The noise of glasses clinking in cheers for Thanksgiving echoes around the room, and joyful people talk about their Christmas plans, a celebration that spans the entire month of December.
On Thanksgiving day, families celebrate each other through oven-roasted turkey and glasses of wine. It is a day many grandparents look forward to—an opportunity to see their grandbabies.
Christmas is another holiday many people celebrate and look forward to more than any other holiday. Though Christmas is technically a day, it feels more like a season. Holidays such as Thanksgiving and Halloween are single-day events that people celebrate for a total of 24 hours.
My experiences have led me to believe Christmas is a season because all December long, I celebrate it. I celebrate with friends during the weekends, decorate early, and think about the actual day all month. During November, I don’t think about Thanksgiving, nor do I decorate for it. I don’t count down the days, celebrate with friends, or listen to music specific to it.
Christmas should be considered a season because it’s celebrated in many cultures throughout December. Christmas trees are generally put up on the first of December or right after Thanksgiving. Advent calendars are used to count the days. The holiday even has music dedicated to it, a feature matched by Halloween.
According to Today, people in the United States generally put their Christmas decor up within the first week of December and keep it up until the new year. While 90% of Americans celebrate Christmas, only 65% celebrate Halloween. Surprisingly, 90% of Americans also celebrate Thanksgiving.
Holidays in the United States often involve fun activities unique to them, but Christmas stands out as the holiday with the most activities spread throughout the month. For example, Christmas involves not only decorating, but also family gatherings, holiday cards, the myth of Santa Claus, and caroling.
All of these activities are enjoyed throughout the month, instead of just on the day like other holidays. When a holiday is celebrated over multiple days, it deserves to be considered a season.
