When Should You Turn Up the Christmas Tunes?
Reported By: Ellaynah Brown
Illustrated By: Sydney Simmons
As we begin to experience frosty mornings and vapor clouds following our conversations, it is evident that the holidays are nearing. It’s chilly out, you’ve grabbed your sweater, beanie, fuzzy socks, and perhaps a cup of hot chocolate… Now all you need is the beautiful sound of “Jingle Bell Rock” blasting through the speakers.
The age-old debate of when it is appropriate to begin playing Christmas music is one that will never be solved; however, it is one on which many weigh in. According to popular music streaming service Spotify, Americans typically begin listening to Christmas music in mid-November.
If you are anything like me, you are just itching to crank up the Christmas classics. Whether it is Kenny and Dolly, Frank Sinatra, or Mariah Carey, the joyous spirit that fills the holiday tunes are just what I need.
Weighing in on this debate of when it is acceptable to start listening to Christmas music are our very own George Fox University (GFU) Bruins. The answers of when and why may vary, but one thing is for sure: we are ready for Christmas.
GFU student Jack Flitter said, “Just right before Thanksgiving is when I start listening to Christmas music, my reasoning being there are other holidays to get excited about before Christmas.” A common argument for waiting to press the play button on “Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer” is the need to savor the holiday spirit–you don’t want to be tired of Christmas music before the day has arrived.
Similarly to Flitter, Tierney Zubchevich said, “Christmas music is made for the Christmas season, which is after Thanksgiving and no earlier!”
Maybe the habit of starting the Christmas music right after Thanksgiving stemmed from the common practice of U.S radio stations. Typically, Christmas music can be heard across radio stations right after Thanksgiving or even on Dec 1.
Unique to previous years, radio hosts decided in 2020 and 2021 to start the holiday music a little early. According to Radio Fidelity, it was the low spirits and heartache felt around the world during the height of the pandemic that inspired them to play Christmas music early. What better way to raise spirits than holiday cheer?
After speaking with several students, it seems the general consensus on the GFU campus is that Christmas music starts after Thanksgiving has passed. “I start listening the day after Thanksgiving because that’s when my family always gets the Christmas tree,” said Gabi Smith.
So, whether you agree with these findings or not, a safe practice would be to keep the Christmas tunes in your earbuds until after the Thanksgiving turkey has been carved.