Freedom Area High School's Student Newspaper

FHS Press

Freedom Area High School's Student Newspaper

FHS Press

Freedom Area High School's Student Newspaper

FHS Press

Celebrating holidays early could lead to negative effects

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Noah Brandon
Forgotten Festivities: Christmas is often celebrated soon after Halloween. This can cause Halloween along with Thanksgiving to be forgotten or not celebrated in excitement of the festive holiday.

Despite the excitement and celebration that the holidays offer, there is increasing concern that the Christmas spirit is appearing earlier and earlier every year. There is debate over the practice of celebrating Christmas far in advance of December 25th. Some contending arguments are that it lessens the holiday’s charm and significance.

Christmas decorations have began to appear on store shelves as early as September in recent years. Retailers appear to be competing with one another to be the first to draw customers’ attention and money as quickly as possible. Although it seems sensible from a business standpoint to want to make the most of the holidays, it raises concerns about how this may affect Christmas’s customary time and excitement.

There is a chance that the prolonged Christmas season will cause “holiday fatigue.” The steady barrage of Christmas-themed music, decorations and ads may have folks exhausted by the time December rolls around. It may be difficult for people to sustain their excitement for the entire month due to the early start, which lessens the unique atmosphere that accompanies the official start of the holiday season.

Furthermore, a merging of holidays has resulted from the commercialization of Christmas. Even in September, shoppers are inundated with a plethora of Halloween and Christmas décor. The distinctions between these several festivities grow hazy, possibly overshadowing each holiday’s own customs and cultural importance.

A large portion of the allure of Christmas for numerous individuals is the excitement and counting of days before the main event. Stretching out the season over multiple months runs the risk of removing the magic and wonder that characterize the weeks preceding Christmas. Instead of a slow accumulation of holiday cheer, it becomes overly intense, possibly making individuals feel apathetic on the actual day.

Moreover, the economy might suffer from the early start to Christmas celebrations. Although retailers might see an increase in sales during the extended holiday season, consumer spending may stay mostly unchanged overall. The extended Christmas period may actually cause spending that would have happened closer to Christmas to be replaced rather than increase revenue. Businesses and the economy as a whole may experience unforeseen consequences as a result of this change in consumer behavior.

It is also necessary to take the environment into account. The demand for more material production and consumption is fueled by early Christmas decorations, which increases waste. Degradation of the environment is a result of the mass production of disposable decorations, as well as the carbon footprint of their manufacture and delivery. The environmental impact of the Christmas season may be lessened with a more subdued and thoughtful approach to the festivities.

The practice of celebrating Christmas too early has many dimensions, and is not just a matter of taste. Although it makes sense to want to get into the holiday spirit, the commercialization and extended season could have unforeseen effects. It is important to strike a balance between acknowledging the economic and environmental implications of Christmas as well as respecting its traditional timing. It is critical that everyone, including companies, ponders the true meaning of the holidays and how to best keep their magic alive for future generations.