As soon as Halloween comes to an end, the costumes are put away and the scary decorations are immediately replaced by Christmas music and big holiday sales. Has Christmas become merely a corporate holiday, seeming to completely skip over Thanksgiving, or is there more to the prolonged season than just money?
From a Christian perspective, the Christmas season begins on the fourth Sunday before December 25. This season is called Advent, a spiritual celebration and preparation for the arrival of the birth of Christ. But from a corporate perspective, the Christmas season begins much earlier than four weeks before.
"I feel like Halloween barely happened this year," says Katie Hall '14. "One minute everyone was excited the leaves were starting to change, and the next everyone was practically wishing it was 2012 already. November 1 does not mark the holiday season."
Just as Hall speculates, Christmas takes over the minute Halloween comes to an end. Starbucks released their limited time holiday drinks and always anticipated red cups in early November nationwide. In the De Pere Wal-Mart, a Christmas countdown has been present since the Halloween decorations and costumes were on sale.
"Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving is a little much, but the anticipation grows for the actual holiday," says Alicia Skrivanie '13. "No, I don't love seeing so many Christmas themed stores and sale tactics so soon after Halloween, but I can think of more important things to complain about!"
It is no surprise that Christmas has become the biggest corporate holiday in the country, let alone the world. But is the extra-long Christmas season merely about profit? According to Jonathan Haines '14, it is much more.
"Some call it a long Christmas season, where others call it a long holiday season," says Haines. "Holiday may be more politically correct, but I see ‘holiday' as Thanksgiving and Christmas season. But I'm one of those people who listens to Christmas music earlier than others may like. It's a mood and spirit-lifting things that gets you excited and out of the slump that usually falls upon us at the end of the semester."
Hall has very different feelings on the subject.
"Starting Christmas on November first lessens the magic of the season," she reiterates. "I know that personally I can only stay that excited about this one particular day for about a month. Christmas is great, but let's not go overboard too early. I'd also like to say that I'm not a Grinch! Seriously, you can probably catch me singing Christmas music anytime from now until December 25th. After all, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear – during the actual holiday season."
There are many different stances concerning the beginning of the Christmas season. Starting immediately after Halloween and almost bypassing the anticipation of Thanksgiving is merely a corporate ploy that strikes a nerve with many. However, there are those who enjoy the lengthy season merely for feeling.
"So, I love the ‘prolonged Christmas season' because I see it as a prolonged… happy season, if you want to call it that," Haines adds. "Everyone is cheery around the holidays and it makes life better."
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