Last week, my roommates and I began to shop for Christmas trees. When my other friends found out about this, we were met with numerous sentiments telling us that it was way too early to start doing this. However, I have a magnitude of reasons for why I think it is really not that crazy to start getting into the holiday spirit.
As a student at Florida State, all my classes are over and done with by early December. When my classes are over, my parents are very insistent that I come home right away. Therefore, I believe that it only makes sense to put up my Christmas tree and decorations early. That way, I actually get to enjoy seeing them in my apartment before I go home for the majority of the month. Of course, I won’t go full-out until November, but some warm lights framing my windows and some small trinkets will definitely find a home in my living room and kitchen over the next few weeks in preparation for the holidays.
October is also the best time to start easing into Christmas movies. Movies such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands are great ways to bridge the gap between the two seasons. Additionally, this is the best time to start shows like Gilmore Girls and Stranger Things. However, I have already started watching some of my annual favorites like Christmas With the Kranks and Elf. These movies are so lighthearted and always end on a good note, and frankly, after the past two years that we have had, we could all use that.
Even if you don’t want to celebrate any holidays yet, I think that this is the best time to start preparing. If you get there early enough, a lot of stores like Hobby Lobby and Walmart will have last year’s decor on super clearance. Even online retailers like Amazon have huge deals going on. This would be the perfect time for college students to get their first Christmas tree and other bigger decor items for a lot cheaper.
This is also the best time to start looking for Christmas presents, especially since I like to get more personalized items that may take a while to come in. Some of my favorite items from Etsy this year have been a hoodie where the artist will embroider a picture of your dog’s face, a custom-made neon sign and a custom cityscape ring. These types of gifts are my favorites because they mean so much more to the person you’re giving them to, and they help support smaller artists. However, these kinds of presents take a while to make and take even longer to come in the mail.
While everyone else celebrates Halloween, I will already be getting into the spirit of Christmas. Even if you still do not think that it is reasonable to start celebrating so early, I hope I have at least left you with some tips and gift ideas.
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