It’s the day after Halloween. The skeletons are still hanging in some yards, pumpkin spice lattes are still being poured, and yet, somehow, the air is already filled with the ringing of “Jingle Bells” and the unmistakable twinkle of Christmas lights.
You walk into a store expecting some mild transition to fall décor for Thanksgiving, only to be bombarded by an army of snowmen, reindeer, and faux pine trees. The shift feels abrupt, almost jarring.
Somehow, over the years, it seems Christmas has been edging its way further up the calendar, claiming more of November.
Thanksgiving, once a staple of the holiday season and a time for reflection, gratitude, and family, feels increasingly overshadowed.
Growing up, the Christmas season did not truly begin until after Thanksgiving dinner, when the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade concluded with Santa’s grand arrival.
Now?
Santa is setting up shop the moment we finish carving pumpkins.
“I’ve seen a multitude of houses fully decorated for the holiday season the moment their Halloween decorations were taken down,” said first-year, Brian Ayres.
Radio stations flip to Christmas playlists earlier and earlier, some even boasting a full month and a half of festive tunes.
“I admit I started playing Christmas music on WNUW the second week of November,” junior Kaileigh Dougherty said.
It is enough to make one wonder: Are we celebrating Christmas for too long at the expense of Thanksgiving?
Part of this phenomenon stems from commercialization. Christmas is a marketing goldmine, and retailers know it.
By capitalizing on the holiday spirit as early as possible, stores maximize their sales opportunities.
“Nearly every store you step into now is filled with all things Christmas,” Ayres said.
Black Friday, which once felt like a bridge between Thanksgiving and Christmas shopping, has expanded into an entire month of pre-holiday deals.
Even Thanksgiving itself is being eroded by stores opening earlier each year, forcing many retail workers to leave the dinner table prematurely.
Thanksgiving has always been a uniquely American holiday centered on gratitude and togetherness. It is a time to reflect on what we have, rather than what we want.
When the focus turns so quickly to Christmas, the values Thanksgiving represents, humility, patience, and shared meals, are drowned out by the frenzy of gift-giving and the pressure of holiday perfection.
But here’s the thing, Christmas is not the villain here.
It is a beloved holiday that brings joy, warmth, and family traditions.
“I think some people enjoy celebrating Christmas and decorating earlier each year. It brings them joy and happiness. Whereas others feel it isn’t acceptable until after Thanksgiving at the earliest,” Dougherty said.
By allowing Christmas to dominate two months of the calendar, we risk diluting its magic and ignoring the importance of appreciating the present moment.
There is something special about the build-up to Christmas when it starts later.
Anticipation makes the holiday even sweeter.
Let’s enjoy Thanksgiving for what it is, a pause before holiday chaos.
Let’s take time to be grateful, to gather around tables with friends and family, and to let fall linger just a little longer.
There is room on the calendar for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, we just need to give each holiday its due.
