Love it or hate it, but I am going to settle something once and for all: there is nothing wrong with decorating for the holiday season right after Halloween. Personally, I encourage it. The second the clock strikes midnight and Halloween is officially over, my jammies go on, my Bath and Body Works “Under the Christmas Tree” candle is lit and my perfectly curated playlist of nostalgic tunes streams for as long as I can.
As I’m sure it is for a lot of people, Christmas is arguably the most important time of year for my family, specifically Christmas Eve. My dad’s side of the family hosts a massive party, one where everyone from my extended family is welcome to join in and see each other. It has gotten so big in recent years that we’ve had to rent out a hall rather than host it at someone’s house. And if we weren’t visiting my mom’s side of the family on Christmas Day, my immediate family would stay home to open gifts, watch movies and everything in between.
The debate between whether you should decorate your house before or after Thanksgiving is understandable. I realize that there is a clear holiday in between Halloween and Christmas. But, no matter how delicious the food is, it isn’t a worldwide holiday. I am always thankful for the people and things I have in my life, but I also believe that that’s a common theme among most winter holidays, especially Christmas, in my experience.
Also, even though Thanksgiving is there and relevant, there isn’t exactly enough media allocated toward that holiday. Sure, there are inflatable turkeys, Turkey Trots, Thanksgiving Day Parades and “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” but what else out there is strictly for Thanksgiving? For Christmas, there are traditions of decorating trees and yards, movies, songs, etc. For Halloween, it’s the same. Halloween and Christmas have very different, specific vibes curated for our emotions to align. Thanksgiving, as lovely as it is, is just something in the middle.
Beyond just the visual satisfaction of decorating for the holiday season, the fun lies in stretching out the Christmas cheer. The lights, the music, the coziness of it all make the bitter cold nights of November just a bit more bearable. Why limit that spirit to just a few short weeks in December? If a few twinkling lights in early November make things feel a little brighter, I don’t see the harm.
I totally get why some people prefer to wait. They want each holiday to have its moment, which is great. But decorating early isn’t about taking away from Thanksgiving – instead, it’s about extending my love for a holiday that celebrates gratitude, generosity and connection with my friends and family. However, I will say I do wait to decorate the tree with my family for the weekend after Thanksgiving.
So, if you see me in Home Goods picking out a new Christmas blanket and lights for my room, let it happen. For me, it’s never too early to start. But don’t worry – I can’t wait for my serving of turkey and stuffing on Thanksgiving Day.
