Why the Christmas Season Should Start After Thanksgiving, Not Before

Let’s settle this once and for all: the Christmas season should not begin in early November. It shouldn’t start when Halloween candy is still on sale or when stores rush to swap pumpkins for candy canes overnight. The Christmas season officially begins the day after Thanksgiving, and starting it any earlier takes away from what makes it special.

Don’t get me wrong—I love Christmas as much as anyone. The music, the lights, and especially the hot chocolate that brings in the cozy feeling of winter make it one of the best times of the year. But when Christmas starts too soon, it loses all its magic. By the time December 25 actually rolls around, people are already tired of hearing the same songs and seeing the same decorations.

Starting Christmas right after Thanksgiving allows each holiday to have its moment. Thanksgiving is about gratitude and family, and Christmas is about joy and generosity. When we start celebrating too early, we skip over one to rush into the other. It’s like fast-forwarding through a movie just to get to the ending and missing out on what makes the story good in the first place.

Not to mention, the early start isn’t about “holiday cheer.” It’s all about sales. Stores know people love Christmas, so they start selling decorations and gifts before we’ve even finished the Halloween candy or the turkey. It’s clever marketing, but it turns a heartfelt holiday into a shopping season, which again takes away from what the holiday season is really about.

So this year, let’s hold off just a little longer. Enjoy November, and then, after Thanksgiving, blast the carols, make snowflakes, and let the Christmas season really begin. Waiting makes it worth it and keeps the season magical.