Yes, Thanksgiving Comes First, But You Can Still Start Christmas In November

Yes, Thanksgiving Comes First, But You Can Still Start Christmas In November

The long-fought controversy that's plagued the world for millennia.
Kayla Master
Kayla Master Nov 20, 2017
45
views

The long-fought controversy that's plagued the world for millennia: when is the appropriate time to start celebrating Christmas? How soon is too soon to blast "Jingle Bells" and put on your best Mariah Carey with "All I Want for Christmas is You"? Should you be wrapping gifts before dressing a turkey? The world may never have a definitive answer on the most appropriate timeline between Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.

One thing known for sure is that even acknowledging Christmas pre-Halloween is a tremendous sin. You can't jump the gun that early, my friends. However, as soon as the fake cobwebs and jack-o-lanterns come down, there are not too many reasons not to start considering when those lights and Christmas trees will go up. In my mind, Christmas is a seasonal holiday, while Thanksgiving is more of a one-day thing. Yes, some people may love the "fall decor" and want to put up a bunch of fake leaves or reds, yellows, and oranges throughout their home, but even that isn't necessarily representative of Thanksgiving.

If everyone immediately transitions themselves from Thanksgiving mode to Christmas mode the second it hits midnight on Black Friday (or even earlier in recent history), why can't you start that preparation a little earlier? You're not going to just mindlessly get in line at 8 pm on Thanksgiving waiting to force your way into a Walmart without planning out gifts for people ahead of time, you're going to have to think about Christmas. The same people yelling at you to shut your "Jingle Bell Rock" off are the same ones plotting their mall takeover strategy for Black Friday.

At this point in time, nearly 2 weeks out from Thanksgiving, it is most certainly not too early to think about the Christmas season. I only celebrate Thanksgiving for about 6 hours, but my Christmas parties and celebrations last at least two weeks, or more, leading up to the big day, plus days beyond it.

Before you go on to say that somehow Thanksgiving is also a season, let me stop you there. The only prep time required for Thanksgiving is really to the cook, who may need a few days of understandable prep, but the majority of individuals are not decorating their homes with lights or polishing their silver. They're not going to look at fields of turkeys with their kids, saying "Daddy, I want to take that one home." Thanksgiving is a one-day event that just happens to be the "official" start of Christmas season, but don't let that misguide you of the "unofficial" start, which was November 1st.

If your friends or family want to celebrate Christmas early, let them. If they want to tweet a countdown starting the day after Halloween, let them. If they want to put up their artificial tree and decorate it, let them (maybe just advise against a real one early, because of potential death and fire hazard). Just because you're a holiday purist and believe that there must be complete segregation of Thanksgiving and Christmas, then "Bah humbug" to you Mr. Scrooge, go take your Grinch behavior elsewhere.

Cover Image Credit: Kayla Master
Kayla Master
Kayla Master Nov 20, 2017
At Rutgers University

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High School Summer Vs. College Summer

Summer isn't all fun and games anymore.
Chloe Bycoskie
Chloe Bycoskie May 15, 2017
1580
views

Summer: the most wonderful time of the year. School’s out, obligations are at an all-time low, and life is simple. The only problem - I’m not in high school anymore. This naïve cupcake phase of life is now over, thanks to you, college. Now, free time is a foreign concept to myself along with my peers; summer's not all fun and games as it was in previous years.

School’s out? Ha, you THOUGHT.

What time is it? Summer (school) time! When the final bell rang on the last day of high school, we all jumped for joy and anticipated summer’s freedom filled with the luxurious free time that displaces class time. When you finished your last final in college, you might as well buy class materials for your nearly approaching summer semester. Unlike the good old high school days, summer marks the start for even more time to incorporate school: particularly, summer school. Here lie students who are retaking failed courses and/or those who are behind on classes and need to get ahead. School’s out, scream and shout? You got it all wrong, High School Musical.

Time to intern!

Not only is summer “break” a good time to take some extra classes, but it’s also a perfect time to intern. That’s right, no sleeping in ‘til noon! Don’t forget to set those alarms because college students have to be up and running to gain work experience for their future careers. College students sometimes even endure these long days without any pay, but you gotta do what you gotta do to lock in a post-college job at that ideal company. High school students: props to you if you intern over the summer, I just see it more often among college kids.

Work, work, work.

I had a summer job in high school, but I didn’t work nearly as much as I do now as a college student. Summer is the optimal time to stack up on dollar bills in your savings account. You need money for those ridiculously pricey textbooks (opened quite less often than you’d think), groceries, housing, spending money, and other miscellaneous college expenses. Yeah, you can always work doing the school year, but juggling that along with classes, extracurricular activities, and an eventful social life can be pretty exhausting. Also, it can deter you from getting decent grades (which is why you're in college in the first place).

Vacation? More like no-cation.

Ah, do I miss those summers where I’d be at the beach for weeks on end. With summer classes, a job, and an internship, vacation is just time I no longer have. You can’t just request time off from class, internships, and work! Other (and more important) matters demand your time and effort. If you're lucky, a quick, cheap weekend getaway is you're best bet.

Cover Image Credit: MediaCache
Chloe Bycoskie
Chloe Bycoskie May 15, 2017
At San Diego State University

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I'm Keeping My Christmas Tree Up All Winter And There's Nothing You Can Do About It

It's the WINTER Season... ;-)

lucymayers
lucymayers Jan 14, 2019
146
views

I think that my tree would not be considered Christmas-y if the ornaments are taken off and the lights are kept on. I think to just looks wintry. I am also keeping up decorations that say "let it snow", and I am keeping up any snowman without holly berries or presents in their hands.

The tree looks wintry in my opinion. It looks pretty with the lights and brings the room together. It gives off a warm ambiance, unlike that of fluorescent lighting.

I've taken all ornaments off except for gold snowflakes and I've left the silver tinsel garland on as well as the lights. It looks wintry to me still. I will probably be taking the whole tree down by the end of this month to prepare for Valentine's Day decorating. (Yes, I pretty much decorate my apartment for every holiday—sue me).

There's nothing like coming downstairs and seeing those lights sparkling.

Or coming inside from a dreary, rainy day outside and seeing them light up the room in a calm, warm, and comforting glow.

Or having a bad day, looking up, and seeing them shine.

It sort of makes me upset when I come downstairs and see that someone has unplugged them, to be honest.

I guess they don't see it as I do.

Pretty, twinkling lights forever!

lucymayers
lucymayers Jan 14, 2019
At Clemson University

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