By: Lucy Cronin

As homeowners pack away their plastic skeletons and jack-o-lanterns, it’s officially that time of year when people begin celebrating one of the most anticipated holidays—Christmas. The stores fill with decor as early as September, leaving just an endcap for forgotten Thanksgiving. People rush to grab the newest holiday-themed supplies, quickly replacing their fall decor with artificial trees and festive lights. Premature holiday celebration prompts an important debate: when is the best time to decorate for Christmas?

Despite the joys of this food-filled day, some choose to skip over Thanksgiving and go straight to spreading Christmas cheer. Thanksgiving is a holiday representing gratitude and tradition, a meaningful day for family and friends to come together. Families pack around a table full of delicious turkey, stuffing, and sweet potatoes, celebrating each other and bonding over a warm and filling meal. Thanksgiving creates a sense of unity within communities that many cherish as an annual tradition, and because of that, they choose to give the holiday its own month of celebration.

“It’s always been a fun day for me and my family, and I think having decorations for other holidays around ruins the fun of it and takes away from the experience. It’s unfortunate that a lot of people seem to almost ignore it,” junior Sam Keiner said.

On the opposing end, many people prefer the joy and traditions that come with Christmas and choose to begin celebrating much earlier. Listening to classic Christmas songs and putting out their stockings before or during November gives them more time to celebrate, and those not fond of Thanksgiving may not feel like they’re missing out on much.

“I listen to Christmas music year-round, it’s just the best holiday. My family puts up our decorations some time during November, and I think it’s fun to enjoy it for as long as possible. Thanksgiving is kind of boring, so it doesn’t really need its own decor,” junior Olivia Newman shared.

Others think the decorations lose their magic the longer they sit out, and especially in stores, they can become an annoyance when put out months in advance. Decorations specific to Christmas fill up the shelves of every department store around as soon as Halloween ends, and anyone looking for Thanksgiving decorations is left to rummage through the clearance aisle.

“Going into the stores months before Christmas and seeing the decorations can be shocking sometimes, and a little annoying. I went to Michael’s earlier this month looking for Halloween stuff, and it was all already gone! I think they definitely put it out too early,” senior Ariana Stephens commented.

Dedicated Christmas fans argue that putting out decorations earlier helps eliminate any stress you experience when preparing for the holiday, and gives people more time to enjoy the decor in between setting it up and taking it down. Although there are ways to eliminate this, such as using less elaborate decor or getting help from friends and family, some people insist on decorating earlier and believe that Christmas deserves not just the month of December, but also the month that precedes it.

“I love Christmas, and it’s become a tradition in my family to have the Christmas tree up during Thanksgiving. The food is good, but I don’t think the decorations are better than
Christmas decorations,” sophomore Ella Carroll said.

Despite varying opinions on the proper time to put out holiday decorations, most can agree that Thanksgiving is a holiday meant to be fully embraced and celebrated. When it comes to holidays, there’s one thing for certain: they should each be enjoyed.