As Andy Williams once wrote, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” The season of joy, bliss and the smell of pine has finally arrived! Many would argue that November just started or Halloween just ended so there’s no way it’s time to start celebrating Christmas. However, I’m 1000% certain that the lights should be strung up and the halls should be decked on Nov. 1.
First off, Christmastime is oftentimes referred to as the SEASON of giving, while Thanksgiving is called the DAY of thanks. The term ‘season’ clearly implies more than one day, however it also implies more than a singular month. In fact, a season typically lasts three months, hence why many individuals celebrate Christmas during the months of November, December, and January (I’m one of those individuals). The breakdown looks something like this: November is the time to get out the decorations and cover your entire house in tinsel, nutcrackers and obviously, the Christmas tree (more toward the end of the month so it’s fresher for Christmas day). December is when you should be soaking in the scent of pine, cinnamon and peppermint, as well as spending time with family and celebrating the actual holiday. Finally, January is the time to take in the last bits of the joyous holiday season before waiting another 365 days to do it all over again.
In case the detailed monthly breakdown wasn’t enough, there’s also decorations that need to be taken into consideration. I know I briefly mentioned decorating, however there is much more to it than just taking storage bins out of the garage or attic and throwing garland and tinsel up. Let me ask you something; do you know anyone who owns more Thanksgiving decorations than Christmas ones? No? Exactly. You may own a blow-up turkey or two and a string of fall themed lights to hang on the mantle, but that’s probably the extent of it. On the other hand, with Christmas, almost nobody owns less than five to ten nutcrackers, ten strands of lights in different colors and sizes, five to ten blow-ups of snowmen, Santa or reindeer and multitude of other decorations such as festive wall signs, snow globes, figurines and more. With all those knick knacks, it takes a while to put everything up, and once that is done, you’re gonna want time to admire your house all Christmased up. For this reason, December is just too short of a time period to decorate, celebrate, and then take everything down so you gotta start early!
Even though I am a person who believes Christmas begins as soon as Halloween ends, I’m in no way saying Thanksgiving shouldn’t be celebrated or acknowledged. Actually, I love Thanksgiving, all the delicious food and the principle of the holiday as a whole. All I’m saying is that it doesn’t need an entire month of celebration and while you’re waiting for Turkey Day to arrive, why not start the Christmas festivities? So, what are you waiting for?! Throw those pumpkins into the compost bins, take down the fall decorations and DECK THE HALLS!!
