To preface this, I am currently listening to Christmas music as I write this. If I’m being completely honest, I’m not even really sure why this is an opinion piece because the supreme opinion is clearly that it’s never too early for Christmas music. Now for all of you Thanksgiving lovers, don’t worry––just because people listen to Christmas music doesn’t mean we don’t like turkey day. 

There’s something about Christmas music that just makes people happy. You could turn on “All I Want For Christmas” by Mariah Carey anytime of the year, and I will get up and sing it at the top of my lungs. Every genre of music has a mood that goes along with it. Christmas music has an undeniably merry and peppy vibe to it. I believe that if listening to Christmas music makes you joyful and puts you into a good mood, why wouldn’t you listen to it all year round?

As soon as spooky season is officially over, the day after Halloween—when all of the scary decorations are retired until the next year—I start getting into Christmas mode. And though that is the official start date of my playing Christmas music 24/7, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with blasting “Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande on the Fourth of July. 

If I had to list my top favorite Christmas songs it would be as follows: “Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande, literally any of the songs from Justin Bieber’s “Under the Mistletoe” album, “Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson, and, you guessed it, “All I want for Christmas” by Mariah Carey. 

When I listen to Christmas music, I’m in my happy place. It is impossible for me to not belt the lyrics with a huge smile on my face when a carol comes on. Car rides to school with my little sister have been nothing short of perfect as we dedicate our drive time to creating synchronized dances to every Christmas song we play.

It’s comforting and nostalgic to sit down with a cup of hot cocoa and listen to Christmas music. Ever since I was little, I looked forward to the day when I would come home to my mom playing Christmas carols and decorating the house with pine and lights, and nothing has changed. 

I honestly recommend listening to Christmas carols on days when you’re not feeling too spiffy—no matter the season—it always puts me in a good mood. So before you try and roast me for my music choices throughout all four seasons, just think about how great it would be to feel the Christmas spirit at any time of year. For now, however, Christmas is only a few days away, so grab a cup of cocoa, turn on those Christmas carols, and enjoy the holiday spirit.

Every year, around the end of November, people start to get excited in anticipation for the upcoming month of December. Which I totally understand because, throughout the year, there are no holidays that are as anticipated as Christmas. 

Christmas means sitting by the fire with hot cocoa, bright shiny lights, gingerbread houses, and holiday cheer. However, there is only one time and place for these celebrations––the month of December. Not before. And especially not after. Christmas is fun and all, but it is preposterous to begin playing Christmas music the second that November begins. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of Christmas, but there is something about having a time and place for everything that I thoroughly enjoy. Christmas becomes more special when the time leading to it is limited; nothing is more satisfying than the few weeks before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day––it is hard not to get Christmas fever. And it is then that Christmas music is appropriate. 

When Christmas music, as “catchy” as it can sometimes be, is played before December, it lures us away from the time where we can actually sit down and be grateful for everything we have. With Mariah Carey and Michael Buble blasting in malls, the joys of Thanksgiving, stuffing your face with turkey and mashed potatoes and recalling the many things we should be thankful for, are lost. 

I, for one, really love November and Thanksgiving; it is one of my favorite times of the year. It is time to be with family and to share thanks for everything we have and our life opportunities. When people play Christmas music before turkey day, it certainly feels like they are overlooking this amazing holiday and jumping right into Christmas. Thanksgiving deserves better, and so do we. December is the time for Christmas, not November and especially not before Thanksgiving. I get that there is no real “Thanksgiving Spirit” or at least none that could be compared to the power of the “Christmas Spirit,” but in the times we live in, we all need a time to sit down and be grateful for everything we have and how lucky we are to have certain opportunities and people in our lives. Nowadays people just rush into the idea of Christmas and take less notice of Thanksgiving.

Although Christmas music is beloved during the Christmas season, playing it in the middle of July is just a tiny bit annoying. I understand blasting it during December and even a little bit into January, but once February hits, Christmas season is officially over, and it is time to move and listen to different music.

Christmas Music is only meant for Christmas time. It’s happy, merry, and jolly, because these emotions are heightened during the Christmas Season. This is the only place where Christmas music belongs. December is the only acceptable time to bring out the Frank Sinatra Christmas Album or jam out to “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” period!