Should Christmas Be Commercialized/Celebrated Before Thanksgiving?
As each year passes by, holiday decorations seem to appear on store shelves earlier than the next. At first, fall candles and warm-colored home decor were what attracted shoppers to walk into their local Target. Now, it seems that stores have hit the skip button on Thanksgiving and decided to kick off the holiday season a little bit early. Is it weird that pumpkin spice lattes were quickly replaced with peppermint mochas and hot chocolate? Well, a recent survey from Architectural Digest discovered that 54% of Americans kicked off the holiday season by setting up their Christmas tree, however, not only in December you see, but rather in November! In addition to that, another 43% of Americans turn on the holiday tunes in the same month. The debate of whether or not Christmas should be celebrated before Thanksgiving slightly stirred the pot among the people, causing some to have divided opinions. Honestly, this can be placed as one of the most controversial debates, next to whether pineapple should go on pizza. In this article, it will discuss both sides of each party’s perspective, to ensure there is a balance between the two beloved holidays.
You’ve probably heard it more than once by now, but as the great Christmas singers would say, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” December is one of the nation’s favorite months due to the cheer it brings. Christmas is focused on traditions, as it wraps this joyful holiday together. Many go Christmas shopping with their loved ones and others make gingerbread houses with their friends because it has always been something one has done the year before. Christmas lovers defend the case for early celebrations because of how it only lasts 31 days and it takes another 365 days to wait. The positive atmosphere can unite communities and lift the spirits of those who have lost some joy in their life. In addition, companies and businesses gain from this because of the economic boost they receive. If you haven’t noticed yet, Christmas promotions have started to appear as TV commercials and on the radio as advertisements. Starting early promotions before Thanksgiving helps encourage consumers to spend and support small businesses, especially after the challenging economic periods.
On the other hand, commercialization also raises concerns because many worry that the focus on gift buying will instead lead to accumulating materialistic things. This could cause people to lose sight of what Christmas is all about. Yes, it may sound cheesy, but being surrounded by those you love and enjoying the moments you have during a spirit filled holiday is what counts. This point also relates to another argument one might bring up when preserving Thanksgiving. Some rather not rush into Christmas because they prefer to be in the moment and remember what they are grateful for. While feeling the Christmas spirit as soon as possible is exciting, Thanksgiving still deserves the spotlight without being overshadowed. Especially with the injustices the Indigenous Tribes have faced during the early years of America, it is important to mourn the lives that have been lost that day and bring more awareness to the genocide that has been constantly sugar-coated by the higher-ups.
In this ongoing debate about starting to celebrate Christmas before Thanksgiving, finding a middle ground that respects the unique significance of both holidays is important. On one hand, Christmas spotlights feelings of joy and hope, and Thanksgiving focuses on celebrating our blessings and remembering history. While seeing that both emanate important values to celebrate, one does not deserve to be overshadowed by the other. To conclude, finding a balance between these two holidays allows us to foster traditions and make them enjoyable holidays for everyone.