On Halloween night, people all around the world went to bed with shivers from the spooky season. When they woke on Nov. 1, it was to the smell of evergreens and the sound of carols. It seemed the holiday season had already begun — though Halloween had just ended.
Although Christmas Day is not until Dec. 25, people traditionally start celebrating much earlier, ranging from the start of December to as early as the middle of October. Starting in late September, some retail stores put out their Christmas decorations and start offering holiday discounts, advertising the season of joy right next to scary lawn inflatables and lights shaped like turkeys. This phenomenon where the holiday season begins earlier and earlier each year is known as “Christmas Creep”, according to forbes.com.
Christmas and winter holiday celebrations begin too early and take the impact away from truly experiencing the fall season.
When Christmas imagery begins popping up in September and October, it ends up overshadowing other fall holidays that are just as important. Halloween decorations next to Christmas ones stop people from fully enjoying the season of imagination and horror that has dramatically opposing imagery to holiday themes.
Thanksgiving is largely overshadowed by Christmas, even more so than Halloween, as most people start decorating right after Halloween ends. While there’s nothing wrong with celebrating the holidays early, it takes away from the true message of the holiday. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time of reflection and gratitude, but most see it as a filler holiday and a sort of “pregame” before the holiday festivities begin for most families.
Holiday marketing is a huge proponent of the increase in Christmas spirit. Sales during the holidays are expected to reach over $990 billion this year as companies spend a whopping $76 billion on advertising during this time, according to uschamber.com. Starting in September, large retail companies begin slowly incorporating holiday advertising into their normal circuit until November hits, and they can go all in on the big holiday discounts.
The over commercialization of winter holidays has not only strayed away from the message of love and generosity, but it also plays into the overconsumption culture in today’s media. Trends on TikTok and Instagram entice people to spend their money on the newest products for their friends and family, giving more money to big corporations and playing into their marketing schemes. Giving gifts isn’t wrong, but focusing on them in the midst of fall is a major oversight.
The fall season as a whole can often be cut short as winter creeps in. The first official day of winter is not until Dec. 21, so starting winter celebrations in September is far too early to truly allow people to appreciate all that fall has to offer. Whether going to the pumpkin patch, planning Halloween costumes or admiring the changing leaves, fall activities are always enjoyable and a major staple of the year. However, it can feel like there isn’t enough time to fit in fall activities when the winter ones are calling around the corner.
This is not to say that the holiday season shouldn’t be truly appreciated and celebrated for a short period of time. The holidays are a source of joy and comfort for many people, and they are considered the most anticipated time of the year by many. Christmas can be a crucial time for people to reflect on the past and future years, and there is no doubt excitement in that. Still, it is also true that the Christmas season should be balanced with fall.
Generally, starting the celebration after Halloween gives fall enough breathing room while still allowing adequate time for the holidays. Christmas decorations can go up starting Nov. 1, but people should remember to savor fall and pause for a moment when Thanksgiving comes around. As long as true appreciation is given to fall and all it has to offer, the holidays can be properly celebrated.
With the celebration of Christmas coming earlier each year, fall can feel like a blur while the holiday season reigns supreme. Taking a step back and cherishing fall first will let the holiday season shine while still giving due consideration to the autumnal spirit.
