Halloween has come to an end, so now what? For me, this means it’s time to start celebrating Christmas. Right about now, I start to bring bring out the Christmas movies, songs, decorations, and my holiday spirit! While I love Thanksgiving and a good ol’ feast, I still want to celebrate and bask in the Christmas spirit for as long as possible. That means November 1st comes and so does the start of Christmas season! I know some people don’t celebrate Christmas at all and some celebrate it simply as an American culture holiday, but the season spirit can be spread to everyone. There are going to be people that come at me for November being “too early” for Christmas, but here are some benefits to celebrating Christmas and starting to get in the holiday spirit beginning in November.
- It makes you happier.
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It is known that Christmas music and decorations do in fact make you happier. Psychologists have reported this by saying that the nostalgic feeling of the music and decorations increases dopamine and makes you want to recreate those happy memories faster. Also by listening to Christmas music and putting up decorations it engages the person into the excitement of the holiday season which makes them happier. For those who don’t have the happiest memories with the holiday season try making a new tradition that you can associate with in the future.
- There’s tons of great sales.
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Starting the Christmas shopping early means you don’t have to stress last minute. Plus all the great sales can happen pre-Christmas. Take advantage of Black Friday Sales and Cyber Monday! Treat yourself and buy things for yourself too! Don’t forget one of the best sales… Bath and Body Works candle sale to help with the coziness of the holiday (aka step 3).
- It’s the coziest time of the year.
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The weather gets colder and it gets darker earlier which just makes me want to curl up by the fire with a big blanket, hot chocolate and a Christmas movie on the TV. To me the holidays always represent excitement but also coziness. The coziness just represents those moments when you need to slow down, take a break, and live in the holiday season by yourself or with those around you. Start as soon as the weather changes because the decorations will be gone in two months and soon enough (especially in NC) the heat will come again.
- 25 days just isn’t enough!
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The biggest reason of all- there are too many Christmas movies to watch especially now with the Netflix and Hallmark movies and the classics. Plus if you’re like me and need to watch Elf, and Home Alone about 5 times to be satisfied, you simply can’t reach that in a span of 25 days! Also for us college folks, we most likely have final exams the first two weeks of December and are stressed, which means we can’t bask in the holiday spirit until afterwards. Even for those not in college they have school until mere days before Christmas which just isn’t enough time! Then there are also way too many traditions for just 25 days: shopping, decorating, sending Christmas cards, wrapping presents, making Christmas cookies, seeing all the Christmas lights and decorations in town, gingerbread houses, getting a tree, etc. With all the things holiday season entails, it gives you activities for at least 2 months!
While there are a bunch of reasons why Christmas should be celebrated as soon as November hits there will be those people who still argue. Shake those people off because if celebrating Christmas as soon as November makes you happier and enjoy the season more than who cares what those scrooges say. Plus just tell them these benefits and say scientists prove it’s okay! So don’t be ashamed for getting those decorations out and blasting Christmas music because I’m right there with you.