As November settles in, the Garden State Plaza comes alive with the sounds of holiday music filling the air. The vibrant glow of the massive blow-up Santa on top of the mall draws in eager shoppers, while inside cheerful children line up at the meet-n-greet Santa and Elves stations. As festive decorations line every corner, the official start of the season creeps closer. Many people can argue that winter holiday decorations start appearing too soon, and tend to take away from the holidays preceding it. Some even say that the elongated holiday season takes away from the true spirit that comes during this time. 

In my personal opinion, I disagree. These decorations often help to soften the impending colder weather, and the intensity of school work at the time. The early start of holiday celebrations offers a sense of relief as it acts as the light at the end of the tunnel, signaling the start of Winter Break, something which almost everyone looks forward to. However, I can concede that the decorations and festive displays can sometimes induce stress as well, serving as a constant reminder of all the gifts I still need to buy for my friends and family. While it’s easy to get caught up in the rush of shopping and preparing, I try to focus on what really matters. The early decorations remind us of the upcoming time to spend with the people we love, enjoying savory homemade recipes, and celebrating cherished traditions. No matter what holiday you celebrate, it’s clear that the season serves as a light in the depths of winter — so why try to shorten it? 

So… for me, the ideal time to begin putting up holiday decorations falls right around Thanksgiving time as it serves as the gateway to the holidays. Throughout the renowned Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, there are always references to Christmas with inclusion of the Radio City Rockettes and Santa Clause. I have fond memories of being at my grandparents house and the day following Thanksgiving all of my family worked together to assemble the fake Christmas tree, nativity scenes, and garlands across the house. 

After surveying a small group of Glen Rock High School student’s of their thoughts on the issue, many differing opinions arose. About 72% of these students have seen winter holiday decorations put up around Halloween, and early November. Of this, about 73% of student’s feel that the decorations are up too early. Some argue that it cuts into other holidays, taking away from the importance of Halloween and Thanksgiving. On the contrary, others believe that it’s up to personal preference when it comes to holiday celebrations. These people argue that they like to extend the holiday spirit for as long as possible. In their opinion, seeing Christmas decorations gets them in a cheerful mood so it’s beneficial to set them up early. Ultimately, whether your holiday celebrations start early or later, it’s clear that the holiday season offers all of us a chance to spread joy, warmth, and to connect with those around us, regardless of when you think celebrations should kick off.