It’s time!

The fall season is quickly whisked away as we near the end of November. The crumpled leaves continue to paint the streets with the vivid hues of autumn, the trees grow bare and temperatures drop. Although there is still an ounce of fall in Thanksgiving to look forward to, a scene of a winter wonderland lingers in the back of our minds. Visions of snowflakes, hot chocolate, and warm glowing lights are implanted in our heads as our curious eyes watch decorations go up.

From crowded destinations like the King of Prussia Mall and Walmart to small consignment stores, all the best places have already strung up lights and set out candy canes for passersby. Walking around Target will send you to holiday heaven with its vibrant red and green colors of the Christmas trees section already laid out.

A mix of opinions are formed around the topic of timing to decorate for this jolly period of the year: some become too overwhelmed to decorate early, while others have already hung up tinsel in October. The two sides are very conflicted and opinionated. On one hand, if you start celebrating months in advance, you will have used up most of your spirit by the time the actual occasion arrives. A happy medium is decorating houses the day after Thanksgiving, and of course listening to Christmas music while doing so. So, come November 28, playlists will be blasting at full volume. There are classics out there, including “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” and “Jingle Bell Rock,” giving us a heartwarming nostalgia and bringing us back to the first and best Christmases. But obviously the most popular Christmas tune, “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey, still lingers as the top one.

Just by hearing the first few notes, you’ll know that the spooky season is gone and Mariah Carey has officially defrosted. It’s inescapable to avoid this highly favored tune that gets stuck in the head around the holiday season. While most love this song’s euphonious chorus, some believe that it is overplayed. Mariah Carey leaves a long-lasting impression on the Christmas holiday, and even with some mixed reviews, her song will forever be played during the month of December. So start listening, because whatever holiday music you choose to play, you get transported back in a red and white haze to Christmases past for a wonderful winter day.