How Early is Too Early for Christmas Music?

When should Mariah Carey defrost and Michael Bublé take over playlists? The Arts & Entertainment Department weighs in on the great Christmas music debate.

Never

Nov. 1 is the day that people should be able to start listening to Christmas music because it brings an immense amount of joy and positivity.

Early November marks a clear transition period, to move into festivities after Halloween celebrations making it an ideal time to embrace the season gradually.

While some prefer waiting until after Thanksgiving, starting the Christmas music earlier harms no one, and it simply extends a season that’s traditionally associated with kindness, community, and joy.

Listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving does not diminish Thanksgiving as a holiday; there is just simply no Thanksgiving music, so why not enjoy the Christmas bangers artists have made?

Playing the music earlier allows for a longer stretch of this joy and gives people more time to prepare emotionally for the holiday season.

It acts as a comforting backdrop in colder, shorter days and can improve mood and foster a spirit of gratitude and goodwill.

For those who love the spirit of Christmas, the Nov. 1 start is a way to remind people of cherished memories and embrace that feeling fully. -Madison Rush

Is Thanksgiving a great holiday? Yes, of course it is. Can you celebrate Thanksgiving and also be appreciative of the Christmas season at the same time? The answer: also yes.

Some people are more festive than others, I am one of the overly festive people. I love to celebrate Thanksgiving, as many others do, but Thanksgiving is a one-day celebration, and it doesn’t linger.

Unlike Christmas, Thanksgiving doesn’t have a seasonal appeal, it’s just more fall. It feels like an extension of Halloween.

The Christmas season hits hard, and when it’s Christmas time, you can feel it in the air. There’s all kinds of different ways to celebrate the holiday spirit, but my favorite is to put on the classic Christmas music.

Just because I put on Christmas music doesn’t mean I’m ignoring Thanksgiving. Two legends can coexist. - Sketch Morton

The Middle of November

There is no date that can capture the perfect moment to start listening to Christmas music.

Saying the day after Halloween is just unacceptable — at least wait until all the candy runs out and the last orange leaf falls from the autumn trees.

This year in State College, it was a brisk 78 degrees on Halloween and the rest of the week saw more high temperatures in the 70s. It should be illegal to play Christmas music when the temperature is anywhere above 55 degrees (southern and western states not included).

As far as the other challenger who claims everyone should wait until after Thanksgiving to listen to Christmas music — that only leaves 27 days until the holiday passes and everyone moves on to New Year’s celebrations.

Today’s catalog of Christmas music is too good to only afford it 27 days of rotation.

All this being said, the perfect time to start listening to Christmas music is right in the middle of November. The air will hopefully be chilly, the leaves gone and a snowstorm on the horizon.

Queue ‘Last Christmas’ by Wham! - Kaitlyn Murphy

After Thanksgiving

This year, Nov. 29 is the first acceptable day to embrace the Christmas spirit when Bing Crosby and Mariah Carey can return to your speakers.

Only after everyone is full of Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing and pecan pie and the Thursday Night Football game has ended can the Christmas festivities begin.

Just because there are no Thanksgiving songs doesn’t mean that November deserves to be overshadowed by Christmas anticipation.

Part of what makes Christmas time special is its limited window of celebration. For those who celebrate, the entire month of December should be dedicated to Christmas.

Christmas music makes people feel warm and fuzzy inside, and it is perfect to listen to while putting up the Christmas tree, hanging the stockings, and displaying the nutcrackers.

But let’s face it: listening to Michael Bublé's Christmas covers for over a month can be a bit much. (No offense to Mr. Bublé)

Christmas music signifies the year and all its accomplishments coming to a close, with New Year’s Eve right around the corner. There’s no need to rush. - Matthew Peters

Madison Rush is a third-year majoring in public relations. To contact her, email mkr5957@psu.edu.

Sketch Morton is a fifth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email sam7539@psu.edu.

Kaitlyn Murphy is a third-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact her, email kvm6255@psu.edu.

Matthew Peters is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mbp5830@psu.edu.