The magic of Christmas comes not from the gifts you are given, but from the memories from both the past and present — and hope of the future. Christmas brings others together unlike any other holiday, even Thanksgiving. When the clock strikes midnight on October 31st, my life gets overtaken by red and green.
I’m not even a fan of that color combination, but for two months there is nothing that can make me happier. Getting into the Holiday Spirit is one of the best things you can do for yourself and those around you. Everyone can agree that throughout the holiday season, everyone is just happier. Nature, while viciously cold, is absolutely gorgeous and the laughter of Christmas is infectious. So, why wait a whole extra month to start celebrating?
Many people dread Christmas because of the amount of stress when it comes to buying gifts, Christmas parties and having to see family. The key to overcoming stress is getting into the Christmas Spirit on November 1st. As Kris Kringle said, “Oh, Christmas isn’t a day, it’s a frame of mind.” Planning way ahead for Christmas allows you to put a lot of careful thought into the gifts that you get for your loved ones, spend the time to plan a Christmas party and plenty of time to enjoy the wonderful things that are only acceptable around Christmas time such as the music.
Christmas parties and gifts can bring so many people together because it’s one of the best ways to show someone that you’re thinking of them and that you care for them. A thoughtful gift that you’ve made or spent the time to put together for someone can really further a relationship with your friends and especially family. Just like gifts, Christmas parties also take a lot of time and consideration. Who are you inviting, what are you going to serve, what’s the dress code, is everyone expected to bring gifts, etc. etc. Starting to plan the party will guarantee that people call off from work and are able to make it to your get together. You will have plenty of time to save for groceries, clean your house, buy/set up decorations and enjoy the time of planning it. By starting preparation early, you reduce so much stress from your life and allow yourself time to spend with friends and family.
“What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!” — The Grinch, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
Now, the point of Christmas is not about the gifts and the parties but about the joy and happiness you get from being with those that you care about. I can’t really put into words how Christmas makes me feel because it reminds me of some of the happiest moments in my life. Christmas makes us think of our childhoods where we couldn’t fall asleep in anticipation of Santa Claus coming to visit us in the night, or waking up Christmas morning and seeing the tree filled with presents, going sledding with our friends or drinking warm hot chocolate during a snowstorm. The moments we share and the memories we create throughout the holiday season are worth every second. November 1st marks the start of Christmas because I believe that everyone should have these moments, and if that means blasting Mariah Carey or Michael Bublé then I’m all for it.
“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” — Buddy, “Elf”
– Carys Eynon ’26
There is no time of year that is better than the -ber months. The stretch between September to December when the air begins to cool and the first snowflake falls is truly the most magical time of the year. Many of our most beloved holidays fall during these months including Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Now, some may call me a Grinch, but I am a firm believer in giving Halloween and Thanksgiving their time to shine and not overshadowing them with Christmas celebrations.
When I walk into Sam’s Club halfway through October and I am greeted with a giant inflatable Santa Clause before I even see the Halloween candy, there is an issue. Keep your candy canes and Christmas trees in storage until we get to December. Having these decorations out already gets rid of the fun out of Halloween. Halloween is all about dressing up in costumes, going trick-or-treating and watching scary movies. People look forward to Halloween all year long, and I am one of those people. Given the excitement that is gathered around this holiday, you can imagine my dismay when Halloween seems to be tossed to the side and Christmas has taken over.
While Christmas is a time to spend with family and friends, so is Thanksgiving. Nothing is more of a core memory to me than sitting in my grandma’s living room watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with my family. Then, of course, the dog show after. These moments that you get to spend with your family are all centered around Thanksgiving, not Christmas. Now, some may say that the Christmas festivities start the day after Thanksgiving and even then, I disagree. I feel a couple days of rebound is needed to come out of the turkey coma Thanksgiving inevitability will cause.
More than just the activities that fall around Thanksgiving, the meaning of Thanksgiving is dismissed as well by the overpowering presence of Christmas. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the past year and take a day, not for yourself, but to appreciate everything that you have in your life, no matter how small. With the presence of Christmas looming over the shoulders of thousands, the deeper meaning behind Thanksgiving can become buried with the pressure of buying presents and the checklist of things to do by December 25th.
When there’s Christmas music playing in the background during fall, it feels wrong at the moment. Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé can wait until the snow starts to fall to bring out their iconic tunes, but as long as the calendar says “November” on the top, keep the Christmas music turned off. I’m not saying Christmas music is bad. In fact, I love Christmas music, but only when it’s Christmastime. The time to turn on “Holly Jolly Christmas” shouldn’t be until the snow starts to drift down and the leaves fall from the trees, leaving behind a winter wonderland. Besides, when Christmas extends beyond the bounds of December, the magic of the season is diminished. Something like Christmas is special because it comes around once a year and people look forward to it. That magic is built up by suspense and anticipation.
Some may look at celebrating Christmas for two months as a way of spreading the Christmas Spirit; I look at it as tarnishing the magic of the time of year. By keeping Christmas contained to December, we preserve the magic of the season and keep it as something to look forward to.
– Julia Frantz ’26
