Never too early for holiday spirit
How early is too early for Christmas decorations? For me, it has always been any time before Thanksgiving. But with a year that’s been so combative, contentious, argumentative, and exhausting, I’ve reconsidered my scrooge-like skepticism.
Since I was a kid, I’ve enjoyed holiday decorations of every kind: Christmas trees adorned with so many ornaments that they droop like snow-covered bushes. Outdoor lighting that needs its own utilities bill. Inflatable Santa figures swaying in the gusty wind like drunken frat boys. Even those gaudy Christmas sweaters featuring flashing lights and holiday songs.
Sure, bring ’em on, plug ’em in, turn ’em on.
In past years, I preferred to celebrate the Christmas spirit during the traditional holiday season — from the day after turkey day through the day of Jesus’ birth (according to Christian folklore). Otherwise, its magic felt weakened and cheapened, like diluting eggnog with milk to make it last longer. It just isn’t the same.
How excited was I supposed to get when driving by the same outdoor Christmas decorations every day, from Halloween through New Year’s Day? Seeing a twinkling Christmas tree through someone’s front window in mid-November simply didn’t light me up as much as seeing it in mid-December. It was the difference between receiving an early Christmas present versus the anticipation of waiting for it until Christmas Day.
Still, I understood the urge to decorate early. Especially if young children were involved. They can be relentless about putting up a tree, making a gift list, whispering about Santa Claus, watching holiday movies, and everything else about the magical season of Christmastime.
Holiday decorations have a way of instantly tapping into our childhood excitement, and into our collective nostalgia. The older we get, the more we have a sentimental longing for the merriest moments from past Christmases. Although we tend to exaggerate these Christmases from a simpler time — to others and to ourselves — these recollections can lift our spirits, perk up a bad day, and give us shelter from the storm of today’s reality.
With the presidential impeachment public hearings underway, our nation’s political climate is that much more intense and stressful, if that’s possible. According to a new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, four out of 10 Americans surveyed said politics is causing serious stress, and one in five is losing sleep over it. All this stress is contributing to a legitimate public health problem, the study concluded.
This may be another reason why Christmas lovers are decorating their homes, and their hearts, with holiday images earlier than usual. In my neighborhood, some people planted a Christmas tree in their living room just after Halloween. At first I thought, “Too soon!” Not any longer. I’ll take every twinkle I can get during these long dark nights.
I don’t describe myself as a Christian, yet I enjoy celebrating this high holy day. Christmas has transcended Christianity in our increasingly secular society.
Big business also contributes to the pop culture craze of early holiday decorating. Retailers are reacting to the shortest holiday season since 2013 by constantly reminding consumers: CHRISTMAS IS COMING! So start shopping earlier.
The musical soundtrack for all this early merriment is provided by 93.9 Lite FM, which has already begun playing nonstop holiday music. I refuse to listen until at least mid-December. I don’t want Christmas to arrive with me having already listened to my favorite songs 16 times. Again, it would create disappointment through dilution.
While writing this column, I was surprised by an early Christmas gift from a woman I met this summer at my physical therapy appointments. Ashley Schoon’s gesture has changed how I feel about all this early decorating and celebrating stuff.
On Instagram, the 32year-old Valparaiso woman wrote to me, “I made something for you and your wife, and I would love to give it to you! You were always so kind to me at therapy, I wanted to do something for you.”
I didn’t know what to say but thank you.
The next day at my scheduled appointment, I noticed Schoon getting out of a vehicle in the parking lot. She walked into the Athletico office with a big smile while hiding something behind her back.
“Close your eyes,” she told me.
Schoon placed a Christmas tree ornament in front of me. Again, I didn’t know what to say but thank you.
“Do you like it?” she asked.
The handcrafted ornament sparkles with red and green, and a tiny Santa figurine inside.
“I love it. It’s beautiful,” I said.
Schoon’s unexpected gift embodies the Christmas spirit to me. It wasn’t obligatory. My name wasn’t on some list to be crossed off like a chore. She didn’t buy it, she made it. And she made a special trip that day to give it to me in person.
“In case I don’t see you before Christmas,” Schoon explained with a smile.
Wow. Just wow. It was, of course, the first Christmas present I received this year, more than a week before Thanksgiving. Her gift came at just the right time for this over-stressed skeptic. Without knowing it, Schoon gave me the Christmas spirit.
Not once did I think, “too early” or “too soon.”