The spooky season has passed and the coziness of fall transitions into a debate on when the holiday season should begin. As Halloween decorations come down, Christmas ones go up and the colors of red, white, and green light up the streets of Long Valley. Some say that it’s way too soon and that it isn’t time for the Christmas music, lights, decorations, and spirit to overtake the month of November; however, others are more than eager to jump into the most joyful time of the year.
There’s two groups of people: the ones who worship the holidays and the ones who are willing to wait until the weather outside gets cooler and take one holiday at a time.
The first group of people is so anxious to start celebrating the holidays that they are quick to skip over the Thanksgiving hype and may even celebrate Thanksgiving with a tree in the background. “So I think that the Christmas season starts right after Halloween, but then we take a break for Thanksgiving, like for the week,” said freshman Michaela Castro. Castro is more generous than most with the time she allots to Thanksgiving, with most people following a strict schedule:
November 1st-November 27th: Christmas
November 28th:Thanksgiving
November 29th-December 25th: Christmas
Others believe that every holiday should be taken one at a time, and only brief thoughts of the holidays up ahead are allowed. Everything Christmas is forbidden from going up until November 29th.
Brenna Hushion claims that she starts thinking about Christmas after Halloween. “… but I actually start celebrating it after Thanksgiving” she adds. Ninth grader, Olivia Heydorn takes Hushion’s side in the debate: “I start celebrating Christmas after Thanksgiving.”
The anticipation to celebrating the holidays is caused by nostalgic memories, the thought of presents and decorations, and the urge to spend time with family. Castro says, “I decorate my room and bake,” in order to enter the holiday spirit.
Spending time with her family is Castro’s favorite part of the holidays. Unfortunately, “they don’t cut up a tree until December,” says Castro. Putting up the tree is a memorable tradition in the homes of so many families.
Her family also has a long lasting tradition that has been going on for years.“We make this Italian food. It’s called struffoli and we make it every Christmas season,” Castro says. Every year the sweetness of the munchkin-like treat fills the kitchen.
Family traditions and the coziness of the season is what really pushes people like Castro to celebrate right away. It gives them something to look forward to. Heydorn also likes to give back to the community by volunteering in Christmas themed events.
Despite these different approaches to how and when they start celebrating the holidays, it can be agreed that the holidays have something special about them. Hushion may believe that the holidays start after Thanksgiving, but those who start celebrating as soon as the clock strikes twelve on November 1st aren’t in the wrong either.“They have a lot of Christmas spirit, and I respect it” she states.
Regardless of the person, the holidays can bring everyone together and whether someone starts celebrating the day after Halloween or they wait the extra month, the holiday season evokes a feeling of warmth and nostalgia in everyone.
