As the holiday season rolls around, this long-standing debate comes to our attention once again: Is Christmas in November too early? Some people believe that the Christmas festivities should begin in December, after Thanksgiving. However, I’m here to tell you why Christmas in November might be justifiable-that is under the right circumstances, of course. 

For the Wait Until December Folks 

Thanksgiving is the most underrated holiday, in my opinion. Unfortunately, it’s often lost in the shadow of Christmas due to the proximity of the two holidays. Getting caught up in the winter spirit is easy, but it’s also important to give Thanksgiving its time to shine. The holiday can serve as a reminder to practice gratitude and be thankful for what we have before writing our extensive lists to Santa. Thanksgiving, like Christmas, also involves coming together with family and celebrating each other around a table topped with delicious home-cooked dishes. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of being grateful. According to Harvard Health, practicing gratitude helps bring about more positive emotions, remember good experiences, and build stronger relationships with the people around them. While presents may not be involved, Thanksgiving helps remind people of what they have, instead of what they want, showing that you can be happy without receiving anything. 

For the Early Birds

 Although Christmas enthusiasts are often mocked for busting out the decorations as soon as Halloween is over, not being excited for the last week of December to arrive is more concerning than decorating too early. Christmas is an amazing holiday that induces feelings of both excitement and happiness, whether it be in November or on 12/25 itself. All of the preparations, including getting the Christmas tree, putting lights on the front porch, and buying gifts for loved ones, can easily boost anyone’s mood. In fact, people who put up Christmas decorations early are usually more friendly and happy. And don’t just take my word for it. Psychologist Deborah Serani stated that decorating early can lead to an increase in one’s mood (I guess this explains why the Grinch was so unhappy). Seeing all the beautiful twinkle lights on houses on Main Street signifies that Christmas is coming soon, giving many something to look forward to. 

While Christmas is a fun holiday with lots of festivities for those of all ages, its celebration should be delayed until December, or at least until after Thanksgiving. We need to show Thanksgiving some respect! Besides, many people think of the two holidays as wildly different; however, they share many of the same values, such as celebrating with loved ones, eating delicious foods that are definitely not a part of your diet, and simply having a good time. Whether that be under the Christmas tree or around the Thanksgiving table, the fact still remains that both holidays deserve their own time of year to be celebrated. Go ahead and put up your Christmas decorations, but remember to give Thanksgiving the love that the holiday deserves.