I have discovered two classes of human beings: those who celebrate Christmas starting on Nov. 1 and everyone else.
It seems as if Christmas is no longer a holiday that is merely celebrated; it is lived and lived to the fullest. It’s hard to tell who exactly is responsible. Is it us because we’re all so collectively exhausted from the last few years of “unprecedented times”? Is it Gen Z-ers on TikTok getting hyper-excited? Or maybe it’s Mariah Carey‘s fault?
In the last four months of every year, companies have always tried to get ahead of the holiday rush for two reasons. The first is that they have inventory to get rid of. Second, they can turn more excitement (and more profit) by bringing in the holidays early. In the same way that Target sells bathing suits in January, Michael’s will be selling wreaths in October. Nowadays, they seem to be more aware of the early-celebration trend. Take this recent Zulily commercial, for example. The man is still in “pumpkin land,” as proven by his sweater but the woman has her attention firmly locked on holiday deals:
I have joked with people that if there were songs about Thanksgiving, maybe that would be what it finally takes to make it as valued a holiday as the ones it sits between. Choosing to ignore Thanksgiving is condoning the idea that only the consumption aspects of the holiday season are important. It also shuns what Thanksgiving is supposed to be: a time of gratitude, family, friends and food. It’s about being thankful for what we have. It’s never been as flashy a holiday as Halloween or Christmas, which might be why it seems to be shrinking in the public consciousness.
Halloween and Christmas are both framed in the context of “stuff,” whether it be costumes, candy or presents. If these are the times of year when children and adults get things, Thanksgiving is the red herring because its purpose is to remind you to slow down, take stock of what you already have, and appreciate it. These skills are not naturally hardwired in us so it seems strange that Thanksgiving would fall between two holidays based on hyper-consumption. However, it’s important that we have these skills. Otherwise, we will only be supporting one rush to the next, allowing no breathing room in between. Companies are benefiting greatly from early Christmas celebrations but it puts a strain on those who want no part in it. After all, it affects everyone.
For this Thanksgiving (and all the future ones), please let it provide you a time to decompress from the sugary chaos of the cold-weather holidays. And I’m not here to chastise anyone who wants to celebrate early. If you want to decorate for Christmas before December because it makes you happy and/or provides some welcome relief, I will respect your decision to do so, even if I don’t personally agree. I am simply saying that those who do prefer to celebrate the holidays prematurely should not impose on anyone who wants to celebrate them more methodically. The same goes for those who celebrate in December, too. Respect for each other’s joys is a two-way street. We can all have our holidays and enjoy them in our own ways.