Are you okay with Christmas in October

This archived article was written by: Kara Heaton

If you have driven down to Wal-Mart or along the business loop recently, you may have noticed that Price has already put up Christmas decorations.   These decorations were up on Halloween.   Is it just me, or is that just not right?
In the past couple of years, it seems like Christmas keeps sneaking up closer and closer.   Cities start putting Christmas decorations up around Halloween, radio stations start playing Christmas music and stores put Christmas merchandise out, all in October.
Why have they started doing this?   One reason is because some people just love the Christmas spirit and the feelings it brings. Noelle Johnson, a student at the College of Eastern Utah, explained why she loves Christmas coming early. “Christmas is a time when people are generally more happy, patient and kinder to one another, so I like to get into that spirit as soon as possible. I love Christmas!”
So why is Christmas coming so early?   Because stores like Wal-Mart say so.   Stores make a lot of money during the Christmas season; Wal-Mart alone makes up to $50 billion.
Since 2003, though, their sales have been going down.   The New York Times reported that Wal-Mart was predicted to have a four percent loss in income, making only $474.50 million this Christmas season.
Christmas has lost all meaning as it has become more and more commercialized.   Sure, you get those cute children’s movies about the “spirit of Christmas,” that air over and over again, but still the “true meaning of Christmas” seems to have been lost in the rush to get your friends and families their Christmas presents and to make sure the holiday season will be wonderful.
“It’s just the commercialism of the holidays that I hate, especially when it starts so soon.   It seems like it’s turned into a shopping competition instead of what the holiday is supposed to be about,” said Anita Cunningham, another student at CEU.
Many people just want to wait until the day after Thanksgiving before they start to get ready for Christmas.   People, especially mothers or whoever buys the presents, do not want the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season to come any earlier then it has to.   Trying to buy all the presents and making sure everyone has their fair share of presents can be very stressful.
That’s not the only reason people do not like Christmas coming early.   When decorations go up in October, not only one, but two holidays are being skipped over.   Halloween isn’t as important – to adults, at least – as Thanksgiving, but a holiday is a holiday, and shouldn’t be skipped.
Thanksgiving especially should not be skipped.   Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday where you can be with those you love.   It’s a day set aside for people to be thankful, which is something almost everyone could do better at.   So why would anyone want to skip Thanksgiving and go straight to Christmas?   Maybe if there were more Thanksgiving music, people wouldn’t be in such a hurry to skip on till Christmas.
Let’s not rush Christmas anymore, and just let it come after Thanksgiving.   Play your Christmas music as long and as loud as you want; just wait until the day after Thanksgiving.   Put up as many decorations and lights as you want to; just wait until the day after Thanksgiving.