When is the right time to defrost the Christmas spirit?

The holiday season is right around the corner, but when is the right time to get into the holiday spirit and start preparing? 

Even though there is no right answer, I ask myself this question every year.  

There are people who start putting up their Christmas tree the day after Halloween, but, for me, that’s too early. Jumping from holiday to holiday devalues what each one has to offer. Let the month of November be a grace period between the two major holidays. 

I usually begin decorating on Dec. 1 to dedicate the entire month to the holiday season and start a proper countdown to Christmas. After that, each day can be dedicated to doing something in the Christmas spirit, such as setting up your tree or baking goods. Christmas doesn’t necessarily have to be about one day. For me, every day in December feels like the 25th.

Another reason people should start preparing for the holiday at the beginning of December is Black Friday, which is the last Friday of November. It is an opportunity for people to get their Christmas shopping done right with some great deals and holiday-themed gifts available at decent prices — which makes it more appealing. 

But if you do choose to get into the holiday spirit earlier than others, that’s great. Just remember, others may not join in with you. Getting into things late is also fine — better late than never, after all — but if you wait too long, many Christmas events will have already happened, making you miss the bulk of what this holiday has to offer. 

One way to get into the holiday spirit is to attend community events such as Christmas markets, potlucks, work and family parties, and tree lightings. These are all great opportunities to take photos and make memories with friends and family. If going to events isn’t your thing, nothing beats watching a holiday classic with a cup of hot chocolate in hand, surrounded by family. Some of my favourite holiday classics include the Home Alone movie series and Die Hard (which is definitely a Christmas movie, by the way).

If you’re having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit, don’t worry, the choice will be made for you when you hear that one Mariah Carey song. Sure, listening to “All I Want For Christmas Is You” on repeat in stores can quickly get annoying, but it’s pretty contagious at the beginning. 

Personally, I never get sick of it. In general, the advent of Christmas music is usually a good indicator of when to get into the holiday spirit. Once the music starts, you’ll never hear the end of it until Christmas day.

All in all, if you do choose to celebrate, try to start early so you can get the most out of it. If you don’t, just don’t be a Grinch about it.