Every November, the same debate arises: Is it too early to start decorating for Christmas? A lot of people believe that Christmas decorations shouldn’t go up until after Thanksgiving, while others are ready to pull out their Christmas trees when Halloween is over. Personally, I’ve always been someone who loves decorating early, and I don’t really understand why it’s such a controversial topic.
One of the biggest arguments I hear against decorating for Christmas early is that we’re somehow skipping over Thanksgiving. I’ve even seen people online argue that putting up Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving somehow means that you’re overlooking the importance of gratitude and family. And while I can appreciate that sentiment, I think we’re treating Thanksgiving a little too seriously.
After all, it’s called the holiday season for a reason.
It’s fall decor, not Thanksgiving decor
First of all, can we talk about the fact that Thanksgiving barely has its own aesthetic?
When you think about Christmas, you immediately think of Christmas trees, colorful lights, tinsel, and all of the other decor that makes the season feel so magical. There’s Christmas music, Christmas movies, and huge store sections dedicated to Christmas decorations.
But what exactly are we decorating with for Thanksgiving?
Pumpkins? Leaves? A few orange and brown throw pillows? I’m sorry, but that’s just fall decor. You can put those decorations up in September and leave them out until November without anyone questioning it. Unless you’re Martha Stewart arranging a cornucopia in the middle of your dining table, I don’t think there’s a really distinct Thanksgiving decorating tradition that we’re missing out on.
And the same goes for music. We have countless Christmas songs that people look forward to hearing every year, but when was the last time you heard someone put on their fire Thanksgiving playlist? Or your local Target was playing the latest Ariana Grande Thanksgiving song? I’m sure Thanksgiving songs exist somewhere, but they’re certainly not in my Spotify library.
That’s not to say I don’t find Thanksgiving enjoyable. I love Thanksgiving as much as the next person. I thoroughly enjoy loading up my plate and just going at it. But let’s not pretend that having a Christmas tree in the background is somehow going to ruin the experience.
It’s called the holiday season for a reason
I’ve always thought of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s as different pieces in one big holiday season. They each have their own traditions, but they also share the same general atmosphere of spending time with people you love, celebrating, and enjoying the year winding down.
And I know when I say the holiday season, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s the twinkling lights, festive music, cozy evenings, and those holiday commercials where everyone’s gathered around a beautifully decorated table. Is it Thanksgiving? Christmas? New Year’s? Who knows! That’s kind of the point.
I don’t think these holidays need to be separated into completely different celebrations. If anything, I believe that they really complement each other.
Having a Christmas tree up doesn’t mean you’re legally barred from celebrating Thanksgiving. You can still enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner, spend time with your family, and be grateful for whatever while a Christmas tree sits in the corner.
And doesn’t that sound so nice?
Since when did Turkey determine your morality?
Something else I’ve noticed about this debate is how seriously some people take it. I’ve seen comments suggesting that somehow decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving means you’re ignoring the importance of gratitude or giving in to consumerism.
And I just have to ask: how did we even get here?
I understand that Thanksgiving is traditionally associated with gratitude, but I don’t think being thankful is something that has to be limited to one Thursday in November. You can appreciate your family, reflect on the good things you have in life, and practice gratitude throughout the entire year.
And if we’re going to argue that Christmas is somehow less focused on family, I think we’re forgetting that spending time with loved ones is a pretty big part of Christmas as well.
I also think there’s something worth acknowledging about Thanksgiving’s history. The version many of us learned in elementary school, where Pilgrims and Native Americans happily gathered around a long, wooden table to set their differences aside and eat a nice meal together, leaves out a much more complex history of colonization and the mistreatment of Indigenous peoples.
So, while I understand why some people value Thanksgiving as a time of gratitude, I don’t necessarily think we need to treat its place on the calendar as some kind of sacred date that tinsel isn’t allowed to cross.
And as for the consumerism argument, I promise you guys that my Christmas tree isn’t single-handedly responsible for the commercialization of the holidays. I’ve had the same little pink tinsel tree for as long as I can remember. If anything, I’d argue that I’m being pretty sustainable.
Why are we putting a time limit on holiday cheer?
Another reason I’ve always loved decorating early is that I want to enjoy the holiday season for as long as possible.
Especially as a college student, I feel like the end of the year goes by so fast. Between assignments, finals, work, and everything else going on, December can feel like it’s over before it even starts.
For me, Thanksgiving break is the perfect time to decorate for Christmas. It’s one of the few times during the semester when I actually have enough free time to put everything up without worrying about some deadline. And once everything is decorated, I get to enjoy it throughout the rest of the season.
There’s something so comforting about coming home to a room filled with Christmas lights and the smell of peppermint. Little things like that make the end of the year feel a little more exciting, especially when life is so stressful.
And with everything going on in the world, I think we could all use a little more joy and magic in our lives. If putting up a Christmas tree in November makes someone happy, why is that such a problem?
There’s enough holiday spirit to go around
At the end of the day, I honestly don’t think everyone needs to start decorating for Christmas on November 1st. If you prefer waiting until after Thanksgiving, that’s perfectly fine! But I also don’t think people who decorate early should have to defend their honor year after year.
I love Thanksgiving and will absolutely be enjoying my Thanksgiving dinner. But I also really love Christmas, and I don’t see why I should have to wait until the end of November to start enjoying everything that comes with it.
To me, the holiday season isn’t about celebrating one holiday at a time. It’s about embracing all the fun traditions, memories, and experiences that make this time of year extra special.
So yes, my Christmas tree might be up before Thanksgiving. I’ll still be grateful for the great people in my life: I’ll still be enjoying my Thanksgiving dinner, and I’ll definitely still be going back for three more rolls.
Because Thanksgiving and Christmas can, in fact, coexist, and I promise a few twinkling lights aren’t going to kill you.