Now that the cobwebs have been taken down, the costumes have been retired, and the candy has been eaten, there’s only one thing on my mind: Christmas.
There’s simply no in between. No Thanksgiving. No finals. No more wise money spending. All of that out the window because now is the time to prepare for the best holiday of the year.
I don’t care about the argument saying people shouldn’t start thinking about Christmas until December or the people who say Thanksgiving deserves its time to shine.
Now is the time to start listening to Mariah Carey, watching Hallmark movies, putting Christmas trees up, shopping for gifts, drinking hot chocolate and appreciating the sweater weather. In fact, all of these activities should have started weeks ago.
I’m starting to think the rest of Utah believes this too. When visiting Five Below, Ross, Dollar Tree and Target, I saw a common theme within each store. Christmas items were already filling the aisles, and these aisles were front and center catching the eyes of all.
In fact, thinking back to it, these stores started setting out their holiday essentials in October, but once it hit Nov. 1, they were quick to put out the rest of their Christmas merchandise.
Another common theme within the stores was that a section for Thanksgiving decorations was nonexistent or tucked away in some odd corner only filling one shelf. It almost seemed like these stores didn’t even want these items to be seen by its customers.
Not only have stores gotten in the holiday spirit but also students at Utah Tech University. Dorm doors that were once covered with Halloween signs, stickers and spooky themed decorations are now covered with Christmas wreaths, ornaments and snowflakes.
Just the other day, Christmas music was playing in the Human Performance Center, with students quickly posting exciting reactions to their Instagram stories while completing their exercises.
Instagram isn’t the only social media platform blowing up with Christmas content. Holiday centered TikToks are already filling my feed with gift guides, holiday recipes and activity ideas with Christmas music filling the background.
I’d say even the weather is ready for the holidays. With the average temperature this week being in the 50s, it’ll only get cooler allowing winter wardrobes to take over summer closets. Despite the warm weather of Southern Utah, stores have started putting their summer clothes on sale while bringing out the flannels, sweats, turtle necks and holiday apparel.
With daylight saving time moving us back an hour, this means the sun will set earlier. With St. George being filled with a night sky by 6 p.m., St. George can expect to see more Christmas lights go up adding to the many that are already illuminating Utah.
The finals and financial struggles that are sure to come with this season need to be forgotten. Of course they are important, and taking the right steps to prepare for them will help aid to our holiday experience, but stressing over them is unnecessary. It’s time to relax and celebrate the year as it comes to a close. When the new year hits, we can set budgeting and academic goals, but let’s end this year on a holly, jolly note.
As for the small November holiday, Thanksgiving is every day, or at least it should be. We should always be giving thanks and awarding ourselves with delicious food, but Christmas only happens once a year. It’s time to give it the attention it deserves.
