When is it too early for Christmas? by Syndi Powell
I've been watching Christmas movies since before Halloween. I've also been listening to Christmas audiobooks since August. I can't help it. I love Christmas. The sense of anticipation and expectation. Family togetherness. And the belief that miracles could happen.
Not everyone starts celebrating Christmas as early as I do. In fact, there have been several memes on Facebook warning people not to start Christmas music before Thanksgiving. But I'll let you in on a secret: I've had it playing for weeks.
So when is the right time to start decorating for Christmas? To play Josh Groban's "Noel"? To watch "It's a Wonderful Life?" Is there a time limit for these things?
My dad worked retail at Montgomery Wards when I was little back in the early 1970s, and the store would start playing Christmas carols on November 1st. Christmas merchandise was brought out at the end of October before Halloween. So those who argue that retailers are starting the holidays sooner every year have a short memory. Retailers were ALWAYS early.
While I might not want every day to be Christmas, I don't think there is a set day that makes it acceptable to start celebrating. I also believe that it's different for everyone. There are some like me who start early before Thanksgiving. My mom waits to play Christmas music until the day after Thanksgiving. I have some friends who wait until December 1st or later.
I'm going to go back to watching my Hallmark Christmas movies and drinking my hot chocolate. And I'm sharing the photo of the ornament my dad made when he was just a kid. It's been in our family for over 60 years:
So when do you start celebrating Christmas?
I think about prezzies to buy in September but nothing formal until the first weekend in Christmas. But I can't repress the music. I'll be out in my garden in June and suddenly start humming 'Deck the Halls'.
ReplyDeleteLike your mom, I swing into action right after Thanksgiving. But I make gift lists in my mind well before then and actually have bought a few presents ahead of my “schedule” this year. Oh, and I’ve already watched one Hallmark movie. 😉 Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThe day after Thanksgiving! However, I watch the Hallmark movies anytime.
ReplyDeleteSyndi, I buy gifts early as I have to wrap to ship to most of my family, but I don't decorate until after Thanksgiving. I guess that's also when I turn on Christmas music. I had a friend in Texas who collected Santas, so she started bringing them out with the first sign of fall as she had so many. We all enjoyed her decorating early. I don't think there's a set time, it's whatever moves you. I notice HSN and QVC started doing their holiday shows weeks ago. I'm sure prior to Halloween.
ReplyDeleteSyndi, Boy do I love this throwback to how it USED to be. Because I remember the Woolworth's had those little Christmas candles out the day after Halloween. $.10 each back then. But I also, always think of the Elvis Presley song, "If Every Day Could Be Like Christmas." It's one of my favorites and still makes me cry. If we could all think of the true spirit of Christmas, kindness and giving to each other, "what a wonderful world this would be."
ReplyDeleteFor the record, my entire house is done this year. I'm off to Houston on Friday and when I get back I have four days till I throw a big birthday party. Shopping is not done. Cards not done and only the first 150 cookies baked and being distributed..okay, those will be Thanksgiving cookies this year.
I USED to have a Christmas tree up in my office all year. Don't have a private office anymore. I spare my friends who are more "Bah humbug" than me.
I buy presents and the occasional Christmas decoration whenever I see them throughout the year, but the tree usually didn't go up until December. We've always had real trees, so that limited the time, but I bought a nice artificial one after Christmas last year, so I can put it up the day after Thanksgiving. Yay!
ReplyDeleteI must be a humbugger because I don't do anything Christmas related until mid December. It started when my second child was born on Decemember 12th. My father is a Christmas baby and he said when he was little, his birthday wasn't special because everyone was worried about Christmas. So the rule at our house was no tree, no decorations until December 13th. That way she could look forward to her birthday was special.
ReplyDeleteIt's never too early, IMO. I'm having to stop myself from decorating because our tradition has always been to decorate on Thanksgiving while the turkey cooks. I. Can't. Wait!!!!! And yes, I'm one of those who does a little dance of joy when the new items arrive in stores...before Halloween, LOL.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who put her Christmas tree up November 1 because she had no place to put all the presents she'd already bought and wrapped. :-) I want to hate her since I won't even buy my Christmas Cards until the last minute, but I don't. I do go over and enjoy her tree. :-)
ReplyDeleteLike Patricia's friend, we put up our Christmas decorations on November 1. The season passes so quickly, I want to enjoy it for as long as I can. Of course my father always asks, "What happened to Thanksgiving?" Since I put our autumn decorations up on September 1st, I think I'm covered. )
ReplyDeleteI like it any time, but I always seem to be running behind. The tree's usually up Thanksgiving weekend, but everything else...as it happens. Like you, though, I'm listening to the music now.
ReplyDeleteAll holidays seem to be coming earlier and earlier every year! For Christmas, I wait until after Thanksgiving...partly because I love fall decor too and don't want to put it away and partly because I can only keep the cats from climbing the Christmas tree or swatting ornaments for so long lol.
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