By Waverly Noah and Sophia Chen
Every year, the moment Halloween candy hits 50% off, a dispute begins: The Christmas Decorations Debate. On one side, you have the people who plug in their lights on November 1st like they’re powering up the sun. On the other hand, you have the people who open their blinds, see the glow across the street, and transform into the human version of the Grinch staring down from Mount Crumpit.
Let’s start with the early decorators. These are the people who don’t just like Christmas lights…they need Christmas lights. Kayleigh, an early decorator at Ridgewood High School, explains: “My family and I put up Christmas decorations early because we want to feel and enjoy the Christmas spirit for as long as possible. We used to wait until the day after Thanksgiving like most families, but by the time we decorated, it felt almost time to take everything down. Decorating early just lets us enjoy the feeling of Christmas a little longer.” For many, the timing isn’t just about logistics; it’s the way decorating affects one’s mood. Whether it’s warm white, red, green, or blue, the blur of lights both outdoors and indoors creates a sense of comfort and warmth. People like Kayleigh are eager to dive straight into the holiday cheer. She adds that decorating early gives her a boost of excitement: “Putting up decorations early makes me feel excited and energized for the holiday season. If you wait too long, the season feels shorter, and there’s less time to enjoy it.” Waiting too long can make the season feel compressed.
Decorating early gives many, whether that be a family, a neighborhood, or a community the chance to fully feel the magic of the season. They want to hold onto the warmth of Christmas as long as possible and smile when festive songs pop up on the radio station as soon as November hits. They are the ones who can’t wait to put up the tree with their families, smell the fresh piney fragrance, or admire the detailed decorations. After all, the holiday cheer only rolls around once a year. Enjoying it to its fullest and capturing the time spent with family and friends can create unforgettable memories.
Then we have the other side: the people who walk outside on November 2nd, see a fully lit reindeer on their neighbor’s lawn, and think, This is outrageous. Thanksgiving hasn’t even passed yet. These aren’t anti-Christmas people. They’re not plotting to steal Christmas cheer. They just appreciate order. They want their pumpkin season. They want their slow, peaceful November with turkey and gravy. They don’t want to be shoved into holly-jolly overdrive before they’ve even finished their leftover candy. Some go strictly no carols until Thanksgiving is over like Emma, a sophomore at RHS, who says,“[her] family usually decorates for Christmas the Sunday after Thanksgiving so [they] can have [their] decor up all of December but not have it interfere with fall or Thanksgiving.” Thanksgiving should be honored in its own holiday glory, and not solely as the transition into the Christmas season. Preparing a large Thanksgiving meal with family and savoring the time watching Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade are events that should be loved separately, even if hints of holiday spirit are already up in the air. Also, waiting after Thanksgiving is over can be a way to ensure that more family members are together when the lights go up. Kat, a sophomore at RHS, says her family “puts up the Christmas tree and other decorations after Thanksgiving because her sisters are back from college by then.” This way, the entire family can be in one place to feel the warmth and joy of the holiday season. Without some members of the family, the decorations don’t make Christmas feel like Christmas.
One thing is for sure: after Thanksgiving ends, it seems as though almost everyone feels that permission to fully enter the Christmas season has been granted. Now, the voices of Mariah Carey, Michael Bublé, and Carrie Underwood fill the streets and stores. The vibes feel contagious as Christmas movies are watched on repeat and holiday shopping traffic crowds the streets. Families spring into their annual routines, whether it is baking Christmas cookies, hanging stockings over the fireplace, or something else entirely.
So… when is too early? Here’s the truth: no one actually knows. In the end, Christmas lights don’t have a correct start date. People decorate when it feels right for them, whether they’re chasing the joy of the season, protecting their sanity, or trying not to transform into the Grinch before December even hits. Plus, in the movie, the Grinch doesn’t stay grumpy forever; once he realizes what the season is all about, he joins the celebration in his own timeline. That’s kind of how people work, too. Some jump into the holiday immediately, while some need a little more time. Eventually, almost everyone flips the switch.