Embracing Christmas Cheer: When Do The Holidays Truly Begin?

Christmas is a time of celebration and cheer, but when should the festivities begin? For some, the holiday season starts as early as November 1st, with radio stations blasting festive tunes, families putting up decorations, and people getting a head start on their Christmas shopping. However, others argue that celebrating Christmas too early can take away from the magic of the holiday. So, when is the proper time to start decking the halls and singing merry songs?

The debate around the timing of Christmas celebrations is an annual occurrence, with people having varying opinions on when it is appropriate to start. Some people believe that Christmas celebrations should be restricted to the month of December, with others arguing for a more extended period of celebration.

There are practical considerations as well. For example, college students who plan to leave campus in early December may find it more cost-effective and enjoyable to start celebrating earlier in the season.

Ultimately, the decision of when to start celebrating Christmas is a personal one, and there is no right or wrong answer. However, it is worth considering the impact of extended celebrations on the overall enjoyment of the holiday season and respecting the celebrations of other holidays, such as Halloween and Thanksgiving, that occur before Christmas.

The economic impact of Christmas

Christmas is a time of celebration, but it is also a time of significant economic impact. The holiday season typically sees a boost in production and spending, with retailers and hospitality businesses experiencing a surge in demand. This period is often considered beneficial to a country's economy, with increased sales and employment opportunities.

In the lead-up to Christmas, there is a notable increase in manufacturing, particularly in the toy industry, where the majority of sales occur before the festive period. This heightened production is a direct response to the expected rise in consumer spending, as people purchase gifts, decorations, and supplies. The Christmas shopping season varies across countries, with the US season starting as early as October, while the UK and Ireland typically commence mid-November.

The introduction of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, initially an American tradition, has further intensified the economic impact of the Christmas period. These post-Thanksgiving events now form one of the biggest shopping weekends globally, with consumers taking advantage of significant discounts. This period of heightened spending is not limited to the retail sector, with food and drink, consumer goods, homewares, and entertainment industries also experiencing a Christmas boost.

The economic effects of Christmas extend beyond the retail and manufacturing sectors. Hospitality businesses, particularly small businesses, benefit from the increase in tourism and holiday events, which can bring a much-needed boost during the typically slower winter months. The Christmas period also sees a rise in demand for temporary workers, particularly in larger companies managing increased online orders. This increase in employment provides an economic stimulus, with businesses improving their profits and temporary staff gaining extra income.

However, the economic impact of Christmas is not universally positive. Some industries, such as construction and transport, can be negatively affected by extreme cold weather and snow. Additionally, non-consumer-based businesses may experience a decrease in productivity as the holiday approaches, with a slowdown in office work due to various events and distractions.

Christmas as a secular holiday

Christmas, a festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, has been celebrated as a secular holiday since the early 20th century. While the majority of Christians continue to observe Christmas as a religious holiday, it is also celebrated culturally by many non-Christians.

The secular celebration of Christmas is often devoid of Christian elements and is observed by Christians and non-Christians alike. The mythical figure of Santa Claus, derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas or Saint Nicholas, a Greek bishop known for his care for children, generosity, and gift-giving, plays a pivotal role in secular Christmas celebrations.

Secular Christmas traditions include decorating evergreen trees, or alternative trees such as mango or bamboo trees in warmer climates; feasting, with picnics and fireworks being popular outside of the winter season; exchanging gifts; completing an Advent calendar or wreath; Christmas music and caroling; watching Christmas movies; exchanging Christmas cards; and displaying various decorations, including Christmas trees, lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly.

The customs associated with secular Christmas celebrations have a mix of pre-Christian, Christian, and non-religious origins. For example, the tradition of decorating evergreen trees can be traced back to the Renaissance humanist Sebastian Brant's record of placing branches of fir trees in houses in his 1494 work "Das Narrenschiff" ("The Ship of Fools"). The specific tradition of decorating Christmas trees, however, appears to have originated in Strasbourg in 1605, with the first use of candles on such trees recorded by a Silesian duchess in 1611.

The economic impact of Christmas, driven by the exchange of gifts and increased consumer spending, has contributed to its widespread celebration as a secular holiday. Retailers and businesses benefit significantly from the heightened economic activity during the Christmas season, influencing the way the holiday is marketed and celebrated.

The celebration of Christmas as a secular holiday allows individuals of diverse religious backgrounds to participate in the festive season and enjoy the traditions and customs associated with it. It provides an opportunity for families and friends to come together and create special memories, regardless of their religious beliefs.

Christmas traditions and their origins

Christmas is traditionally a Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus. However, since the early 20th century, it has also become a secular family holiday, observed by Christians and non-Christians alike.

Christmas Trees

Decorating trees dates back to Germany in the Middle Ages, with German and other European settlers popularising Christmas trees in America by the early 19th century. A 2019 survey predicted that 77% of US households displayed a Christmas tree in their homes, with 81% of those being artificial.

The Nutcracker

For many, the festive season is incomplete without watching this ballet. With music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker premiered in St Petersburg, Russia, in 1892. It made its way to the US in 1944 when it was performed by the San Francisco Ballet.

Christmas Cards

The first official Christmas card debuted in England in 1843, with the simple message: "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You". The idea of a mailed winter holiday greeting gradually caught on, and today, over 1.6 billion holiday cards are sold annually.

Christmas Lights

Thomas Edison's friend and partner, Edward Hibberd Johnson, came up with the idea of stringing bulbs around a Christmas tree in New York in 1882. By 1914, the lights were being mass-produced, and now, some 150 million sets of lights are sold in the US each year.

Department Store Santa

Lining up to take photos of children on Santa's lap may seem like a modern tradition, but it dates back to 1890. James Edgar of Brockton, Massachusetts, had a Santa suit made for him and dressed as the jolly fellow at his dry goods store. The gimmick caught on, and by the following year, Santas could be found in many stores.

Christmas Music

The debate about when to start playing Christmas music rages on. Some say it's fine to start in November, while others insist on waiting until after Thanksgiving, or even until 1st December.

The history of Christmas celebrations

Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. The early Christians had many arguments about when it should be celebrated, as no date is given in the Bible. The first 'official' recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25 was in 336, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine, the first Christian Roman Emperor. However, there are many different traditions and theories as to why Christmas is celebrated on December 25.

The Winter Solstice, which falls on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere, has long been a time of celebration worldwide. For centuries before the arrival of Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many rejoiced during the solstice, when they knew the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight. In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In Iran and Persia, the solstice is known as 'Yalda Night' or 'Shab-e Chelleh' and is a time when families and friends gather to eat, drink, and recite poetry.

In Rome, where winters were less harsh, Saturnalia—a holiday honouring Saturn, the god of agriculture—was celebrated. Beginning in the week leading up to the solstice and continuing for a full month, Saturnalia was a hedonistic time of plentiful food and drink, during which the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. Enslaved people were given temporary freedom and treated as equals, and schools and businesses were closed so everyone could participate. Also around the time of the solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast honouring the children of Rome, and members of the upper classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25.

In the East, the birth of Jesus was celebrated in connection with the Epiphany on January 6. In the Early Middle Ages, Christmas Day was overshadowed by Epiphany, which in western Christianity focused on the visit of the magi. However, the medieval calendar was dominated by Christmas-related holidays. The forty days before Christmas became the "forty days of St. Martin", now known as Advent. In the 12th century, these traditions transferred to the Twelve Days of Christmas (December 25 – January 5); a time that appears in the liturgical calendars as Christmastide or Twelve Holy Days.

The prominence of Christmas Day increased gradually after Charlemagne was crowned Emperor on Christmas Day in 800. By the High Middle Ages, the holiday had become so prominent that chroniclers routinely noted where various magnates celebrated Christmas. Caroling also became popular and was originally performed by a group of dancers who sang. Various writers of the time condemned caroling as lewd, indicating that the unruly traditions of Saturnalia and Yule may have continued in this form. "Misrule"—drunkenness, promiscuity, and gambling—was also an important aspect of the festival.

In the early 19th century, Christmas festivities and services became widespread with the rise of the Oxford Movement in the Church of England, which emphasised the centrality of Christmas in Christianity and charity to the poor. During this time, authors such as Washington Irving and Charles Dickens also emphasised family, children, kind-heartedness, gift-giving, and Santa Claus or Father Christmas. Dickens's novel A Christmas Carol, published in 1843, helped revive the "spirit" of Christmas and seasonal merriment. It played a major role in portraying Christmas as a holiday emphasising family, goodwill, and compassion.

Christmas and mental health

Christmas is a time of celebration, but it can also be a challenging period for many, especially those struggling with their mental health. The holiday season can bring a mix of emotions, from cheerfulness and excitement to stress, loneliness, and even depression. Here are some ways to navigate the festive period while prioritising your mental health and well-being:

Recognise and Accept Your Feelings

It is normal to feel a range of emotions during the holidays. If you don't feel cheerful, acknowledge your feelings without judging yourself. It's okay to not be okay, and you don't have to force yourself to be happy just because it's the festive season. Be gentle with yourself and remember that you are not alone in experiencing these emotions.

Manage Expectations and Traditions

Christmas often comes with expectations of joy, family gatherings, and gift-giving. However, it's important to manage your expectations and remember that the reality may differ. Traditions may change, and that's okay. Find what works for you and create new traditions if needed.

Set Boundaries and Prioritise Self-Care

Don't be afraid to say "no" to social obligations if they feel overwhelming. Prioritise self-care and schedule time for yourself. Engage in calming activities like reading, meditating, or journaling. Stick to a budget that works for you, and remember that giving gifts is not about spending large amounts of money.

Seek Support and Reach Out

If you're feeling lonely or isolated, reach out to loved ones, friends, or a support group. Let them know how they can support you, whether it's helping with shopping or simply meeting for a walk. If you're struggling with your mental health, consider connecting with a therapist or a mental health professional.

Manage Holiday Triggers

The holidays can bring various triggers, from stressful family dynamics to difficult memories. Understand your triggers and navigate the season with this knowledge. If certain traditions or activities don't feel authentic to you, it's okay to opt-out or create new traditions that align with your values.

Focus on the Positive

While Christmas may be challenging, try to find the positive aspects. Engage in activities that bring you joy, whether it's baking your favourite dish or starting a new hobby. Focus on the people, places, and things that make you happy, and make time for them during the holidays.

Remember, it's okay to celebrate in your own way and at your own pace. By prioritising your mental health and well-being, you can navigate the festive season with a sense of self-care and compassion.

Frequently asked questions