Christmas music should be played before Thanksgiving because it encourages positive ideals and makes people happy.
It’s officially November, which means the annual debate will now commence: while some start playing Christmas music once the clock strikes midnight to signal the end of Halloween, others argue that it should wait until after Thanksgiving.
One of the arguments against playing Christmas music so early is that it takes away from Thanksgiving and gives people less time to enjoy their favorite fall things. However, with Christmas decor and music debuting earlier each year, so are everyone’s fall favorites.
The most prevalent example is Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte. Prior to 2018, the earliest the PSL was launched was Sept. 2; this year it was released Aug. 24.
Additionally, with the culture shift of preferring “Happy Holidays” to “Merry Christmas,” there has also been a move to appreciate “the holiday season” instead of “Christmastime.” Regardless of one’s feelings on that matter, it results in Thanksgiving being grouped together with Christmas. After all, the holidays do stand for similar things: thankfulness, family and joy.
There are a multitude of songs that are considered “Christmas songs,” which really can be equally applied to Thanksgiving, such as songs that talk about friends and family gathering together (“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”), cold weather (“Let it Snow”) or believing in something greater (“Believe” by Josh Groban).
Good thing — because there aren’t many Thanksgiving-themed songs for people to celebrate the holiday. The top Thanksgiving playlists on Youtube or Spotify consist of two categories: songs that are played at any time of the year such as “Wonderful World” by Sam Cooke, or old hymns and instrumental music.
“There isn’t any good Thanksgiving music that gives me the same feeling Christmas music does,” says junior biomedical engineering major Jeannie Liang. “As soon as it gets cold, I like to think of Christmas by playing the music to make me feel warm.”
Others argue that two months of Christmas music is simply too much of the same songs. Many report that Christmas music puts them in a bad mood because it is overplayed.
Christmas became a major Christian holiday in the 9th century and a national holiday in the U.S. in 1870. Since then a sizable number of Christmas songs have been made. In 2014, it was reported that there were just under a million Christmas songs in the Spotify music library — and that was seven years ago.
All of these songs grouped with the thousands of new Christmas songs that come out each year means there are plenty of options for people that are tired of the same old songs. It may just mean trying out a new playlist or genre of Christmas music than what is played on the local radio station (I’m looking at you KOST 103.5).
Studies have also shown that music has a significant effect on mood. This is no different for Christmas music. Since many have positive memories from Christmas as a child, these positive memories are associated with the Christmas songs they grew up listening to, resulting in a nostalgic and joyous feeling when they hear the same songs as an adult.
Many non-profits report spikes in volunteers and donations in November and December that promptly drops back in January. If the holiday season causes people to become more generous and friendly to one another, why not stretch it to be longer?
When it comes down to it, Christmas music makes people happy.
“Christmas music is great at any point in the year because it’s always uplifting and brings a smile to my face,” says junior public relations major Grace Yaso. “I mean come on, there’s never a time when ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ by Mariah Carey doesn’t hit.”
It has been a tumultuous couple of years for the world. I think you can manage listening to Mariah Carey one too many times if it means that people can surround themselves with positivity and joy for a little longer this year.