The end of 2023 is rapidly approaching, and so are the most anticipated holidays of the year. In fact, one holiday in particular has been anticipated much more than the others, so much so that people across the globe have been preparing for it months in advance. Christmas products have lined the shelves of convenience stores since early September, and internet users began the popular Christmas countdown just after the 25th ended last year.
That much is relatively normal, as people usually wait until after Thanksgiving to truly embrace the holiday season. However, with Halloween having just ended and with November just beginning, many people this year are choosing to openly celebrate Christmas way earlier than usual.
Even Mariah Carey, artist of the widely known holiday song, “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” is eager to celebrate the winter holidays. On October 31st, the artist posted a video of her on social media that was based on the popular “defrosting” meme, where she and her song “defrost” when it’s time to celebrate Christmas. In the video, it showed her “defrosting” at exactly 12:00 on November 1st, which is still an entire month away from December.
Reasons for this phenomenon tend to vary when it comes to retailers advertising holiday themed products versus society’s need to celebrate in late October or early November. Both local and larger companies or stores are all looking to maximize their profit on seasonal decorations and themed items, which is why they bring out the Christmas decor a month before Halloween so that those who want to prepare early can purchase what they need before it sells out.
This may be a contributing factor when it comes to this year’s eager shift to Christmas time, but one of the biggest reasons for this would have to be the strong sense of nostalgia that is brought with the winter holiday. Whether you’re a child, a teenager, or an adult, Christmas provides all of us with something to look forward to. It reminds us of our childhood, the beloved festive decor, and the time that we spend with friends and family. The feeling may be so influential that as each year passes, we look forward to the holidays more and more.
Students at Seminole High School (SHS) are currently thriving with Christmas spirit, so much so that most students seem to agree that Christmas easily outranks Thanksgiving when it comes to the world’s excitement and popularity, despite it being the closest holiday to us on the calendar.
“I think Christmas should start before Thanksgiving because it’s a much more economically impactful holiday and just more fun to celebrate,” explains SHS junior Orion Gaines. “Even people who aren’t Christian find a way to celebrate Christmas because it’s a national tradition.”
“I think Thanksgiving deserves [the] underrated attention, especially considering the folklore surrounding it, which is quite controversial. To me, Christmas is the true Thanksgiving; it’s just a time to be with family and friends and enjoy your favorite films, drink hot cocoa, or make gingerbread houses. This is the time to be thankful, cheerful, and full of spirit.”
Other students, however, believe that Thanksgiving is still just as important to honor and celebrate.
“In my opinion, Christmas time should start after Thanksgiving,” states SHS junior Aaliyah Sheets. “Thanksgiving is a special holiday that deserves its own time to shine. It’s all about gratitude and spending time with loved ones. As for the attention given to Thanksgiving compared to Christmas, I think both holidays have their unique importance. While Christmas tends to get more attention due to its festive nature and cultural impact, Thanksgiving shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s a time to express gratitude and reflect on the blessings in our lives.”
There’s still a lot to look forward to before the year ends, and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Each holiday should be cherished and celebrated when the time is right; after all, they only come once a year.