It’s the same old argument every year. It happens every November, once Halloween is over and before Thanksgiving. It is the argument that separates us as a species. It becomes a schism in friendships and marriages. Households become divided. All of it coming back to one question: Is Christmas music acceptable prior to Thanksgiving?
Thieves of joy would say the answer is no, how could you possibly already be celebrating Christmas before it’s even Thanksgiving? These people choose unhappiness over joy every day between Halloween and Thanksgiving.
One of my favorite childhood memories is driving around in the car with my parents a few days after Halloween and hearing holiday music come on 93.3, my hometown's local Christmas station. To me, it meant that the holiday season—Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years—was finally here. I bundled all of these holidays into one holiday season, Christmas music corresponding to all of it. Since there is such a short supply of Thanksgiving tunes, Christmas music is forced to take its place.
And, in my family, the Christmas decorations emerge with the Thanksgiving decorations and all go together at once. Call it laziness, perhaps, but I see it as celebrating the season as a whole. A season dedicated to reflecting on how lucky we are and giving thanks, being generally more joyous and happy due to the beautiful, comforting Christmas light and decorations, and being surrounding by everyone feeling the same sense of happiness as you are. It’s no wonder Christmas is most American’s favorite holiday, with Thanksgiving as the second favorite. Who can resist this holiday? Which begs me to question, who can ever resist holiday music?
Every year, without fail, I butt heads with someone who refuses to listen to Christmas music during this time. I resort to my headphones and, when I’m home, drive alone in my car to listen to the music. I try to get a feel for who does and does not allow for the joyous music in their lives prior to the last Thursday of November.
So, I urge you not to turn off the Christmas music or turn a blind eye to Bergdorf’s holiday windows because “it’s not even Thanksgiving yet.” Embrace the joy and happiness that is the holiday season.
