Christmas is the jolliest time of the year, no doubt. For this reason, many people want to celebrate Christmas as early as possible, even as early as the beginning of November. Others want to reserve their November for a cozy autumn feeling. 

I love Christmas for the way it brings a cheery environment to the coldest months. The world seems more connected for some time, celebrating one of the biggest holidays in history. Some British and German forces during World War I had a short truce on the Christmas of 1914 to sing carols, exchange gifts, play soccer and bury their casualties. Truly the most magical time of the year. Who wouldn’t want this joy to last longer?

Opponents of early Christmas cheer argue that November is too early to start celebrating Christmas. With Thanksgiving being the definitive American holiday of November, many dedicate their month to cherishing the laid-back fall mood that Thanksgiving brings. That means holding off the red and green and instead decking the halls with orange decorations. 

According to the National Retail Federation, the holiday shopping season starts on Nov. 1 and ends on Dec. 31, which includes Thanksgiving. They’ve found that about 46% of shoppers start holiday shopping even before Nov. 1, suggesting that most Americans prepare for both the Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities far in advance. 

These early shoppers have a few good reasons to start preparations early, one of which is impressing the neighbors. A study by Carol M. Werner et al. suggests that early Christmas decorations are a “cue that the residents (are) friendly and cohesive,” based on observer reactions. Christmas decor not only makes yourself jollier, it can invite others to the festive spirit. 

For these reasons, about 32% of Christmas celebrators plan over three months in advance, compared to just 8% of Thanksgiving celebrators according to Numerator. Americans tend to plan Christmas much farther in advance, since holiday tradition demands a redesigned home every winter to match the merry spirit. However, planning and buying decor and gifts is just part of celebrating Christmas. 

Some would say music and traditions are more important to the celebration of Christmas. Faith Brennan, a cheery Early College student, says “I start listening to Christmas music in August, but the vibes start hitting in November.” Christmas cheer, especially music, can be celebrated at any time of the year. I’ve been listening to the Christmas Hits playlist on Spotify for months now to add a spark of happiness to my day. 

I consider when the Christmas tree is set up to be one of the most definitive markers of when Christmas is celebrated. Myself and many others I’ve surveyed consider the weekend after Thanksgiving to be the perfect time to set up a Christmas tree: Thanksgiving season is officially over, Black Friday gives cheap trees and ornaments and Christmas day is less than a month away. 

The weekend after Thanksgiving seems to be the perfect sweet spot between die-hard early Christmas supporters (pun intended) and fall fanatics, but should Christmas be celebrated even later? Fall doesn’t end until four days before Christmas day, when Carolina trees still bear crisp, scarlet leaves. While not many view December as a primarily fall month, I can see the appeal of appreciating our state’s beautiful fall colors a bit longer. With snow becoming a rare sight, our state is defined more by our unique fall colors. 

Decorating the house with Christmas knick-knacks gives me an unexplainable sense of joy every year, but I do enjoy an even spread of seasons and holidays throughout the year. Either way, all that matters is an amazing winter break!