For: Amanda Siefken

 It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go. While the season is definitely changing and Winter break seems to be right around the corner, the Christmas music started long ago. In most company, it is not acceptable to listen to Christmas music any time before Nov. 29 but Nov. 1 at 12:01 a.m. the Christmas music started in my room and it was glorious. 

Every year new artists from many different genres come together to celebrate the Christmas holiday and the season in general. From Michael Buble’ to Mariah Carey and Justin Bieber to Backstreet Boys. Admittedly some are better than others and some should just never have been made, but the greats are legendary. 

I have never understood why some people do not like Christmas music. To me, Christmas is a whole month long and is all about the joy and warmth that the love of a family and being with loved ones can bring. Thanksgiving, as well as New Years, can sometimes be dwarfed in the shadow of Christmas, but these holidays are not surrounded with their own genre of music. If it is cold and the leaves are on the ground, it is okay to play Christmas music. 

Now before people start hating me, I love every holiday and I do not put one over another. Thanksgiving is very special to me because it means that all my family comes together and we are just thankful to have each other in our lives. New Years means the celebration of the end of one year and the beginning of another. While these holidays are important, I do not listen to this music in attempt to ignore them. Thanksgiving and New Years can both be celebrated with Christmas music playing and in all honesty, who can really hate on  having holiday spirit? I may be happy this holiday season with the music playing in my headphones, and others may not, but the important thing is that no matter how you feel about the timing of Christmas music, it all comes down to the time spent with loved ones, and the memories that are made. 

Against: Emily Bouta

 Why rush the holidays? It makes no sense to me why someone would start up a new holiday when you haven’t finished the first one. The day after thanksgiving is when Christmas should be coming out, not now. Companies are prompting people to buy decorations and put up trees now, why? Because of corporate hoopla. The season is fall, not winter. Turkeys and the colors orange and brown should be our worries, not candy canes and Santa Claus. I love Christmas as much as the next guy, but I don’t want to rush it. Thanksgiving has its own traditions just as Christmas does. 

There is Thanksgiving music to listen to, decorations to put up, and special holiday food to eat. For example, the ever famous Thanksgiving Day turkey. Just because there’s snow on the ground doesn’t mean you should start dressing like Santa, buying Christmas gifts, or play Christmas music. 

Christmas music is great but it should be put off until Nov. 29, the day after Thanksgiving. Whenever I hear Christmas music being played prematurely I can’t help but feel bad for the other holidays. Each one has its own music to be played. Valentine’s Day music has songs about love, Thanksgiving music has songs about giving thanks. 

Think about why you celebrate each holiday. Is it about getting closer to Christmas or having the chance to be with everyone that you love and celebrating that holiday? 

My opinion is simple, stop playing Christmas music before its Christmas time. It’s understandable how exciting it is to get out the Christmas music November first and starting watching Christmas movies. Trust me, I know. It’s also exciting when you get to bust out the turkey decorations and plan on going home and seeing all or your relatives and celebrate Thanksgiving. Each holiday has its own meaning and we should celebrate each one separately.