Don't play your Christmas music so early!

Some have accused me of being a Grinch considering some of my earlier Christmas posts (see here and here). That's not true. I love Christmas!

Here's proof! (That's me in the blue)

However, now that Halloween is over, many people (unfortunately including Savio teachers) have started to play Christmas music. My problem is not with the music (it's one of my favorite genres). My parents have an annual caroling party.

Christmas Concert @ St. Mary's Taylor 5th grade

I'm okay with playing Christmas music after Thanksgiving dinner. Starting Christmas music too early is a bad idea, though. Here's why:

Liturgical appropriateness

Technically speaking, Catholics celebrate Christmas from Christmas Eve to the Sunday where we celebrate Jesus' Baptism. That's a very small window and radio stations usually stop with Christmas music after the 25th (another great reason to go to Mass; you can keep singing your favorite songs!)

Even during Advent (the season preceding Christmas), it's not technically appropriate to sing "Christmas" songs. Advent songs are an entirely different beautiful thing.

Due to the limited technical "Christmastime", I argue that you can start before December 24th, but let's keep it reasonable.

Christmas fatigue
Not buying into the first reason? Here's another important reason to wait. If you start the Christmas celebrations too early, you'll be over it all when it comes to the actual day. You may think that I'm wrong, but try going through Advent doing specific Advent activities: Jesse tree, Advent wreath, Advent calendar (not the one with the Legos). It will make you appreciate Christmas Eve in a whole different way.

This applies to the music that we listen to as well. Please wait just a bit longer, so that you can more fully enter the spirit of Christmas.

Still want your holiday music fix early?
The following could be considered Thanksgiving songs:

Jingle Bells (no, seriously)
There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays
Any song mentioning snow without Christmas (although this doesn't work in Texas)

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