Every year there is something a lot of people like to voice their opinion about: people starting the celebration of Christmas too early. I am one who usually starts early. I mostly start listening to Christmas music at least in October, sometimes September. It depends on when I start buying new Christmas CDs. And I have a lot, so I need to start early. I have well over 200.
Early November is when the decorating starts most years. And the tree is often up before Thanksgiving.
But is it shortchanging Thanksgiving to start Christmas early? I don't believe so.
My family gets together every Thanksgiving, and we observe Thanksgiving. Although sometimes the nieces and nephews.....prepare yourself for this - put up my parents' tree. The horror! 😊
Here's a couple of points:
1) We are to be thankful every day. Not just one day in November, but 365 days a year, 366 in leap year. And...brace yourself...you can be thankful and still celebrate Christmas. Wow. That is deep. 😉
2) We should somewhat observe Christmas everyday also. Huh? No, I am serious. The greatest event in history was God coming to earth as a baby. Do you really think we have to wait til the day after Thanksgiving to observe that. Nope. Sing Joy to the world in July if you want. (By the way, that wasn't intended to be a Christmas song).
3) Someone celebrating Christmas does not affect your Thanksgiving. If it does, you need help.
4) There is a lot of sadness in the world. I have depression and battle sadness, feelings of worthlessness, etc daily. If putting up Christmas decorations early or playing Christmas music in the middle of summer gives me joy, what right does anyone have to criticize that?
My youngest niece, who has dealt with depression at times posted something back on October 25th that showed she was listening to Christmas music by Michael Buble. Great album, by the way....though it was kind of weird for him to record Santa Baby. (Really weird! Dumb song anyway.) There were several comments, I think all positive. One lady commented that Christmas music should be played all year round. Caitie replied "Any time I need cheered up, that's my go-to." And why not? If Christmas music gives you joy and cheers you up, then by all means listen to it any day of the year.
Do you really want to say my niece shouldn't do something that causes her joy because you don't think anything Christmas should happen before Thanksgiving? If so, shame on you!
5) We don't know when Jesus was born. What if....gasp! - what if He was born in early November, and we are encroaching on Christmas with Thanksgiving?!
6) Christmas celebrates the birth of our Savior, something observed all over the world. We have been celebrating it since 386 when Constantine instituted the celebration, though it may have been even earlier. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln instituted the day Thanksgiving, an American holiday and observance. Jesus' birth takes precedence over that.
I did a sarcastic post on Facebook today:
Ok...you people who think starting anything Christmas in November ruins Thanksgiving....
Once December starts, you'd better stop this thankfulness stuff. Jesus deserves the whole month of Christmas. No November thankfulness sneaking into his birthday celebration...
I WAS kidding, as I believe we should be thankful all the time. But I was trying to make a point.
If you want to start decorating for Christmas and/or listening to Christmas music, do it. We all need more happiness and joy in our lives, and if that makes you feel happy and gives you joy, then do it. Don't let the naysayers put a crimp in your joy and celebration.
And you naysayers...don't be stealing people's joy and happiness by telling them they shouldn't be doing anything Christmasy before Thanksgiving. To put it bluntly (and not in good English), it ain't none of your business.
Shall I tell you naysayers this....can you handle this....I listened to Christmas music while I was working on this blog post. Now don't hyperventilate. Your Thanksgiving is safe from my early Christmas stuff. 😀
There are two songs that came to mind as I was working on this post. The first is for you Scrooges: The Day After Thanksgiving by Brandon Heath. Lyrics below.
The second song is for we who start celebrating Christmas early: I Can Still Celebrate Christmas.
Merry Christmas, and Happy Thanksgiving!
The Day After Thanksgiving by Brandon Heath. (Video at the end of the blog post).
There's still plenty of leaves
Golden on the trees
Hoodies, blue jeans and football
Bonfires and school nights
Scarecrows and hay rides
It's fall everywhere except the mall
I don't want to hear about Santa Claus coming
No silver bells or a dozen drummers drumming
I don't want to see an inflatable nothing
Till the day after Thanksgiving
(And not a day early)
Don't plug in those electric candles
Or dangle those stockings from the living room mantle
Those tangled up lights are more than I can handle
Till the day after Thanksgiving
Then, oh, let it snow
Go and tell everyone you know
That Christmas is here
Every day between now and new year
Don't deck the halls with the tinsel or the holly
You can make me grumpy, but you can't make me jolly
Elves don't even make curly-head dollies
Till the day after Thanksgiving
Then, oh, let it snow
Christmas card, everyone you know
Then pour on the cheer
Every day between now and new year
I want the cookies and the mistletoe kissing
Angel on top of a tall tree glisten
Wrap it all up in a pretty red ribbon
The day after Thanksgiving
As long as it's the day after Thanksgiving
I Can Still Celebrate Christmas by Legacy Five (Video at the end of the post)
The lights are unplugged
The candles snuffed out
The tree's lying out in the street
The mistletoe's gone
But the memories live on
Like the rush of tiny little feet
The hustle and bustle
The long checkout lines
Won't be seen til Christmas next year
But the man who understands
The real reason we celebrate
He can have 12 months full of cheer
I can still celebrate Christmas
For the light of the world is the light of my life
I can still celebrate Christmas
It's much more to me than lights on a tree
It's the gift that gives life to me
So turn on the lights
Put a wreath on your door
Show the world that you can sing too
Try Joy to the World in June or July
Ask a friend to sing along too
Ring the bells loud
Stand up and be proud
Tell the world the truth that you know
That the tiny little boy
Brought happiness and joy
More than gifts tied with ribbons and bows
I can still celebrate Christmas
For the light of the world is the light of my life
I can still celebrate Christmas
It's much more to me than lights on a tree
It's the gift that gives life to me
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