The other day, I received a message from one of my closest friends.
It read, "Have you decorated for Christmas yet!!!"
"Are you serious, I thought? Already?"
It was Nov. 7 when I received that message.
For many, having decorated for Christmas by the beginning of November may sound absurd. And I can understand that. But for me, ever since I moved out of my parent's house years ago, decorating for Christmas has always been a tradition that has occurred early. Think start of November early.
In my university years, perhaps it was a way to procrastinate from studying for mid-term examinations. Or maybe it was so exciting because the Christmas season meant a full two-week break away from university. I mean, who wouldn't get excited about that?
And it was during those years, that decorating for Christmas started happening earlier and earlier. Living in a townhouse with two girls who would become two of my closest friends, decorating for Christmas was a tradition.
We would close the textbooks, crack open the box of Christmas decorations and throw on a little holiday music. It was only a matter of time until the walls were fully decorated and the countdown until Christmas had begun.
Each year, decorating for Christmas would begin earlier and earlier. In fact, during those years, decorating for Christmas officially started on Nov. 1 at 12:01 a.m.
So, there was really no reason why I should have been surprised by the text that I received on Nov. 7. I mean, at that point it was already a full week past when decorating for Christmas officially began each and every year.
Looking at the calendar following my moment of surprise, I realized that there was less than two months until Christmas. Little did I know that October had passed me by and that November was well on its way to doing the same thing.
This past weekend, while we were away visiting family and friends, house after house was beginning to show signs of the Christmas spirit. Some of the houses were decked out in the traditional colors of the season with red and green lights hung around their eaves troughs, while others had a white frosted glow to them with icicle lights that dangled from the rooftops. Other yards had trees that were lit from top to bottom.
And while the fact that Christmas was just around the bend may not have occurred to me when I initially received that message, one week later as I sit down to write this article, I can officially say that it has. And I am ready for the holiday season. I am more than excited to pull out our Christmas decorations and spend the next few days finding places for all of the items throughout the house.
And in all actuality, I am quite appreciative for the wake-up call. I am one of those people who would rather do their Christmas shopping early in the holiday season when the holiday atmosphere is still filled with cashiers who remain cheerful, store workers who still appreciate the holiday music and shoppers who still have patience. I would rather spend the two weeks before Christmas visiting family and friends during the evenings than spending time trying to find a last minute gift.
As you are reading this, there are five weeks and a few days until Christmas. That means that Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes are due within the upcoming week, Christmas music will soon hit the stores, and Christmas cheer will be spread throughout the holiday season. It is here and I am excited for it. Are you?
