As October draws to a close and the brief Thanksgiving season approaches, symbols of Christmas are slowly overtaking store shelves and radio stations. The most wonderful time of the year is being kicked into gear at a breakneck pace. Alongside the influx of holiday music, however, comes a question of restraint. Though each listener is guaranteed an instant rush of Christmas spirit no sooner than they can put in their earbuds, there remains the option to wait it out for just a little while longer for fear of ruining the fun of holiday anticipation.
The adoration of the season and the allure of its novelty leave several possibilities regarding when it is most appropriate to start listening to Christmas music. Following the pattern of many radio stations and public areas, these songs seem to be accessible immediately after Halloween. Nov. 1, given the popular holiday that precedes it, seems to be a definite cutoff for when Christmas music is considered at least moderately acceptable to play. November signals the start of a period of the year that brings families together and holds a distinct feeling of closeness. Therefore, the atmosphere continuing from the beginning of November through Christmas itself is consistent enough to be considered one cohesive season. The issue with this, however, lies in the fact that Christmas and similar variations are not the only holidays in this time span. Thanksgiving is generally a beloved event among American households. Despite this, Christmas is typically a much more complex holiday that has more traditions associated with it, in addition to being a childhood favorite due to receiving and giving presents. A longer break is also granted to students for this holiday. By switching directly to Christmas music after Halloween, the anticipation of the larger event distracts from the enjoyment of Thanksgiving. Who can fully appreciate a day filled with mashed potatoes and turkey when an entire month filled with visiting family, festive activities and planning gifts is being referenced at every turn?
In order to maximize enjoyment by making the most of each holiday, it seems clear that the wisest option is to wait until after Thanksgiving to play Christmas music. A day for recovery from holiday activities is an option for those who are hesitant to dive into December so soon after an exhausting gathering. On the other hand, those who want to listen as long as possible would do no harm to Thanksgiving by dusting off their Christmas playlists the following day. The optimal start date leads to yet another question. When is it no longer acceptable to play Christmas music? The cut-and-dry answer would be following Christmas Day. This conclusion, though, is much more pleasant in theory than in reality. Recollections of the days immediately following Christmas construct a melancholic picture. After the endless excitement of the Christmas season, the days before New Year’s Eve serve as a boring reminder that something wonderful is over. This is where Christmas music comes into the scene. Though the climactic morning has ended, holiday classics such as “Let it Snow” and “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” maintain the warmth and festivity that are characteristic of the early winter without directly referencing the fun that has passed. They keep the mood light and hold listeners over throughout the strangeness that encompasses the end of the year. By the time New Year’s Day rolls around, goals and a welcome return to routine make it so that the extra joy allotted by Christmas music is no longer necessary.
With the exception of events such as Christmas in July, the ideal time for listening to Christmas music extends from the day after Thanksgiving until New Year’s Eve. It is tempting to switch on the holiday station as soon as it releases in early November, but the best part about the music is the reward of waiting. It is associated with occasions and a distinct season, sparking memories that would not be quite as special if they were not few and far between.
