It's the great debate that happens this time of year.
CHRISTMAS.
When is it "okay" to start getting ready for it?
Both sides are passionate about their stances (myself included)
Which side are you on?
Team "Before" Thanksgiving or Team "After" Thanksgiving?
I am on Team AFTER Thanksgiving.
Honestly, it riles me up when I see Christmas stuff up before Thanksgiving.
And, like I posted last year, it seems that every year Christmas gets pulled out earlier and earlier.
For example, the girls and I went to the mall on November 1st to get a wedding gift.
I was SHOCKED when we saw SANTA at the mall. On November 1st. The day after Halloween.
I literally gasped when I saw this. Kate's reaction was one of my proudest parenting moments.
As we stared at all the trees, lights & elves at the Santa display, she exclaimed,
"Mommy, this place is just silly. Don't they know it isn't Thanksgiving yet?"
My heart literally burst with pride :)
A few days ago, I saw this picture on a friend's Facebook:
As if I needed another reason to love Nordstrom more than I already do :)
Well said, Nordstrom, well said.
This week and last week on Wheel of Fortune (yes, I watch it, don't judge!) is the Secret Santa Sweepstakes.
The whole stage is decked out in Christmas...the week before Thanksgiving? Really?
Anyways, back to the great debate.
I am obviously Team AFTER Thanksgiving.
Here are my Christmas "rules"
1. No Christmas music until the day after Thanksgiving.
2. No Christmas movies until the day after Thanksgiving
3. Absolutely no Christmas decorations until the day after Thanksgiving.
4. No peppermint mochas until the day after Thanksgiving.
5. No Black Friday shopping.
Yes, you read that right. I am the Anti-Black Friday shopper.
The fact that stores are opening at midnight on Thanksgiving night makes me a little sick to my stomach. Really? Really?
So, let me get off my soapbox and ask:
Which side are you on?
You are either one or the other..I don't think there is a gray area on this "issue".
Team "Before" Thanksgiving or Team "After" Thanksgiving?
I would love to hear your reasons also!
And don't worry if you don't agree with me, I have tons of friends who are on Team Before Thanksgiving and I still love them.....to each their own :)
When is it "okay" to start getting ready for it?
Both sides are passionate about their stances (myself included)
Which side are you on?
Team "Before" Thanksgiving or Team "After" Thanksgiving?
I am on Team AFTER Thanksgiving.
Honestly, it riles me up when I see Christmas stuff up before Thanksgiving.
And, like I posted last year, it seems that every year Christmas gets pulled out earlier and earlier.
For example, the girls and I went to the mall on November 1st to get a wedding gift.
I was SHOCKED when we saw SANTA at the mall. On November 1st. The day after Halloween.
I literally gasped when I saw this. Kate's reaction was one of my proudest parenting moments.
As we stared at all the trees, lights & elves at the Santa display, she exclaimed,
"Mommy, this place is just silly. Don't they know it isn't Thanksgiving yet?"
My heart literally burst with pride :)
A few days ago, I saw this picture on a friend's Facebook:
As if I needed another reason to love Nordstrom more than I already do :)Well said, Nordstrom, well said.
This week and last week on Wheel of Fortune (yes, I watch it, don't judge!) is the Secret Santa Sweepstakes.
The whole stage is decked out in Christmas...the week before Thanksgiving? Really?
Anyways, back to the great debate.
I am obviously Team AFTER Thanksgiving.
Here are my Christmas "rules"
1. No Christmas music until the day after Thanksgiving.
2. No Christmas movies until the day after Thanksgiving
3. Absolutely no Christmas decorations until the day after Thanksgiving.
4. No peppermint mochas until the day after Thanksgiving.
5. No Black Friday shopping.
Yes, you read that right. I am the Anti-Black Friday shopper.
The fact that stores are opening at midnight on Thanksgiving night makes me a little sick to my stomach. Really? Really?
So, let me get off my soapbox and ask:
Which side are you on?
You are either one or the other..I don't think there is a gray area on this "issue".
Team "Before" Thanksgiving or Team "After" Thanksgiving?
I would love to hear your reasons also!
And don't worry if you don't agree with me, I have tons of friends who are on Team Before Thanksgiving and I still love them.....to each their own :)
Well said, we shouldn't skip over Thanksgiving and that special season of Thankfulness. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeletei think i'm mildly team november 1 (after all i posted a christmas craft today, have been listening to a few christmas songs, and may have had some christmas beverages). however, thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays - so she is NOT easily forgotten. i still haven't watched my christmas movies, or gotten any real decorations out yet. basically i'm team whenever i'm motivated, and if thats before thanksgiving, it works for me. ;)
ReplyDeleteI am definitely team AFTER Thanksgiving. But I must admit that I recently purchased two Christmas CDs and MIGHT have listened to a few (OK, all!) tracks when they arrived. I just couldn't help myself!!
ReplyDeletePreach it! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm on team "after" as well.
Great post! I'm an After Thanksgiving person. I like to enjoy Thanksgiving and all the food before my holiday decor goes up. And like you, I refuse to shop on Black Friday. I think it's just sick actually. However, I have to admit that I already started listening to Christmas music and I've already had my fair share of Starbucks red cups.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you - team AFTER. For all the reasons you list. =) My next door neighbors put up all their Christmas yard decor the week after Halloween and I almost couldn't believe it. I don't think they've actually turned the lights on yet, so maybe it was just a matter of convenience!
ReplyDeleteI'm on team "After" Thanksgiving as well although I've bent my rules a little this year. Truth be told Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I've been sort of a Christmas grinch the past few years. All the hustling and bustling really gets to me so I've decided recently that I need to change my attitude.
ReplyDeleteAFTER. AFTER. AFTER. (not to be dogmatic!) Thinking about it though, I will be in need of fresh Christmas music . . . maybe, you could ask your readers to share the one Christmas album they couldn't live without?? You know AFTER Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteTEAM AFTER!!
ReplyDeleteI was just having this same debate with my co-workers today :)
I'm on team "whatever I feel like" because I can be!! :) Ha ha - Some years it's after Thanksgiving, some years it's before. I roll with my husband's whim because he wants everything put away on Christmas day if we're home and the day after when we travel. That said, we love, love, love Thanksgiving. And I love planning for it.
ReplyDeleteI would never decorate or listen to christmas music until after thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is actually my favorite holiday! However, I find it helpful to do a little christmas shopping in Nov. It just makes it a little easier. Although I always make a point to do some traditional holiday shopping in independent shops during the actual holiday shopping season. There's nothing like it!
ReplyDeleteYou had me until no peppermint mocha. Yeah, I start drinking them in September. I think I might try to freeze some peppermint mocha creamer so I can drink it all year long. It's truly my first love. Other than that I'm on team AFTER. Although Pinterest is making it very difficult year. ;)
ReplyDeleteAFTER! My husband actually is a stickler and wants us to wait until Dec. 1st to do anything "Christmas related". Sometimes I can talk him into something on Nov. 28th or so :)
ReplyDeleteI wrote about this...
ReplyDeleteIT MAKES ME CRAZY
Black Friday has turned into its own holiday. I am sick of the pressure to buy, get deals, catch the sales...all at ridiculous hours of the night. Our focus is OFF. This is just wrong. I suggested to the church today that at midnight, when all the shops open, the church doors should open as well. The only thing we should be rushing to buy at Christmas, it more time at the feet of Jesus.
I USED to be after, but I recently was thinking about how as soon as a pregnancy is announced we anticipate the birth for almost 9 months! How must Mary have felt knowing the child in her womb was the Son of God?! I totally agree that we should focus on Christ. I now find myself wanting to build up the anticipation of Christ's birth longer than just one month. :)
ReplyDeleteI will admit. The past few years (before this one) I was team before. My Christmas tree would go up, like the week before thanksgiving because I just couldn't stand it any longer. And this year I did start on the before band wagon. But then after posting my 1st Christmas ornament of the year about a week into November. I had time to sleep on it and woke up thinking about literally everything you have posted here and have decided from now on I will be on team after. I want my kids to enjoy each holiday as it comes. Thanksgiving included. I want them to know the meaning of thanksgiving. I want them to be thankful. Count their blessings. So Christmas will now wait until the day AFTER thanksgiving in our home as well.
ReplyDeleteFrom one Wheel of Fortune loving girl to another, I agree completely. Yay Nordstrom for standing their ground!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Yes, I am on team after... lol! Rock on, Nordstroms, rock on.
ReplyDeletefor the past 3 years that ive had my own place ive put my tree up the first weekend of Nov. I love the lights and decorations of Christmas but this year with my daughter about to be 3 i decided that since we do Thanksgiving just the 3 of us while the turkey is cooking and while the parade is on I want to put up our tree and decorations. I may leave it up for a little longer then usual now cause i wont get to enjoy it that long but as i get older im starting to see that Thanksgiving gets passed over. I love thanksgiving, its a very special day that I love to spend as a family. So I am team AFTER/Day of Thanksgiving. We moved back to our home town this year so now we get to go to Utica Square, they have music and they light the lights up all over the shopping square, im excited!
ReplyDeleteI am on team Whatever. I do listen to Xmas music in the middle of summer or whenever I feel missing it. I just think the holidays season come and go so fast... So I feel it's not too early to get into the season spirit on Nov 1st. I start planning for Thanksgiving Day in Oct. I don't feel like I am passing any holiday just by getting into the mood in advance if anything I feel more relax and am able to enjoy every single holiday more. But I do not like to see holidays decor still up after each holiday!
ReplyDeleteDai
Definitely Team After Thanksgiving, I sometimes get anxious to decorate before but I just can't do it. So proud of Nordstroms and really wish other stores would follow them.. and I definitely dont shop black friday but mainly because I've worked it the past 7 years yuck
ReplyDeleteI'm from Italy and we don't have Thanksgiving, but I deck my hall the first sunday of december. Kisses frim Italy.
ReplyDeleteRespect the turkey!
ReplyDeleteI wait until December 2 to start Christmas junk. My birthday is the 1, and after that - I can gear up for Christmas.
I am team "you never know".
ReplyDeleteThis year I am loving my house decorated for fall and I dont want the pumpkins to come down, but I go back to work after 10.5 weeks of maternity leave the Wednesday after Thanksgiving and I am afraid if don't do it this weekend it wont ever get done! :) We will see.
Props to you and Nordstrom for standing your ground! :)
I decorate my house the DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS! ;-)
ReplyDeleteHELLO PEOPLE!
ReplyDeleteGiving thanks for our forefathers who braved the cold and hardship and death to create this amazing nation where we are all free? Needs more than just one morning to celebrate.
Team Celebrate All Four Days of Thanksgiving and Christmas Decorations Don't Go Up Until DECEMBER.
I'm after! I agree. I love Thanksgiving and all that comes with it. I would much rather if the whole christmas music and decorating came after. (that said I am nearly done with my shopping - I wanted to enjoy the holidays and that was my reason for doing that!)
ReplyDeletewe celebrate thanksgiving in early oct up here. So I say after thanksgiving...LOL...that being said I have already decorated.I love christmas, and can't wait
ReplyDeleteI've never really considered which team I'm on, but now that you've written your view point, I would have to say Team AFTER Thanksgiving. I normally have to work a half day the Friday after Thanksgiving, and that afternoon is when we decorate the tree and the house and we'll normally watch Elf or It's a Wonderful Life that night. Unfortunately, this Black Friday, I will have to work the whole day, so I guess we'll do all the decorating on Saturday. :o(
ReplyDeleteOh, I don't do Black Friday either!! You couldn't pay me enough $$ to get me out there in the midst of all that craziness. Thankfully the "internets" have many of the same great deals. ;o)
I guess I would consider myself in the "gray" area. I'm definitely no Christmas decorations in my house until the day after Thanksgiving. I adore Thanksgiving and believe it deserves it's own decorations and gatherings. However, that being said, we've already started watching Christmas movies and listenting to Christmas music. We actually have a weekend in July that we call Christmas in July and watch a few of our favorite movies because we just love them. I like to "try" to get most of my shopping and crafting (while the CD's are playing) done in November so I can spend the month of December enjoying all that Christmas has to offer. Parties, activities with the kids and grandkids, gingerbread house making, Christmas lights etc.
ReplyDeleteI understand both sides so I'm a little gray on the subject.
Happy Thanksgiving.
I am definitely with you on this one...at least 95%. I think that the Christmas season should definitely start AFTER Thanksgiving. However, I do typically take our "family Christmas card photo" during our Summer vacation and I start Christmas shopping early because I am all about a good deal. I start picking up stuff during the Summer and putting it in the attic for Christmas when it's a great price or something special. And since we have 4 kids and a limited budget, I have been staying up all night to get the "deals" on black Friday for the past few years.
ReplyDeleteThis year, I am trying to get all of my shopping done by December 1st because we are expecting a rainbow baby in December and you never know when that's going to start happening but I refuse to wrap a single gift until after Thanksgiving.
Hugs,
Trisha
TEAM AFTER!!!! And Nordstrom has always had this stance, which is like you said, just another reason to love them
ReplyDeleteI am USUALLY team AFTER. However, this year will find me gone for the two weeks before Christmas, and I am bound to be done Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving so that we can appreciate the meaning of Thanksgiving and Christmas both (without anything hanging over our heads).
ReplyDeleteGiven that...I think I'm going to cheat and put up Christmas stuff this Sunday. I want to enjoy it for as long as possible, which is two weeks less than normal.
Should I go and hide now? ;)
i am team after except for this year. this year....morning sickness has made me so exhausted and down in the dumps. my husband is begging me to get our new house in order and i told him...ok. i'm gonna decorate. but i'm only decorating once right now. so. i put a wreath up early. because it brightened my day full of nausea and made me put up one less thing next week. ;)
ReplyDeleteI am 100% AFTER Thanksgiving. While I love Christmas, Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday.
ReplyDeleteAnd word to my girl Laura Case! She always says it best.
Team After for sure - I agree 100% with everything you said in your post!
ReplyDeleteI'm totally with you on AFTER! The only exception that I do is peppermint mochas ;) haha..and I think I justify it because Starbucks has them all year.
ReplyDeleteYou know, this isn't something I feel super strongly about. I would have white lights up in my house all year long if I could, so I'll probably bust those out pretty soon and put them above our kitchen cabinets... but no "overtly Christmas" stuff until after Thanksgiving. I'm not done enjoying my gourds! :)
ReplyDeleteWell, I do have my tree up and a few decorations. Since my famliy is going to visit family over Thanksgiving, I thought I would put the tree up before so when I get back on the 27th, the tree will be up. I would say I am on team... Both. I totally agree with everything you said. I am so excited to visit my families after all I am thankful for ALL of THEM{In-laws too} However sometimes life happens, my daughter wanted to dance and asked for Christmas music a few weeks ago. Do I have the heart to tell her NO it's only the begining of Nov. so we brought the music. I wanted to enjoy my tree this year so I put it up early only because I am going away for T-day. I have even started shopping because I don't want to be straped for cash all at once. I am nutural...I go with the flow ;)
ReplyDeleteTeam AFTER FOR SURE!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI hate that every year it feels like Christmas decor is literally being shoved down your throat right after Halloween! It is madness.
I agree with every reason you listed.
And yes, Nordstrom, amen.
I LOVE that nordstroms sign...amazing!
ReplyDeleteDid you jump in my head? I have the exact same thoughts as you! I even wrote on my FB about this very topic!
ReplyDeleteTeam After Thanksgiving. I have had a peppermint mocha and bought 2 new Christmnas CD's (and listened to them while making Christmas crafts.) However, I won't decorate til after Thaanksgiving Day.
ReplyDeleteTeam "A-F-T-E-R" for sure! Except...for purchasing gifts. I do that throughout the year if I see things I know someone will like : )
ReplyDeletehere in Australia we don't celebrate thanksgiving so the demarcation is much more blurry. Most people wait until 1 dec, though I definitely shop before then as I try to avoid shops close to christmas, gets too crazy for me. As for shops they have decorations for sale in october and are fully decked out in mid November - and we have hot cross buns in some stores on new years day! We have far less annual celebrations than you so I guess they can get away with it!
ReplyDeleteso....you like the giants AND you wait until after Thanksgiving?!
ReplyDeletebut yet, i still love you and want to be your neighbor.
i am totally team AFTER. i love the friday after thanksgiving, picking up the tree, and getting the house set for Christmas.
ReplyDeletei definitely do NOT shop on black friday. i may do most of my shopping before december but only because i do not enjoy fighting the crowds at the mall/stores. we spend the month of december doing advent activities and enjoying the Christmas season.
I'm technically on Team After Thanksgiving, but in your case Team Before Thanksgiving. I'm Canadian and we celebrate Thanksgiving in October. So, November 1st, it's all about Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHere in South Africa, we dont celebrate Thanksgiving...so you see Christmas stuff up from late October...no Santas tho :-)
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to let Anonymous know I edited the post. Sorry about that! My apologies.
ReplyDeleteI have always been TEAM AFTER, and luckily my husband is too. I am very centered on authenticity and when I see Christmas decor popping up in stores in July (no I am NOT kidding, JULY!) it just doesn't feel authentic and it really takes from the magical time right before Christmas. Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday because it is focused on thankfulness, counting blessings, family, food and the stress of Christmas hasn't snuck in yet. With that said, I do have to say that I partake of peppermint mochas and eggnog lattes as soon as those puppies pop up. I drink peppermint mochas year round actually. But, does knowing I live in Alaska give me a better excuse? :) Happy Thanksgiving y'all!
ReplyDeleteExcellent post! I am usually team AFTER...but this year, for some reason I turned on some Christmas music a few days before Thanksgiving. And now I have a horrible cold and am in no mood to decorate! :( Bah hum bug.
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ReplyDelete