be ready to start “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”
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