I Decorate For Christmas Right After Halloween
Yes, I Am That Mom That Decorates For Christmas the Day After Halloween
In late August, I turned to my husband and asked, "Is it too early to start watching Christmas Holiday?" "No," he replied, which is why I married him. Because for us, it's never too soon to start celebrating Christmas. One year, we put on a Christmas in July celebration with a mini-tree and presents, and even baked Christmas cookies just because we couldn't wait until December (yep, we are those people). But even when we haven't pulled together a holiday in the middle of Summer, I'm not worried, because I know it'll be only a few months until we start decorating for the real thing.
Why wouldn't you want to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year for as long as possible? I [feel] all merry and bright with not one ounce of shame.
For us, Halloween is just a warm up for Christmas. In all honesty, I'd be happy to skip dressing up all together and get to Yuletide already. I figure, why even wait until Thanksgiving to start decorating for Christmas? Wouldn't you prefer to sit down to a turkey dinner at a table set in Christmas gingham? With garland festooning the windows, and stockings hung by the chimney? With care, of course.
It's not easy to get a real Christmas tree before Thanksgiving, unfortunately. It's usually about mid-November before we can find one, but I still decorate as early as Nov. 1. Until the tree lots are open for business, you'd better believe we get busy going through and putting out our supersized collection of Christmas throw pillows and blankets, bowls and assorted serveware, mugs, glassware, wall hangings, stuffed animals, wreaths, and lights. Stockings get hung up. I drink my morning coffee out of my treasured "Ho, Ho, Ho" mug. My "Holly Jolly" wine glass is in full effect. We start watching our favourite Christmas movies.
Yes, this is all happening long before I've contemplated a Thanksgiving dinner menu. Why? Why wouldn't you want to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year for as long as possible? Stores are already selling Christmas stuff, Starbucks will have started offering its peppermint mocha, and I'm right there with 'em feeling all merry and bright with not one ounce of shame.
And if I do ever feel silly for a moment, the thought quickly fades when I remind myself that the world is full of depressing news, especially right now. I've also experienced my fair share of challenges in life. So if I can add a few sprinkles of happiness to our days for a bit longer during this time of year, I'm going to do it. Really, can you ever have too many smiles or silver-painted sugar cookies, no matter how early in the year it is?
