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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2013
COLUMN
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Christmas lights already illuminate the trees lining Massachusetts Street.
Retailers rush into holiday season early this year
Christmas seems to come earlier and earlier each year and even though we act surprised, it has become a predictable tradition.
We are always so quick to jump start the holiday season. It starts in mid-October when we get excited and anxious for Halloween festivities. The anticipation of choosing a costume and attending parties is overwhelming. But before we know it, the holiday has come and gone.
What we are left with are empty shelves that were once filled with Halloween candy and are now being quickly stocked with Christmas decorations. It is a little hard to be a humbug about Christmas celebrations, but days after Halloween seems just a little too early.
Instead of waiting for the day after Thanksgiving, otherwise known as Black Friday, this year retailers are encouraging holiday shoppers to get the deals even earlier. According to the National Retail Federation, 40 percent of holiday shoppers start before Halloween.
Kmart was one of the first stores to begin promoting Christmas advertisements this year. Its first
Christmas commercial aired Sept.
9, more than 100 days before
Christmas. Customers may be
shocked since last year the first ad
aired on Oct. 28.
The holiday spirit extends further than getting a head start on reasonably-priced gifts for loved ones. Some of us are guilty of watching reruns of "Elf" starting in early November while others anticipate the switch from pumpkin spice lattes to peppermint mochas in festive red cups from Starbucks. Our Pandora stations become filled with Christmas stations. Cinnamon, gingerbread and pine-scented candles permeate throughout our rooms before we've even left for Thanksgiving break.
We can all admit to blasting Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" or "N Sync's "Merry
Christmas, Happy Holidays" a little too prematurely.
ABC Family has become known for its "25 days of Christmas" marathon in which it airs original movies as well as the classics. But, if "25 days of Christmas" isn't enough, you can join ABC Family as they "Countdown to the 25 days of Christmas," starting Nov. 20.
As college students, we try to get the most out of every experience, and this doesn't exclude the Christmas season. We watch the lights go up on Massachusetts Street, pray for snow days, raid the thrift stores for "ugly sweaters," and this year we will celebrate the sixth annual SantaCina in downtown Lawrence.
It may be too early for some, but others love the idea of getting an early start on the festive celebrations. Personally, I think we need to slow down and enjoy one holiday at a time. Thanksgiving is a great day of family, food and football so let's wait to start the Christmas music until after we've digested the turkey.
—Edited by Paige Lytle
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Downtown Lawrence will have its holiday lighting ceremony on Nov. 29, to bring in the Christmas season early.
THE FIND YOUR FRAME CONTEST
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