Every Christmas after opening presents, I blast Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You". I belt out the high notes. I dance around in a very uncoordinated fashion. I am filled with "Christmas cheer". You know why? Because it is the appropriate time to get into the holiday spirit. For me, anytime after Thanksgiving Day is okay. Anything sooner is TOO soon.
With each passing year though, stores try to push the Christmas agenda earlier and earlier. I saw a Christmas commercial BEFORE Halloween this year. Seriously?! I mean has Thanksgiving lost all its value? People probably don't want a ugly turkey sweater, so I have a thought, why can't the 25-30 days between Halloween and Thanksgiving be holiday free? Would it really kill us to just shop for regular things?
I feel like every time I voice this opinion I sound like the Grinch who stole Christmas. I'm Scrooge and the sole reason Tiny Tim's father can't afford to pay for his healthcare. Somehow I am the reason Charlie Brown has such a pathetic Christmas tree! When in reality, I am just a person saying what everyone else is thinking. Christmas cheer right after Halloween is too soon!
Can we all just acknowledge the fact that I LOVE Christmas? Candy canes, Santa hats, and Christmas carols make me smile. I do not live at home anymore, but decorating my family Christmas tree was one of the highlights of my year growing up. Give me an excuse to wear reindeer ears to a party and I'm there. I love Christmas!
I just think that when you start seeing Christmas decorations on November 1st (or sooner lately) it loses its meaning. It becomes less special. If stores waited until Black Friday I would have nothing to say. If stores waited until Black Friday I would be spreading the holiday cheer like everyone else. If stores waited until Black Friday I would "fa-la-la-la-la" down the streets of Manhattan. But they don't, soooo here we are...