by: Ava Hardaway 

A debate at this time of year is whether Christmas should be celebrated before Thanksgiving. Should Santas be out before the turkeys get a chance to be highlighted? 

When the calendar changed to November, Halloween decorations turned into Christmas decorations for some. Christmas music started to play, Christmas lights were put up and Thanksgiving had no time to shine.  

---

A poll showing peoples opinion on the early celebration of Christmas debate.

57 people voted in total.

Photo courtesy of: @gshslionsden on Instagram

---

Some people like to wait to feel the Christmas spirit. Freshman Hope Ewing and sophomore Izabella Caruso had similar, but different, feelings towards the start of their Christmas celebrations. 

“My mom and I usually always try to have our Christmas stuff up the first week in November,” Caruso said. “So, we like to put everything up before Thanksgiving.” 

Starting this early isn’t hard for Caruso and her mom; meanwhile other students, like Ewing, disagree about decorating for the holidays this early. 

“I like to start decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving,” Ewing said. “Christmas is my favorite holiday to celebrate, though.” 

Although many enjoy the Christmas holiday more, waiting for the right time to start decorating seems better to do. Leaving up Christmas decorations too long can also always be another debate. Some like to keep the Christmas lights up until January, but others will take them down the week after the Christmas celebrations are done.  

“We try to keep them up from the first week in November to the first week of January,” Caruso said. “We like them up for the full months.” 

Students, parents and teachers all have based their opinions on the holiday seasons. It might not be a big deal to some, but others do not enjoy it. 

Many prefer the month of November for Thanksgiving, while others prefer an early start to Christmas. GS English teacher Miss Alyssa Bewszka has discussed decorating her room for the holidays with her classes. Her students would like to start now, but she wants to wait a little longer.  

“I do like the order in which Christmas and Thanksgiving happen,” Miss Bewszka said. “I think it helps to build up the excitement for each holiday. I like that Christmas happens and then shortly after it’s New Years. I think those holidays pair well together. If it was switched, Thanksgiving would not pair well with New Years. It just doesn’t flow correctly, and they don’t have the same vibe.” 

As the holiday seasons become closer, the preparations for the Christmas season are near. Although many like to wait it out until after Thanksgiving, people like to get a head start on the décor now.  

“I will admit that I put my tree up while we were still in the month of October, but at least it was at the end,” Bewszka said. “Now that it is November, Christmas decorations are everywhere and I still have some to put up. I do still have my fall wreath on the front door and pumpkins and mums outside though. Fall décor is outside for others to see, and Christmas is inside for my family and I to see.” 

Preferences of the holidays that are approaching seem to change the older one gets. As many get older, different feelings are made because of the holidays.  

“I used to prefer Thanksgiving because I love stuffing and mashed potatoes and gravy, but now I prefer Christmas because I love Christmas lights,” Bewszka said. “Christmas time has always been such a happy time in my life growing up. I have so many good memories like baking cookies with my mom and seeing all my extended family on Christmas Eve to play games.”