[quote]By Sushmitha Suresh
Online Writer[/quote]

Thanksgiving doesn’t tell Sushi when Christmas arrives

As I packed up my Halloween decorations in the basement on Nov. 1, I had no problem turning on the Michael Bublé’s Christmas album and rocking out. Why? Because Christmas music is awesome.

Why are people so against Christmas before Christmas? After Thanksgiving, it only gives you less than a month to explore the world of Christmas music once again. If Starbucks comes out with Christmas cups on Nov. 1, Bath & Body Works releases their Christmas scents on Nov. 1, and if Macy’s puts up their Christmas trees in September, then I’ll gladly partake in Christmas festivities a little earlier than most people, too.

November is such a busy month for almost everyone. The music department prepares for the annual Collage concert, the athletic department starts training for winter sports, the theatre department transitions between the fall play and the winter musical, the speech team begins competing, and it’s the critical time to bring up your GPA enough before finals. You need something to cheer you up, and Christmas cheer is the best kind of cheer.

I’m not the obnoxious person that listens to Christmas music up until February, but I am the obnoxious person that spends at least two months to get into the Christmas mood. 93.9 FM started airing Christmas music on Nov. 1, so I think I can trust the professionals.

I understand that some people like to wait until after Thanksgiving, but to me, that just seems too late. Why would you deprive yourself of belting classics such as “All I Want For Christmas” and “Holly Jolly Christmas” in the comfort of your own car for three whole weeks? It seems like such a waste. What would you rather be listening to, Nickelback? I believe this is a far better alternative.

[quote]By Lucas Rhamy
Sports Writer[/quote]

I’m not thankful for how early Christmas music starts

Every month has something special about it. January is for new year’s “resolutions”, February for Valentine’s day, so on and so on. Moving toward November, you’d think that the special occasion would be Thanksgiving, right? If you answered yes to this question, unfortunately, you’re wrong. And to most people, including 93.9 FM radio, your opinion doesn’t matter and will not change the fact that November has now been labeled as “Pre-Christmas”. So be prepared to have your ears bombarded by jingling bells and Michael Bublé.

In short, Christmas has, is, and always will be a more popular holiday than Thanksgiving. There are only a few things that can possibly put people into the “Thanksgiving spirit” including the smell of stuffing, unlimited football,  “Eat it” by Weird Al Yankovic, and/or the moving story of the pilgrims successfully harvesting Native American lands. On the other hand, society has failed unless each and every person in America is not overflowing with Christmas spirit by Thanksgiving.

Why is the tree in Rockefeller Center given its own profile page in almost all newspapers in the state of New York? Furthermore, radio stations are playing enough rifts by Mariah Carey to start a country-wide earthquake. On the same topic of music, anyone and everyone has an excuse to finally play album of the year “Christmas” by Michael Bublé. Given this excuse, people decide that the Canadian’s voice needs to fill every car radio and and quiet space until his words no longer have meaning. Best of all, all of this is taking place before  Thanksgiving.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas and look forward to it every year. But I believe there is a time and a place for everything. Similarly, I believe that it’s very easy to go above and beyond to the point of ruining something’s intent. The time and place for Christmas is during the month of December and from that point until December 26, it is impossible to kill the Christmas spirit. But guys, be patient.

Seriously, it’s in the name. Thanksgiving smacks you in the face screaming “GIVE THANKS FOR ALL OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE,” and then gives you enough food to burst the button on your jeans. But instead of slowing down, most people completely miss the exact point of Thanksgiving and jump directly into what has become the most materialistic time of the year.

Besides overlooking the point of Thanksgiving, what is there not to like about the last Thursday of November? You’re surrounded by all the people you love, the table is so stuffed (no pun intended) with food that there is barely enough room to put the plates, and the smell of turkey and pumpkin pie can be smelled down the block.

So unless you walk around New York City in an Elf costume “treating every day like Christmas,” I ask you to slow down. There is a time and a place to binge listen to Kenny G and repeatedly watch “A Christmas Story”, but that time is not November. Even though the odds are completely stacked against overly celebrating Thanksgiving, it still deserves a place to shine during the holiday season.

[quote]Graphic by Drew Danko[/quote]