![In room 4101, Natalie Patterson ‘26, Ariana Magor ‘25 and Celina Salazar ‘25 create a poster in science teacher Kerry Reilly’s Chemistry Honors April 18. The three completed a worksheet and drawing to explain the implosion of a tank for their unit on gas laws. “At the start of class, we watched a video of the tank imploding,” Patterson said. “I think [making a drawing] is something new. I like more artsy activities.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_5019-1200x900.jpeg)
![The girls varsity soccer team walk back to their bench during halftime April 1. The Jags played against the Castle View Sabercats at the Douglas County Stadium and scored 3-0 W. “It felt really good [to beat Castle View]. I feel like that was a big win for us because knowing that we came together to beat a pretty good team has definitely given us some leverage for this season,” attacking midfielder Grace Rossner ‘24 said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_4906-1-1200x1057.jpg)
![English teacher Colleen Lamb grades College Prep English assignments during period two Nov. 10. Lamb, who has been teaching for 27 years, decorates her classroom with posters and handmade college flags from her senior students. Everything I enjoy about English happens primarily in the classroom, Lamb said. So, thankfully, the college [I worked at] had a teaching program, and I was able to do my post-grad work for free while I was working [there].”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_1158-1200x900.jpeg)
Trees are up, stockings are hung, and lights twinkle all around–it’s officially December!
I enjoy the holiday decorations as much as others, and the festive mood they bring, but I feel it needs to be said that some people get carried away and put up Christmas decorations too early.
We should not be trying to compete with stores over who can put out their trees first. December is the month of Christmas, and people should wait until then to put up their Christmas decorations.
Christmas is a special time. Decorating too early makes Christmas less special because it becomes such a big chunk of the year.
Also, putting up Christmas decorations too early takes away from the spirit of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is all about being grateful for the things we have, but Christmas has a totally different meaning. A lot of people associate Christmas with wanting things, which is contrary to showing gratitude like we should be at Thanksgiving.
According to a recent survey conducted by @rockmedia on Instagram, 24% of people began decorating in early November, 63% decorated after Thanksgiving and only 13% waited until December.
Clearly, some people are ready to get started as soon as possible.
“I’m an early decorator. I think after Halloween, it’s Christmas season. There’s the day or week of Thanksgiving, but after Halloween, it’s Christmastime,” Olivia Barrett ‘24 said.
Most people seem to feel that the Christmas season starts once Thanksgiving is done.
“Once you are done eating Thanksgiving, it’s time for that Christmas tree to be up,” Special Educational Assistant Xzavier Price said.
Price is not the only one with that opinion.
(media by Gabe Mascitti)
“[People should decorate] the day after Thanksgiving, because then it’s just not Thanksgiving anymore and it’s officially Christmas time,” Kelsey Ekstrom ‘24 said.
An upside to decorating for Christmas at Thanksgiving is that it frees up time in December, but the downside is that it makes more work for an already busy holiday.
People spend a lot of time cooking, cleaning, traveling and hosting visitors for Thanksgiving.
Decorating is just one more stressor that people don’t need at that time. Waiting until December gives you time to relax and recover from Thanksgiving, so they can better appreciate Christmas time.
I propose that we all wait for December next year to deck the halls, and let Thanksgiving have its moment. There are things about Thanksgiving that can make you happy, like spending time with friends and family and eating delicious food. December will come, and once it does, feel free to deck those halls and have a very merry Christmas.
