When I think about Christmas time, I think of frantic shoppers, decorations being put up everywhere you go and my mother cooking a seven-course meal for our three-person family on the holiday. And then I think of “Jingle Bell Rock” playing in the background of all of this.
I believe there is an unspoken rule that Christmas music should not be played until after Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, not a lot of people follow this rule and, quite frankly, it overwhelms me. In my mind, Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is the official beginning of Christmas season because it is the official start to the madness.
Please do not mistake me – I love the season. There is nothing like snow falling outside, Christmas Eve service at church and the 24-hour marathon of “A Christmas Story” on TBS. But before these things that make time seem to stand still, there is a panic to get everyone the perfect present.
I think a lot of people can relate when I say I feel a time crunch during the Christmas season. So when I hear “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” on the first day of November, I get a little frazzled and instantly start to online shop.
Not only that, but I want to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. I understand people are eager to get to Christmas break. Finals are over with, we have a month off of school and get to enjoy home-cooked meals. But let’s get through one holiday at a time because I know nobody wants to skip the mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie that goes along with giving thanks.
I walked into the Kroger on Bechtle Avenue this week and there wasn’t a single Thanksgiving décor item in sight. Yet, a whole aisle of Christmas decorations were in plain sight. It’s almost impossible for me to harp on the store though, considering sales tend to surge around Christmas, and they were not playing any festive music. However, if I walk in next week to pick up groceries and hear Mariah Carey serenading me with her classic “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” we might have a problem.
Another argument of mine has to do with the temperature. I cannot really get into the Christmas spirit until it feels like it’s actually that time of year outside. And – shameless plug about how global warming is real coming your way – the temperature is still in the ‘60s this fine November. Baby, it’s not cold outside and I’m starting to wonder if dreaming of a white Christmas is all we’ll be doing this year.
Trust me, I’m not trying to be a Grinch. I appreciate a good rendition of “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” as the next person. Spending time with family, seeing all the beautiful Christmas lights and sipping hot chocolate while jingles play on the radio are what makes the month of December so great. Let’s not rush it though, because there is more than enough time for all of those end-of-the-year merriments after Thanksgiving.
Christmas tunes playing too early symbolizes the hectic nature of the season in my mind. As soon as I hear “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” in early November, I think I need to start asking my friends and family to send me their Christmas lists. It’s a little premature for that, considering Santa isn’t even in all the department stores across the nation yet. Adam Sandler said it best in his Saturday Night Live skit of “The Christmas Song” in 1993: “So many presents, so little time.”
