The Tali Toss Up is a series dedicated to our staff voicing their opinions on why something is better than the other. In this case, Talisman writers Emma Hardesty and Avery Sutton sleigh down the argument to establish when the Christmas season begins: after Halloween or Thanksgiving.
Halloween is over— what now? Do we start preparing our menus for Thanksgiving, do we start putting our Christmas tree up, or both? The season of Christmas comes with the debate of when it’s appropriate to begin celebrating. Having trouble deciding for yourself? The Talisman’s got you covered!
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The Christmas season starts after Halloween: Emma Hardesty
The first of November comes with a chill in the air. Halloween decorations suddenly seem out of place as the world is swept into the most magical season of the year— Christmas.
The day after Halloween, the festive cheer begins. In my family, it’s a tradition that my sisters and I go with our grandmother to experience fancy businesses. These businesses usually display their beautiful Christmas decorations, all in celebration of the coming season. My favorite place to visit on these outings is Welborn Floral in Owensboro, Kentucky. Welborn Floral is a local florist that has the most incredible Christmas displays.
The month of November is also a great time to get some early Christmas shopping done. Often, stores will have preliminary Black Friday sales or other festive sales, such as Bath and Body Works’ various sales leading up to the big day. Being able to get all the Christmas shopping done early leaves more time to celebrate come December.
The day after Halloween, Christmas lists are being created. All around the world little children begin to be scolded, their obedience dependent on the promise of Santa Claus visiting. The jolly man begins popping up on everything from cardboard cutouts to visits to the mall, building the magic even more.
No matter where you look, Christmas is alive the day after Halloween. People begin to celebrate because it brings them joy, and in this world, that is something we all need.
A fond festive memory of mine is taking the drive out into the countryside to visit my great-grandmother for Thanksgiving. My dad would queue up classic Christmas songs, Roger Whittaker being a staple in our household, and sing along as we got ready to visit family. Even though the season hadn’t officially started, we were already finding happiness in Christmas time.
Sophomore Chelsea Mathis said she believes that the joy of Christmas should be celebrated whenever people feel it.
“I believe the Christmas Season begins right after Halloween because it’s a time when people start to feel the festive spirit and begin preparing for the holidays,” Mathis said. ”The transition from Halloween to Christmas allows for a longer period of celebration and joy, which my family and many other people look forward to.”
Some also believe that the Christmas season is simply not long enough to begin after Thanksgiving. Junior Anna Chase from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, said she believes she needs as much time as possible to celebrate the festive season.
“It is too short to start celebrating after Thanksgiving,” Chase said. “To watch all the Christmas movies and do any winter activities, you gotta start those earlier than after Thanksgiving.”
In addition, around the world, after Halloween is over, many people begin to make the transition to Christmas and other winter holidays, because that’s simply what comes next for them. According to the Wall Street Journal, Christmas decorations were up in London as early as Oct. 22.
Sarah Gamble, a sophomore from Scottsville, Kentucky said holidays such as Christmas, play a huge role in her life.
“Thanksgiving is worth celebrating but does not have as worldly of an impact as Christmas,” Gamble said. “There’s not really any music or activities, except for the feast, associated with Thanksgiving like there is Christmas, so the latter is a bigger holiday to play into.”
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Christmas music can already be heard chiming through stores, spreading its good cheer to all those who listen. The Christmas candles and soaps are already placed out, along with so many options to decorate one’s home.
“I’m ready to hear Mariah Carey every day for the next two months,” Gamble said.
(Illustration by Candace Alvey)
The Christmas season starts after Thanksgiving: Avery Sutton
It’s the time of year when dead leaves and rotted pumpkins line the ground. With this sight, radio stations know it is time to blast Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas is You.”
This can be a frustrating sight and sound for someone who wants to enjoy the last gasps of the spooky season or if someone loves celebrating Thanksgiving. Either way, Christmas needs to give everyone some breathing room.
Freshman Thomas Witherington from Clarksville, Tennessee said he views Christmas’ intrusiveness as irrational.
“Why celebrate Christmas when you can celebrate Thanksgiving beforehand and have Christmas a month later?” Witherington said. ” You don’t have to worry about Christmas as soon as Halloween is over.”
Witherington said being a history major gives him an advantage as he has learned how cultures feel about certain holidays.
“I understand the negative connotation that Thanksgiving may have to some people, specifically Native American individuals,” Witherington said. “But of course, there are exceptions to the rule, and some may not mind celebrating Thanksgiving.”
While Witherington has a historical take on the debate, Sophomore Nate Edgeworth said he has a more sentimental approach.
“It is up to the person, but I feel like Thanksgiving and Christmas should be more separate,” Edgeworth said. “It allows us to honor each holiday and preserve traditions and the messages as they are.”
Edgeworth said that in his opinion, Thanksgiving is a day of changeover.
“I believe Thanksgiving is a good standpoint for a transition from fall to winter,” Edgeworth said.
Aside from its location on the calendar and change of seasons, Edgeworth said he believes people have lost their appreciation for Thanksgiving and its significance.
“I think as we get older and in recent years, as a society, we have kind of forgotten what Thanksgiving is all about,” Edgeworth said. “It is a time to get all our family together and socialize.”
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There is more emphasis on family in the Christmas season than there is during the Thanksgiving season. This can be difficult for those who do not have a family or don’t want to return to their families.
While Thanksgiving can be done as “Friendsgiving,” I feel like there is a smidgeon of shame when others say they don’t spend Christmas with family.
Another unfortunate aspect of the Christmas season being celebrated early is spending money when you may not have it yet. What’s even worse is the humiliation accompanying it.
While I am not averse to Christmas time, I do believe it is acceptable to celebrate a less arduous holiday, such as Thanksgiving, before we begin the rat race known as the Christmas season.
Tali Toss Up: When does the Christmas season start?
Story by Emma Hardesty and Avery Sutton
The Tali Toss Up is a series dedicated to our staff voicing their opinions on why something is better than the other. In this case, Talisman writers Emma Hardesty and Avery Sutton sleigh down the argument to establish when the Christmas season begins: after Halloween or Thanksgiving.
Halloween is over— what now? Do we start preparing our menus for Thanksgiving, do we start putting our Christmas tree up, or both? The season of Christmas comes with the debate of when it’s appropriate to begin celebrating. Having trouble deciding for yourself? The Talisman’s got you covered!
Advertisement
The Christmas season starts after Halloween: Emma Hardesty
The first of November comes with a chill in the air. Halloween decorations suddenly seem out of place as the world is swept into the most magical season of the year— Christmas.
The day after Halloween, the festive cheer begins. In my family, it’s a tradition that my sisters and I go with our grandmother to experience fancy businesses. These businesses usually display their beautiful Christmas decorations, all in celebration of the coming season. My favorite place to visit on these outings is Welborn Floral in Owensboro, Kentucky. Welborn Floral is a local florist that has the most incredible Christmas displays.
The month of November is also a great time to get some early Christmas shopping done. Often, stores will have preliminary Black Friday sales or other festive sales, such as Bath and Body Works’ various sales leading up to the big day. Being able to get all the Christmas shopping done early leaves more time to celebrate come December.
The day after Halloween, Christmas lists are being created. All around the world little children begin to be scolded, their obedience dependent on the promise of Santa Claus visiting. The jolly man begins popping up on everything from cardboard cutouts to visits to the mall, building the magic even more.
No matter where you look, Christmas is alive the day after Halloween. People begin to celebrate because it brings them joy, and in this world, that is something we all need.
A fond festive memory of mine is taking the drive out into the countryside to visit my great-grandmother for Thanksgiving. My dad would queue up classic Christmas songs, Roger Whittaker being a staple in our household, and sing along as we got ready to visit family. Even though the season hadn’t officially started, we were already finding happiness in Christmas time.
Sophomore Chelsea Mathis said she believes that the joy of Christmas should be celebrated whenever people feel it.
“I believe the Christmas Season begins right after Halloween because it’s a time when people start to feel the festive spirit and begin preparing for the holidays,” Mathis said. ”The transition from Halloween to Christmas allows for a longer period of celebration and joy, which my family and many other people look forward to.”
Some also believe that the Christmas season is simply not long enough to begin after Thanksgiving. Junior Anna Chase from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, said she believes she needs as much time as possible to celebrate the festive season.
“It is too short to start celebrating after Thanksgiving,” Chase said. “To watch all the Christmas movies and do any winter activities, you gotta start those earlier than after Thanksgiving.”
In addition, around the world, after Halloween is over, many people begin to make the transition to Christmas and other winter holidays, because that’s simply what comes next for them. According to the Wall Street Journal, Christmas decorations were up in London as early as Oct. 22.
Sarah Gamble, a sophomore from Scottsville, Kentucky said holidays such as Christmas, play a huge role in her life.
“Thanksgiving is worth celebrating but does not have as worldly of an impact as Christmas,” Gamble said. “There’s not really any music or activities, except for the feast, associated with Thanksgiving like there is Christmas, so the latter is a bigger holiday to play into.”
Advertisement
Christmas music can already be heard chiming through stores, spreading its good cheer to all those who listen. The Christmas candles and soaps are already placed out, along with so many options to decorate one’s home.
“I’m ready to hear Mariah Carey every day for the next two months,” Gamble said.
The Christmas season starts after Thanksgiving: Avery Sutton
It’s the time of year when dead leaves and rotted pumpkins line the ground. With this sight, radio stations know it is time to blast Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas is You.”
This can be a frustrating sight and sound for someone who wants to enjoy the last gasps of the spooky season or if someone loves celebrating Thanksgiving. Either way, Christmas needs to give everyone some breathing room.
Freshman Thomas Witherington from Clarksville, Tennessee said he views Christmas’ intrusiveness as irrational.
“Why celebrate Christmas when you can celebrate Thanksgiving beforehand and have Christmas a month later?” Witherington said. ” You don’t have to worry about Christmas as soon as Halloween is over.”
Witherington said being a history major gives him an advantage as he has learned how cultures feel about certain holidays.
“I understand the negative connotation that Thanksgiving may have to some people, specifically Native American individuals,” Witherington said. “But of course, there are exceptions to the rule, and some may not mind celebrating Thanksgiving.”
While Witherington has a historical take on the debate, Sophomore Nate Edgeworth said he has a more sentimental approach.
“It is up to the person, but I feel like Thanksgiving and Christmas should be more separate,” Edgeworth said. “It allows us to honor each holiday and preserve traditions and the messages as they are.”
Edgeworth said that in his opinion, Thanksgiving is a day of changeover.
“I believe Thanksgiving is a good standpoint for a transition from fall to winter,” Edgeworth said.
Aside from its location on the calendar and change of seasons, Edgeworth said he believes people have lost their appreciation for Thanksgiving and its significance.
“I think as we get older and in recent years, as a society, we have kind of forgotten what Thanksgiving is all about,” Edgeworth said. “It is a time to get all our family together and socialize.”
Advertisement
There is more emphasis on family in the Christmas season than there is during the Thanksgiving season. This can be difficult for those who do not have a family or don’t want to return to their families.
While Thanksgiving can be done as “Friendsgiving,” I feel like there is a smidgeon of shame when others say they don’t spend Christmas with family.
Another unfortunate aspect of the Christmas season being celebrated early is spending money when you may not have it yet. What’s even worse is the humiliation accompanying it.
While I am not averse to Christmas time, I do believe it is acceptable to celebrate a less arduous holiday, such as Thanksgiving, before we begin the rat race known as the Christmas season.