Halloween season is officially underway and will be done before we know it. As we put away our pumpkins and spooky skeletons, we begin the age old debate: when do we put up the Christmas decorations? That is, of course, if you do not have them up already. The Christmas tree and your Santa Claus collection are waiting at the ready, desperate to come out of storage and into the limelight.
Growing up, my family was a strict “no Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving” household. My mother’s birthday is in late November and it was important we not gloss over her day for the sake of presents. We were strict about no decorations going up until after Thanksgiving, usually not until the start of December. If my birthday was at the same time, I would probably hold the same sentiment. Nobody wants their birthday presents to double as Christmas presents.Â
However, I assume most families do not have this same problem and the only big event standing in the way of putting up those Christmas lights is Thanksgiving. Then, the real debate begins. Is Thanksgiving a big enough holiday to warrant the delay of Christmas spirit? Does one decent meal take precedence over the joy of Santa Claus? This whole debate is not even considering the position college students are in. Is it sensible to wait until after Thanksgiving when most of us will be home by mid December?Â
As a Christmas enthusiast myself, I have thought long and hard about how my future household will settle this debate and I have come to the proper conclusion. Christmas begins on November 1st. That’s right. I said it. There is Halloween season and there is Christmas season, but there is no such thing as Thanksgiving season. There isn’t even really a market for Thanksgiving decorations. The ones that do exist mostly double as Halloween decorations. Additionally, can we even give a “season” to a holiday only one country celebrates?Â
Now, I am probably being a bit harsher than necessary. Thanksgiving has always been hosted at my family’s house, which means it was always associated with a fall deep clean to prepare for guests. As a kid, cleaning was an enemy that destroyed thoughts of celebration. Honestly, that has not changed much. On the other hand, Christmas was always spent going somewhere else and messing up their house, something I could definitely get behind.Â
But it doesn’t really matter what moment we choose to start celebrating the holiday. No matter what time you decide, you will most likely be considered insane for your decision by somebody else. So, do whatever you want. Keep your Christmas lights all year round. Leave all your decorations out all year round to save some time. Do whatever brings you the most joy, because that is what the holiday season is about.
