Growing up, my mom always told us, “When you celebrate Christmas before Thanksgiving, an elf kills a baby reindeer.” Needless to say, we do not listen to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. 

While the argument over when you can listen to holiday music may seem silly and unimportant, dedicating the appropriate attention to each holiday is important. The end of the year is a whirlwind of preparation and planning for two of the biggest holidays in America. There is understandably a large portion of people who feel you should just combine the two together. While this may be the more efficient approach, it misses the point. You have to give thanks before you can receive your presents.

Thanksgiving is a day to take a break from your busy life to spend time with loved ones and be thankful. The origins of the holiday may have been muddied throughout history, but that does not change the core values.

How often throughout the year do you stop and count your blessings? How often do you reflect on everything those around you have done for you? How often do you gather with your loved ones to feast and be in each other’s presence? In today’s fast-paced world, many do not, or feel they do not, have the time for this. Why then would you choose to skip over the one time of year dedicated to just that? Because Christmas is “more fun?” Pausing to express your gratitude can be very therapeutic and is an important factor in keeping your soul light and karma clean. I think that in and of itself is reason enough to respect this wholesome holiday, not to mention it is one of few holidays unique to America.

Christmas comes from entirely different origins. While both holidays may be about humbling oneself to reflect on life, Thanksgiving celebrates the survival of a people, and Christmas celebrates the birth of a man. Christmas has its roots in Christianity. Whether or not you celebrate it so, that is its intent. Since I am not a particularly religious person, I appreciate its roots but focus more on the holiday spirit and season of giving aspects.

The last couple of months of the year are wonderful and full of holiday events. As easy as it is to get carried away and start decorating or otherwise preparing for Christmas early, it is important to respect each holiday. In my family, we were not allowed to talk about Christmas until after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Then on Black Friday, rather than go shopping, we decorated the house and set up the tree.

These two holidays, though close in time, are very different and should be treated as so. As fun and cheerful as Christmas music may be, it has no place being listened to before Thanksgiving. Of course, listening to a song here and there because it is a good song is perfectly fine. However, we should exercise better self control in not getting carried away with Christmas before Thanksgiving.