On Nov. 1, when carved Jack-o-lanterns begin to slouch on porches and kids eagerly dump out their pillow cases to eat a chocolate bar for breakfast, some hear jingle bells while others start planning their turkey marinade. Which person are you?
The annual debate on whether or not it is acceptable to celebrate Christmas right after Halloween spreads across the country at dinner tables, classrooms, and neighborhoods.
For early celebrators, November gives them the chance to stretch the comfort of the holidays: more time for steamy hot cocoa and marshmallows, nostalgic Christmas music, and all things merry.
English and social science teacher Michelle Wylie said, “I like to start decorating for Christmas as early as possible because of the magical feeling you get from creating Christmas magic.”
She added, “Taking out the decorations, each decoration represents a memory from that year. Thinking back and reflecting on the memory brings me joy.”
Traditionalists stand against these celebrators and claim pure festive sabotage. Thanksgiving deserves its own allotted time with family reunions and a delicious banquet of food—as well as a reason to look back at the things in life and give thanks.
“It just feels like the longer you wait, the shorter amount of extra joy you’re surrounded with,” Cara Garcia, Operations Manager, explained. “As a parent, I want to make sure there’s magic and joy throughout the whole season.”
Garcia’s sister, Brianne Baugh, added onto this reasoning. “Time moves quickly. It’s over before we know it and celebrating the holiday season early allows for more joy and cheer in a jolly way.”
“For me, it starts with a tree,” Baugh described how she gets into the spirit. “My sister is an expert in tree setup and my mom does the lights; it’s become a special tradition and kicks off the season.”
As an early celebrator, Hazel Nagata-Rampata ’26 said, “I love to have my Christmas decorations up for as long as possible, and after Halloween, at least to me, I think that’s the perfect time to start celebrating.”
On the other hand, Amisha Shankar ’26 disagreed, “There’s no reason Christmas should take two months—that’s just a little much.”
“I think especially in the Bay Area, it’s hard to feel festive compared to places that have snow.. .and for us in order to have that jolly feeling, you kind of are forced to decorate,“ Shankar explained.
Silvio Santana ’26, a senior at June Jordan School for Equity, explained, “For Christmas, I just want to celebrate it in its month. Celebrating early absolutely takes away the spark of Christmas.”
Wylie looks back to her childhood and wants to create memories for her own children. She said, “Listening to Christmas music also reminds me of driving around as a child, looking at Christmas lights with my family, and brings back wonderful memories.”
As long as traditions continue to evolve, the question of when to celebrate will remain part of the holiday conversation. Now, the next question people will have to ponder is when to take the Christmas decorations down: Jan. 1, which marks the new year or Jan. 6, the feast of the Epiphany.
