**The media below contains the opinion of an individual student and therefore does not represent or speak to the values of Vestavia Hills High School and Vestavia Hills City Schools**
It’s that time of year again. The Halloween decorations have come down, and others will soon go up. Depending on the household or organization, Thanksgiving may be ignored to get a head start on Christmas. Businesses, especially retail businesses, may do so to increase customer spending, and individuals primarily do so because of nostalgia or family tradition. In the process, a crucial part of American identity is lost.
When Businesses Should Put Christmas Decorations (Or Not)
From a business perspective, it makes sense (and cents) to set up for Christmas before Thanksgiving. After all, why not have a stronger lead-up to Black Friday, when most retail outlets turn a profit for the year (otherwise known as going into the “black”)? Additionally, more robust spending before Black Friday could reduce the stress that retail workers, who rank among the most underpaid in the country, face each holiday season since their employers do not have to push them as hard to make a profit. But, as more and more businesses have followed suit, a strong wave of consumer pushback has ensued, and for good reason. According to a 2016 report from ING Bank, 70% of Americans think Christmas is too focused on spending money. Because inflation and economic inequality have increased in years since this number is likely even higher now.
Furthermore, installing Christmas decorations so early detracts from people’s enjoyment of Thanksgiving. The constant barrage of countless Christmas motifs at local retailers before families can share some fresh Turkey can make Thanksgiving seem irrelevant. This makes people increasingly unwilling to endure the messiness of Thanksgiving, especially when dealing with family members they might disagree with. And, as a US News article points out, Thanksgiving has several mental health benefits, including building a sense of longevity and togetherness in people’s lives from sharing their traditional ritual with family. These benefits would be lost on Americans whose focus has already shifted from how they can best enjoy their time with loved ones to what hot item they should buy.
So, businesses should wait until after Thanksgiving to set up their Christmas decorations to return Christmas to its family-centered roots and let families enjoy Thanksgiving.
When Individuals Should Put Christmas Decorations (Or Not)
For people, installing Christmas before Thanksgiving can be more complicated than businesses’ bottom-line calculations. Most Americans who learned Christmas traditions from their parents might choose to get into the holiday spirit around the same time as they did growing up. But, as a Ph.D. Kelly Sopchak notes in a 2021 article a growing number of people may be setting up earlier to relive happier times, distract themselves from their stress, and be more optimistic. A 1989 study from the Journal of Environmental Psychology elaborates on Sopchak’s hypothesis, finding that people who set up Christmas decorations communicate their social openness to their neighbors. This effect could be increased by setting up earlier since it signals eagerness around a particular holiday.
Given the advantages of setting up for Christmas early, people should immediately set up after Thanksgiving. However, they should wait until after Halloween since they could seem closed off if they skip such a widely celebrated holiday.
An Alternative to Early Christmas Decorations
Instead of setting up Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving, businesses and individuals can pivot to Thanksgiving decorations for November and then transition to Christmas decorations after Thanksgiving. This could increase customer spending and give people an outlet for their holiday spirit. Though Thanksgiving décor is less exciting than Halloween’s witches or Jack-O-Lanterns and Christmas’s eponymous trees, it makes up for its simplicity. For example, pumpkins from Halloween can be reused to create an assortment of Fall-related plants: squash, gourds, and pumpkins, an excellent spread for any room.
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