Christmas is around the corner, and the question is, how early is too early to decorate? While pumpkins might still be on the porch, many are already untangling Christmas lights, creating their perfect winter wonderland. Others may think waiting until after Thanksgiving is the best time to decorate.
East sophomore Riley Mishler and her family love the Christmas holiday so much that they decorate right after Halloween.
“I decorate for Christmas the day after Halloween. I put trees in almost every room of the house. I definitely overlook Thanksgiving compared to Christmas,” Mishler said.
Decorating in early November brings many people joy. Some local stores begin playing their Christmas music as early as Nov. 1, after having Christmas decorations on display for months. Starbucks, for example, released its Christmas menu on Nov. 6. The Christmas spirit tends to make many people skip over Thanksgiving completely.
Senior Keelan Quick and her family are changing up their tradition this fall.
“Usually, I would try to decorate ASAP, but we’re hosting Thanksgiving, so we are decorating on Black Friday instead,” Quick said. “My sister thought of having a huge tree in our house that is decorated for Thanksgiving, which has a bunch of pumpkins and leaves on it.”
Some find decorating in early November ridiculous. They would rather take in the fall energy by continuing to enjoy pumpkin spice, pumpkin patches, eating pie, and more. They do not think the season should end so quickly, especially before Thanksgiving is over.
East teacher Scott Johnson thinks it is a disgrace to decorate early for Christmas.
“Thanksgiving is under-appreciated; it is the middle child between Halloween and Christmas,” Johnson said. “It is unacceptable to advertise Christmas to the community and just dismiss the great holiday of Turkey Day. Decoration for Christmas begins on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.”
There isn’t a set rule for when Christmas decorations should be on the shelves or up in houses. Some find joy in early wreaths, lights, and other decorations. Others wait until after Thanksgiving to even get down their decoration boxes. Regardless of your plans to decorate, this time of year is special, however you celebrate.
Written by seniors Kayli Pembroke and Ava Karg. Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.