As the witches, ghosts, and goblins leave for the year, the whole world questions: What is next? Turkey, or skip straight to the long awaited holiday season? While Home Depot and TJ Maxx have their holiday merchandise out since the summer, everyday people struggle to decide when the right time to put their decorations up is. Before Halloween is over? Right after the skeletons go back in the closet? Skip Thanksgiving, or let the turkey get its moment under the sun (or in the oven)? When exactly is the right time to start decorating and celebrating the holiday season?
According to the article “When to Start the Holidays : 2024 Guide” from the Architectural Digest, there were several surveys done demonstrating when Americans start to celebrate and decorate for their holiday.
The survey shows that when it comes to Christmas, 54% of Americans put their tree up in November, 42% in early December, and a mere 5% put their tree up in late December (it’s obvious many Americans like to extend their holiday season as much as possible). The article also compared Americans’ practices to the British when it comes to the holidays. It was found that Americans are twice as likely to begin playing holiday music the day AFTER Halloween. Watch out “Gilmore Girls” who dominate the cozy Fall, Mariah Carey is taking over entertainment.
Lastly, according to the article, it is apparent that 1 in 10 Americans decide to put up their decorations and lights before Thanksgiving occurs.
What do other people think?
After surveying fellow peers, I found that most who celebrate Christmas prefer to put up their tree the day after Thanksgiving or around that weekend. Most do not like to put their tree up before Thanksgiving as it steals from the holiday Thanksgiving itself. Along with this, most do not wait to start to celebrate until December…most begin in November.
While some people decide to wait on decorating until after Thanksgiving, that doesn’t mean all holiday activities are on hold. Many students made it clear that they wait to start celebrations but they begin their holiday shopping now. Therefore, the preparations do begin early for most people.
My Personal Opinion
The Holidays are a special time of year, each holiday needs its own time to be celebrated because each has their own traditions and meaning. Therefore, the only proper way to celebrate is to allow each to come before celebrating the next. Ever since I was little, the fall season of pumpkin pie and fall leaves has continued from Halloween to Thanksgiving. Our family’s “Tom the Turkey” blow-up always came out after Halloween and stayed there until Thanksgiving Day ended. After that, Tom always goes into hibernation and the Christmas tree comes out. Pumpkin spice is gone and peppermint stick is in.
