Let’s Argue About Celebrating Christmas Before Thanksgiving! On Second Thought, Let’s Not.

I think I will always remember 2018 for the arguing. People found a LOT to argue about this year, didn’t they? We argued about big topics like racism, immigration, gun control, politics, and sexual harassment. And we argued about little things, like whether Justin is still in love with Selena, Target’s Fall 2018 fashion choices, and who should be taking out the trash in the kitchen every day.

Or was that last one just me?

The latest (but probably not last) argument of 2018 is one that crops up every year at about this time  —  Should we start celebrating the Christmas season before Thanksgiving?

I can honestly understand why retailers bring out the holiday cheer the moment Halloween is over. (Unless you’re Michaels, putting up Christmas decorations in your shop before Halloween is still completely unacceptable. Full stop.) With the exception of food and wine, people just aren’t heading out in droves to buy a ton of Thanksgiving decorations/costumes/gifts. And plenty of us like to get as much Christmas shopping out of the way as we can before things get super crowded in December. I like to do my holiday shopping surrounded by holiday stuff.

But I used to be solidly in the camp of people who say that any person who dares put up Christmas decorations in their home before Thanksgiving without extenuating circumstances (including but not limited to out-of-town family making an early visit/upcoming deployment/a pre-Thanksgiving Christmas card photo shoot) is DOING IT WRONG. Give the Day O’ Thankfulness its due, people. Pilgrims and turkeys will never, ever be able to compete with Santa Claus and Baby Jesus. It is scientifically impossible.

I mightily side-eyed my various friends who insisted on decking their halls with boughs of holly the absolute moment November rolled around. You know who I’m talking about — Those shameless holiday hussies who have the audacity to inform the world they’re listening to Christmas songs in the car while drinking a Starbucks Eggnog Latte, when everyone knows holiday lattes are definitely not November-approved. I mean, we’re all secretly drinking them before Thanksgiving, but Starbucks makes those cups opaque for a reason, right? It’s like these women are purposely goading us into World War III in their Facebook comments.

But this time around, I feel different. It has been a hard, hard year for most of us. Regardless of what you have going on personally or which side you’re on politically, it’s difficult not to be affected by the senseless violence we’ve seen in 2018, the wars waged over social issues, the anger and cynicism we’ve seen among friends and family as a result of what’s happening in the world at large. I love Thanksgiving, y’all. Love. It. But when times are hard, the thought of hugging a turkey or even a Puritan just doesn’t provide me with any sense of relief or comfort. I want my Baby Jesus. I want my Santa Claus. They’re the only ones who can truly understand my pain.

Christmas decorations make you happier!

I’m thinking we need a little Christmas. Right this very minute. Or at least, we need that option. I still won’t be putting up Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving (mostly because: LAZY), but I’m going to give those who do a pass. I see you, girl. I’m listening. You’ve yearned all year long to feel all warm and safe and cozy and pine-scented, and if you’re ready to take that leap a few weeks before Thanksgiving, I won’t contest your false start. I will give you a pass. Because this year has been just that bad.

You’d better have your decorations down by February, though. Or we’re going to have ourselves a problem.