When it comes to the Fall and Winter Holidays, everyone seems to get tense. The second Halloween is over (and often even before it's over) people begin the great Thanksgiving vs. Christmas debate. It's silly and childish, but we do it--myself included. Do you start listening to Christmas music right after Halloween (or even before)? OR do you wait until that fateful December 1st to roll around? When is the right time to put up Christmas decorations? Is it even worth it to buy Thanksgiving decorations? When is it acceptable to start celebrating the holiday you prefer (because, let's be honest, we all have a favorite out of the two.)

I'm going to be real with y'all, I am on the Christmas side of this debate. I am more of an elf than a pilgrim. I listen to Christmas music right when Halloween ends--as soon as the last trick-or-treater comes to the door and we officially turn off our lights so no more will come to us, the Christmas music is turned on and we take those Halloween decorations down.

It is now time to celebrate Christmas.

I have my reasons for this, don't worry. I'm not some weirdo who just chooses a holiday over another. I grew up in a household where we celebrated both holidays to a large aspect, but as the years went on I began to become disenchanted with Thanksgiving and noticed that my love for Christmas had not only changed, but it had grown.

I had begun to love Christmas more than Thanksgiving.

Maybe it was the fact that I had a migraine one Thanksgiving, or the fact that I don't like turkey, or even the fact that Thanksgiving meals are not that special to me--whatever it is, I changed. I grew up and I realized it.

I don't hate Thanksgiving, but I do hate what it has become. It is no longer a day of being thankful for what we have--not from what I've seen. From what I've seen, Thanksgiving is now a glorified "Football Day" that involves a large feast. Does that sound like anything to you? Yeah? Monday Night Football ringing a bell? I thought so.

Thanksgiving has become his huge commercialized holiday where you just eat food and watch football and maybe go watch a movie at the movie theater as a family. And that's fine--it's not a bad way to celebrate the holiday, but I have not once heard a single person in at least the past few years truly say that they love Thanksgiving because of the blessings they recognize that day.

I constantly hear that people love Thanksgiving because they get to eat a lot of food, or because it deserves its own month, or because it's less appreciated. I never really hear that people love it because they get to think about what they are grateful for.

In my views, it is good to be grateful for stuff, but you should be grateful all year long and in my opinion the best two times of the year to be grateful at are Christmas and Easter. Why? You may ask, and I'll tell you (focusing on Christmas--not Easter.)

Now, first off, I know Christmas has become super commercialized just like Thanksgiving, but I feel like people have still been able to maintain the spirit of Christmas--the true spirit of Christmas--for a lot longer than they were able to keep the spirit of Thanksgiving alive. Let's be real, who actually knows how it feels to get along with a Native American tribe for one day to be able to celebrate our harvest, eat a meal, and not starve as the weather turns cold? None of us. Wanna know why? Because we, as a people, can't be bothered to even think about the Indian reservations that dot our country--not really. Not to mention the fact that we can't possibly understand what it must've been like at the First Thanksgiving.

No, I will choose Christmas every time and here is why.

Christmas is the time of the year that we celebrate Christ's birth.

Christmas is the time of the year that we give gifts, service, and love to those we care about and are grateful for.

Christmas is the major time of the year that we are allowed to spend a lot of time with our family members and not be judged for it.

Christmas is the time of the year that we praise God greatly for sending His son to earth to save us all.

Christmas is the time of year when it is acceptable to listen to Christmas music (which is the best, btw.)

Christmas Hallmark movies (because the cheese is the best. Don't you dare think that this isn't a solid reason. It is actually acceptable to watch cheesy movies in the last 3 months of the year.)

Christmas stories from the heart that make you want more.

Christmas is the time of the year that we learn to receive love and give love and be grateful for it.

Christmas is being grateful.

Christmas is service.

Christmas is love.

Christmas is beauty.

Christmas is family.

And most importantly, Christmas is Christ's birthday (according to most).

You don't have to agree with me, but I have my reasons for preferring Christmas to Thanksgiving and choosing to be an elf. My reasons are valid. Just as you're allowed to have your reasons for being a pilgrim and your reasons are valid.

However, you are not allowed to tell me you hate me or dislike me because I have different holiday preferences. I am entitled to my favorite holiday, just as you are entitled to yours. Please, in the spirits of Thanksgiving and Christmas alike, remember that we are all God's children and that we all can love a holiday. Remember that no matter our holiday preference, we are still the same people that you were friends with for the first 10 months of the year.

Trust me, choosing a holiday is not going to affect your eternal salvation, so let's have fun with it, shall we?

Please don't let the last two months of the year ruin friendships--it is not worth it.