“We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.” “I don’t know what to say, except it’s Christmas and we’re all in misery.” “But for now, let me say … Without hope or agenda … Just because it’s Christmas … And at Christmas, you tell the truth … To me, you are perfect.” These are quotes from some of my favorite Christmas movies. Yes, Love Actually totally counts! I also totally love the incredibly cheesy and predictable Hallmark movies that air earlier and earlier each year.
When should you start watching these movies, decorating, listening to Christmas music, and doing all things Christmas is a highly contentious topic. Without fail, it gets discussed and debated each and every year.
There are two types of people out there- Those who love everything about Christmas and want to start enjoying it as soon as possible, and those cruel-hearted (totally kidding, maybe) people that insist that all things Christmas need to wait until December. I love pretty much everything about Christmas (except the cold weather, I’m no Elsa, the cold always bothers me!) When does the Christmas season start in our house? I’m one of those crazy people that insist the moment Halloween ends, Christmas begins. One year, on a particularly cold and rainy Halloween, we even busted out all the decorations and music ON Halloween. I probably won’t get any converts since people are pretty decisive on this issue, but I’m going to suggest why this year you should consider getting into the spirit sooner than ever.
It Makes you Happier
It’s science. You know you’ve heard this before. Psychologists say that people who start celebrating/decorating early are happier. It’s all about nostalgia. Decorations bring back happy memories of years past. Who doesn’t feel a bit happier when they come home from a long day and see twinkling lights and a beautiful Christmas tree?
It Makes you Appear Friendlier
Now, you may want nothing to do with your neighbors, and if so, skip this one. However, it’s been researched, and when you decorate the outside of your home for holidays, people will see you as more friendly and sociable than those who don’t.
Contribute to the Sense of Community
As I just said, when you decorate your home early, people think of you as open, and it cultivates a sense of community. Personally, one of my favorite things to do around Christmastime is to drive around the neighborhood looking at lights. The lights at the zoo are great and all, but remember, I HATE being cold, so this is a much more enjoyable option for me. Contribute to this activity, decorate your home, go ALL OUT, and impress your community.
Tradition
Make it a tradition in your family. If you make it a tradition, chances are your kids will do the same one day. Ever since my husband and I moved in together, it’s been our tradition to decorate for Christmas right after Halloween. It’s something we look forward to; we haul up the boxes, turn on the Christmas music or a movie, and get to work. It honestly started because decorating for Christmas can be time-consuming, and a bit of work. Our tradition began because we both shared the belief, that if we were going to do all that work, we weren’t going to enjoy it for just a few weeks. Get a full two months or more of merriness out of that work, and you may even look forward to decorating like we do.
Finally, it’s just FUN
I just find decorating, shopping for Christmas presents, picking an adopt-a-family through Church, Christmas movies and music, etc… to be so much FUN! Why not start early? Let’s be real. This year, or any year for that matter, can be the opposite of fun. Why not change that? Why not try to bring some cheer to the year?
