Now that it’s December, the holiday season is upon us. Besides the obvious change in temperature here in Minnesota, which is pretty hard to miss, there are many other clues that hint that ‘tis the season!
1. The TV Commercials
Most of the department stores start showing these commercials before Halloween is even over. But these commercials forego Thanksgiving for the big money making holiday, Christmas. They showcase what you can get for Christmas or special layover deals. These get annoyingly played until after Christmas. Can you believe that we see some of these commercials for over two months?
2. Department store’s “Seasonal Section”
These “Seasonal Sections” are always set up so far in advance. Going into Target the day before Halloween this year, they already had most of the section transformed into a winter wonderland. This, paired with the constant holiday commercials, flips the switch in everyone’s mind that it’s time to start preparing for Christmas, even when it’s two months away, just so you buy more stuff.
3. Holiday Movies and Episodes on TV
All the TV stations are playing either Christmas movies or the holiday episodes of their TV shows already. ABC Freeform’s 25 Days of Christmas is a very common one as well as Hallmark’s original movies. It’s hard to flip through channels and not see a holiday themed program.
4. The infamous Starbucks Cups and the yummy seasonal drinks!
What is it with these disposable cups that people keep freaking out over? Aside from the drama they cause, at least you know that holidays are here when the color of the cups change and the holiday drinks are here to accompany them! Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulee Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte, Eggnog Lattes, Holiday Spiced Flat White and many more all wrapped up in a new pretty holiday cup!
5. Holiday Music in the air
If you still listen to the radio, many of the stations automatically get into the holiday spirit at the beginning of November. Some stores also having holiday music playing over the intercom system. Thankfully, most of us probably use Pandora or Spotify so we can control when we actually start listening to holiday music.
6. Light, lights and more lights!
When people put up lights on their house or even on the trees in Dinkytown and downtown, you know the holidays are upon us. The colorful lights look so pretty at night and fill everyone with holiday spirit!
7. Ugly Sweaters
My favorite aspect of this trend is that it started off as a joke to give an ugly sweater as a gift, but it has turned into something so much bigger. Not only are people wearing them but stores are selling them. You can’t go anywhere without seeing one. Even the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon gives away an ugly sweater during each show leading up to Christmas. Whether this be a party theme or a fashion statement, when the ugly Christmas sweaters come out, the holiday season is surely knocking at your door.
8. The Holidazzle Village
Formerly known as the Holidazzle Parade, the Holidazzle Village has always been a Minneapolis staple of the holiday season and that is one truism that didn’t change with the name. Opening right after Thanksgiving, this little European Christmas village located in downtown Minneapolis features a merry go round, an ornament shop as well as stands selling delicate trinkets. Not to mention there are multiple food stands inside the village where you can eat up delicious desserts like cinnamon roasted nuts or drink some hot cider or cocoa. You can also meet Santa and pet real reindeer.
9. Snow and Cold. Duh.
We live in Minnesota and of course the biggest hint of the holidays is that white fluffy stuff falling from the sky and messing up the roads. There’s always that nice layer on the sidewalks to cover up the ice underneath so when we are walking around Minneapolis, we look like newborn dear slipping and sliding all over the place! The hopes for a snow-covered holiday season are almost always certain, and we all get very excited after the first snowfall. With the cold and the snow comes the winter wardrobe. You know it’s getting to be the holiday season when it’s time to pack up the summer clothes and find your leggings and fuzzy socks. Not to mention we have to get out our snow boots, hats, ear muffs, mittens, scarves and puffy parkas. Layers are also very important in order to keep warm during the frigid Minnesota winters.
The holidays are officially coming. ‘Tis the season to be jolly!