Every year, as soon as Halloween ends, the same debate begins: Is it too early to start celebrating Christmas, or is Nov. 1 officially the beginning of the holiday season?
Some people have their Christmas trees up before the Halloween decorations are even put away, while others refuse to listen to a single Christmas song until Thanksgiving is over.
Personally, I’m on the side of decorating before Thanksgiving. But I also understand why people prefer to wait. After all, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, too.
The Nov. 1 Christmas Crowd
For some people, the second the calendar turns to November, it’s officially Christmas season. The decorations come out, the Christmas music starts playing, and suddenly everything feels a little more festive.
I completely understand this mindset because there’s something about Christmas decorations that makes me happy.
I love the process of decorating, but what I love even more is the atmosphere it creates afterward. The lights, the decorations, and the overall feeling of the house during the holiday season are some of my favorite things.
My family keeps our Christmas decorations up for almost three months, and honestly, I love getting to enjoy them for that long.
If decorating early brings you happiness, why not enjoy it for a little longer?
But What About Thanksgiving?
Of course, there’s also the other side of the debate. Some people believe Christmas celebrations should wait until Thanksgiving is over, and I completely understand their reasoning.
Thanksgiving is often overlooked between Halloween and Christmas, especially when stores start putting out Christmas decorations before October is even over.
And as someone who genuinely loves Thanksgiving, I understand wanting to give the holiday the attention it deserves.
There’s something special about spending time with family, enjoying Thanksgiving dinner, and having traditions that are completely separate from Christmas.
But I don’t necessarily think decorating for Christmas early means you’re skipping Thanksgiving. You can have a Christmas tree in your living room and still fully enjoy Thanksgiving dinner.
The two holidays don’t have to compete with each other.
Why Does Christmas Seem to Start Earlier Every Year?
It’s hard to ignore how early the Christmas season seems to begin, especially when you’re shopping.
Sometimes, stores have Christmas decorations out before Halloween has even happened. Social media doesn’t help either, with people sharing their Christmas decorating videos, holiday shopping hauls, and festive routines earlier every year.
For some people, this makes the holiday season more exciting. For others, it can feel like we’re rushing through the year without enjoying what’s happening right now.
I think both perspectives make sense. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to hold on to fall a little longer, just like there’s nothing wrong with being excited for Christmas.
So, When Should Christmas Actually Start?
I don’t think there’s one correct answer.
Some families have traditions of decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving, while others start much earlier. Everyone celebrates differently, and that’s part of what makes the holidays special.
Personally, I’ll always love decorating before Thanksgiving. Christmas makes me happy, and I love having my house decorated for as long as possible.
But that doesn’t mean I love Thanksgiving any less or think everyone needs to celebrate the same way I do.
Whether your Christmas tree goes up Nov. 1 or Dec. 1, I think we can all agree on one thing: The holiday season should be about enjoying the traditions that make us happy, not arguing about when we’re allowed to start them.