The first week of November is finally here, and for most (normal) people, that simply means it's time to throw the Jack-O-Lantern on the front porch in the trash. For some people, however, this week means so much more...
This week marks the beginning of the Christmas season!
1. Thanksgiving is just the pre-game for Christmas.
Thanksgiving is great! It is a wonderful holiday for reflection and being grateful, for spending time with family, and obviously, for eating. However, all of those things can be accomplished by Christmas, too! Why not just accept they basically fall into the same category, and recognize Thanksgiving for what it is: Chrsitmas's pre-game.
2. Christmas music is finally back, and it feels so good!
There's nothing like a nostalgic, familiar tune to put you into the Christmas spirit. Whether it's an early-2000's pop song by N*Sync or Mariah Carey, a somewhat random Christmas tune your mom listened to in the car when you were growing up, or a generic Christmas sing-along, there is a sense of peacefulness accompanied by those songs you have heard hundreds of times.
3. Giving gifts is one of the best things.
If you're like me, you're broke as a joke, but that won't stop you from giving the best gifts possible to the people you love. This year, I am going with thoughtful, homemade gifts for all of my loved ones, and I am counting down the days until I get to give them out.
4. Lifetime and Hallmark Christmas movies are the most glorious guilty pleasure.
Is there anything better than wasting a cold Thursday evening on the couch watching movies you know are going to have a happy ending? Probably not.
5. Where pumpkin spice is sadly fading out, peppermint is deliciously fading in.
Peppermint chocolate! Peppermint coffee! Peppermint everything! Pumpkin spice is cool and all, and as a basic bitch myself, I must admit it holds a special place in my heart, but honestly, peppermint just goes better with pretty much everything.
6. Bright decorations make it easier to cope with the fact that the sun goes down almost as soon as it comes up.
When its 4:30 p.m. and you can't take your dogs out without having to turn on your porch light, the second best alternative to the actual sun is sparkling Christmas lights. And let's be honest, is there anything better than falling asleep to the lights of your Christmas tree in the background? No. There isn't.
7. You can finally stop asking if it's too early in the season to wear *insert any kind of winter clothes/accessory here.*
I never know when it is appropriate to break out my hats and scarves. When is it okay to wear my Uggs and fuzzy socks? How about that over-sized sweater hanging in my closet? Once November hits, all bets are off and you can wear any kind of winter clothing, especially if it's Christmas-themed!
8. The stillness of a winter night can be a spiritual experience.
There may not be snow on the ground, but you can see your breath, and the atmosphere seems particularly still because all the animals have migrated and all is quiet. Times like this call for reflection. Whether you are religious or not, there is no denying winter evenings can bring out the contemplative, existential, spiritual side of you.
9. Social media seems to take a break from all the bad news.
Looking through your social media can get mentally and emotionally taxing. Someone is complaining about politics here, someone is posting pictures of tortured animals there...But during the Christmas season, social media tends to take a lighter turn. People are sharing their holiday experiences, their Christmas traditions and memories, and videos of children across the world receiving shoeboxes full of gifts. It's a lovely break from the negativity surrounding so many posts.
10. Holiday spirits make everything better.
Yes, spirits. Let's be honest, one great aspect of the holiday season is the fact that there tends to be wine (or even liquor) at almost every event...and people are actually expected to drink it! If you can't seem to find the Christmas cheer, a glass or three wine might help you discover it real fast.
11. There's a certain love-hate relationship that exists for holiday traditions.
While some traditions are amazing (chocolate Advent calendars, cutting down a fresh tree, driving around to look at house decorations), there are some traditions that you want to avoid every year. For me, these traditions include getting the decorations down from the attic, finding, cleaning, and setting up the "good china" for Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner, and taking my mom's Christmas cookies around to all of the neighbors of my childhood home.
