As the temperature begins to drop, and winter turns the corner, preparations and decorations follow closely in order. The environment shifts from pumpkin spice and crisp leaves to white winter wonderlands, snow coating the eaves. Though here in Florida it doesn’t quite snow, the festivities still liven up people’s homes. Yet the burning question remains: is it too early to celebrate this season’s holidays?
Constant debate surrounds the question if we as a community celebrate the holiday season too early. Oftentimes, thanksgiving is forgotten and passed over completely. A possible reason for this forgetfulness is fewer festivities to participate in for the holiday.
“There are multiple reasons why Thanksgiving gets skipped. For one, Thanksgiving doesn’t have any fun songs or carols,” BullDog Barker said.
The main attractive factor of the winter month’s holidays is the exciting events it has in store like ice skating, tree picking and decorating, holiday shopping, food and drinks, and snow fun in certain locations. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving has a small amount of events. Most of them happen the day of the holiday like the Macy’s parade, football games, 5k turkey trot in Miami, etc, though certain areas have their own celebrations.
“It was once considered to be the general rule of thumb to wait until after Thanksgiving before decorating for Christmas, but, in modern times, that no longer seems to be the case. “People are getting excited [for Christmas] earlier and earlier,” Etsy trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson said.
Aside from the people, businesses like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts are also guilty of early celebration this year. Starbucks’s winter menu was released on November 7th, just a week after Halloween. Meanwhile, Dunkin’s menu was released even earlier on November 1st, only a day after Halloween.
Even Mariah Carey posted her holiday entrance video for the winter season on November 1st, at midnight. This year her theme was Adam’s Family.
According to People.com, “Shortly after midnight on Friday, Nov. 1, the singer, 55 — known as the Queen of the festive holidays — shared her annual “It’s Time” video on Instagram following Halloween, and this year, she channeled The Addams Family‘s Morticia Addams.”
On the other hand, sometimes people find a strong happiness in decorating for the season early. It gives them a taste of their imagination and nostalgia from their childhood that warms their whole house with spirit and good memories. When decorating, it brings out people’s inner kindness.
“There’s another possible benefit to decorating early, though: The neighbors might think you’re friendlier! Research has shown that people interpret Christmas decorations on a home as a cue that the people inside are sociable,” Today.com said.
Both sides have a clear difference in ideas and reasoning, and I can see both sides and the point they are trying to get across. Decorating for the holidays mid-November is the perfect time, so during the rush of Thanksgiving, you already have holiday decorations checked off your list. I wouldn’t decorate during October or early November in appreciation for Thanksgiving. I also think that Starbucks and Dunkin’ can hold on releasing their drinks till mid-November as well. So, as carols start before the snow, is it too early for winter’s glow?
