Every year, as soon as the calendar flips to Nov. 1, it feels like the world forgets that Thanksgiving exists. Holiday commercials flood TV screens, stores swap out pumpkins for tinsel overnight and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” begins its annual takeover of every speaker in America. It is as if people are in a rush to skip straight from Halloween to the December holidays and it is getting out of hand.
Celebrating Christmas too early has become a cultural habit, but one that comes at a cost. By diving into the winter holiday season before Thanksgiving even has a chance to shine, we dilute both holidays and rob ourselves of the joy that comes from anticipation. The holidays are special in part because they’re fleeting, the lights, the music and the magic. But when we stretch it over two full months, that sparkle loses its charm.
Thanksgiving deserves its time in the spotlight. It is the one holiday centered entirely around gratitude, reflection and togetherness, without the pressure of shopping lists and gifts exchanges. Yet, when the stores start playing Christmas music right after Halloween, it feels like Thanksgiving is being overshadowed by consumerism.
According to the National Retail Federation, 42% of consumers buy and browse items before November even begins. The push to start spending early has made it harder to enjoy the simple, slower traditions of the month, like fall dinners, family gatherings and giving thanks.
It also affects the emotional rhythm of the seasons. Thanksgiving offers calm before chaos, a chance to slow down, appreciate loved ones and prepare for the whirlwind of December festivities. When holiday celebrations start too early, that rhythm is lost. Instead of enjoying two distinct holidays, we blend them together into one long, commercialized stretch of stress and overspending.
Of course, many argue that early holiday decorating and music simply spread cheer. For some, the holidays bring comfort, nostalgia and light during darker, colder months. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to hold onto that feeling a little longer. But there’s a difference between savoring the spirit of the holidays and steamrolling past Thanksgiving to get there.
The solution isn’t to ban Christmas and other holidays before December; it is to show a little restraint. Let’s allow Thanksgiving to breathe before the tinsel takes over. Imagine how much more meaningful the holiday season would feel if we actually waited for it. When the lights go up after Thanksgiving weekend, it feels like the start of something magical. But when decorations are already up in early November, by the time Christmas Day and the rest of the holidays arrive, most people are already ready to take them down.
Waiting also makes the traditions more exciting. Turning on holiday music for the first time after Thanksgiving break should feel like a treat, not background noise we’ve already been hearing for weeks. The same goes for decorating. There’s something special about unboxing ornaments and hanging lights when December is finally near; it is part of what makes the holiday memorable.
And let’s not forget about the spirit of Thanksgiving itself. Gratitude, humility and connection. When we let the later holidays dominate November, we send the message that what really matters is buying, decorating and posting about the holidays rather than pausing to reflect on what we’re thankful for.
So, this year, maybe hold off on blasting Christmas playlists until the turkey leftovers are gone. Let Thanksgiving have its moment. Enjoy the crispness of fall, the smell of pie in the oven, the warmth of gathering with family and friends before diving into the hustle of holidays.
There is plenty of time to celebrate the December holidays, from Black Friday to New Year’s Eve. But there is only one Thanksgiving, and it deserves more than being treated like a speed bump on the way to Dec. 25.
After all, if the holidays really are the “most wonderful time of the year,” shouldn’t we make it feel that way by letting them arrive when they’re supposed to?
AJ Pearman can be reached at [email protected].