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It was last month — well before Halloween — when I saw it. The first Christmas ad of the year flashed across my television screen. And my immediate reaction? UGH. Too soon!
Every year, it seems like the holiday season creeps up earlier and earlier. By the time the pumpkins are still on our porches, retailers are already urging us to start shopping for Christmas gifts. I get it — merchants are anxious to spark the holiday spirit and, more importantly, open our wallets. But let me say this loud and clear: it won’t work on me.
Yes, I admit, this is my annual rant. But seriously, shouldn’t Christmas ads before Thanksgiving be banned? There should be a rule that all things Christmas — especially music — stay tucked away until after the turkey leftovers are gone.
The Early Christmas Music Invasion
In almost every city, there’s that one radio station that flips the switch to all-Christmas music the moment Halloween ends. Here in Tampa Bay, it’s WDUV. For weeks now, they’ve been playing the same old songs on repeat — the ones we’ve heard every December since childhood.
And if I’m being honest, some of those classics have worn out their welcome. Burl Ives’ “Holly, Jolly Christmas”? I can’t stand it. It’s a terrible song and should be retired from the airwaves forever. Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”? Sorry, but it was awful when it debuted 67 years ago, and it hasn’t improved with age.
Call me a Grinch if you must, but hearing these songs before Thanksgiving just feels wrong. The longer we stretch out the Christmas season, the more it loses its magic. If we keep this up, we’ll be “Ho-Ho-Ho-ing” for a quarter of the year — and that’s just exhausting.
When Holiday Spirit Is Done Right
Before you write me off as a total Scrooge, let me give credit where it’s due. There’s a resident on Julia Circle in St. Pete Beach who truly knows how to capture the Christmas spirit. Every year, he transforms his home into a winter wonderland — lights synchronized to music, colorful displays, and an atmosphere that feels straight out of a movie.
He spends weeks setting up and just as long taking it all down again. It’s an impressive labor of love, and I genuinely appreciate the effort. But you can bet I don’t visit until after Thanksgiving. Because as much as I enjoy his dazzling light show, the timing still matters. Holiday magic shines brightest when it’s special — and not something that lasts for months on end.
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Remembering Christmases Past
When I think back to my childhood in Iowa, Christmas didn’t start in early fall. It waited patiently for its turn. Our small city would set up an annual Christmas display in the parking lot of the municipal swimming pool. One year, the town even tried to become the “Christmas Capital of Iowa,” encouraging every resident to place at least one colored light in their front window.
And you know what? It worked beautifully — but only because it didn’t begin until late November. The anticipation made it feel special. The cold air, the lights, the carols — everything came together to create that unmistakable holiday feeling.
That’s what I miss today. We’ve turned Christmas into a long, drawn-out marketing campaign instead of the cherished celebration it once was.
A Florida Christmas Just Feels… Different
Living in Florida adds another layer of weirdness to it all. Don’t get me wrong — I love the sunshine and palm trees. But when “White Christmas” comes on the radio, it feels more like fantasy than nostalgia. We’re not exactly dashing through the snow down here in Tampa Bay. At best, we might see a flurry or two once a decade — and even then, there’s no one-horse open sleigh waiting.
Hearing “Jingle Bells” in 80-degree weather just doesn’t have the same charm. Maybe that’s why early Christmas ads feel even more out of place here. The season should feel cozy, festive, and fleeting — not forced or commercialized.
Let’s Keep Christmas Special
So, here’s my simple request: let’s start Christmas after Thanksgiving. Give November its moment. Let us enjoy fall, pumpkin pie, and family gatherings without being bombarded by Santa commercials and endless carols.
I’m not against Christmas — far from it. I love the joy, the decorations, and the sense of togetherness the season brings. But when it starts too early, the excitement fades before December even begins.
So have yourself a merry little Christmas — just not before Thanksgiving, OK?
Chris Core is a former Washington, D.C., radio and television personality and an Edward R. Murrow Award winner. He now lives in Pass-a-Grille, Florida.
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