Warning: This post is strictly based on my opinion and I apologize for the brash generalizations that I will make hence forth.

What is wrong with you people?!

I have tried to be cool, I have tried to stay silent, but no more. I have hit my breaking point. This most likely comes too late for it to make any difference, but I can no longer stand idly by.

Why do people and businesses have this intense need to start prepping for Christmas so early? Hallmark starts putting out ornaments in July, Michael’s and JoAnn’s had their Christmas inventory out in mid-October, and the rest of the world seems to think that November 1st is the clear delineation for when Christmas music and movies can begin playing on repeat. Heck, even ABC Family is starting their “25 Days of Christmas” on November 23rd. Which makes me wonder who is doing the math for that station, because last time I checked that is way more than 25 days.

Have we completely disregarded the fact that not only do we have almost a full two months before Christmas at the beginning of November, but also that we have another holiday during that time? Or have we decided that Thanksgiving is only around so that people can shop for Christmas presents and get “unbelievable deals.” 

Please don’t even get me started on the whole Black Friday issue, or even those stores who have decided to start their Black Friday sales on the evening of Thanksgiving. Which I would like to point out is not Friday yet, so therefore they cannot claim Black Friday status. Also the fact that I am capitalizing the “b” in Black Friday, has just made me realize that I have been manipulated by the “system.”

Please don’t misunderstand me, I love Christmas.

Are you kidding its CHRISTMAS! The music, the decorations, the lights, the weather, hot chocolate, the MOVIES! There is so much I love about the Christmas season. I love that in general everyone seems to be kinder (seems is the operative word, again I point to Black Friday), and most people tend to give more at Christmas.

I like getting gifts, (really though, who doesn’t?), but I LOVE giving gifts, handmade or bought. I truly enjoy finding a personal gift for family and friends…seriously…I budget all year for Christmas, and I still almost always go over. (Then I eat a lot of oatmeal in January).

But more than all of those other things, I love being Catholic during the Advent and Christmas seasons, because it reminds me to SLOW down. To take time to reflect and prepare for the coming of Christ. I love everything about Advent and Christmas in the Church. The smells, the look, the readings, the prayers…it’s just all so…forgive the pun…Glorious.

It is because of this that I look forward to Christmas, it is because of Advent and the Church’s liturgical calendar that I refuse to listen to music, put up decorations, or watch movies of the Christmas variety until after Thanksgiving.

“But Kelly, why wouldn’t you want to celebrate Christmas for as long as you can, if you love it so much?”

Because all things in moderation, this way I won’t get sick of the music and God forbid the movies. Also the anticipation  and preparation is part of what makes it so gratifying. It’s why kids (and myself) have trouble sleeping on Christmas Eve.

Here’s what I’m tossing out there…if you waited to put out the trees, the wreaths, the lights, listening to the music, start quoting Elf incessantly, until the beginning of Advent (post-Thanksgiving), you’re still giving yourself a month to celebrate a wonderful time of the year. Not to mention you are sparing people all around the world who want to enjoy Christmas in DECEMBER the bombardment of Christmas related everything that starts to accumulate earlier and earlier every year.

If this doesn’t appeal to you, let me argue from the stance of Christmas related media, think of all the Grinches and Scrooges you may be creating by over advertising and promoting this season that comes around just once a year, when you insist on taking one DAY and stretching into a  six-month preparation. (I mean we could even say a year when you think about all the kids that wake up on December 26th and begin the count down of another 364 days until Christmas).  Has Dr. Seuss taught us nothing!

I understand most of you may no longer wish to be my friend, and for that I am sorry. But I’ve remained your friend even though you listen to Christmas music starting in September.

And one last plea of the 10 of you still out there that are still reading at this point. Maybe take a stance and join me in refusing to shop at retailers who are insisting on being open on Thanksgiving evening to start their holiday sales, because everyone deserves a break.

I’m looking at you Target.