The Buzz

The holiday season is an exciting time, there are decorations to hang, cookies to eat, and a distinctive pine scent in the air. However, if you take a moment to ask a fellow holiday celebrator a few questions, you may find that the holiday season is also a time when opinions are at an all-time high. Which is why I have taken on one of the biggest ongoing debates occurring around this time: when is it too early to listen to Christmas music?

Unlike other types of music, which are universally played, classics like Rudolph and Jingle Bells only ever seem to see the light around the holiday season. We’ve probably all been hearing Old Saint Nick songs over the radio since Halloween ended. And while some people may not mind, a recent poll of a sample group of North Reading students unearths some silently held opinions on the issue.

It was almost unanimously held that Spring and Summer months from March to August are no appropriate times to be listening to Christmas music. The months January & February in the winter, and September and August in autumn, got 9 to 10 votes each which could also then be included in the broader scope of when Christmas music should not be listened to. However everyone dropped out around November, which only 3 people voted for. Most people remarked that, “After Thanksgiving is the right answer” and how “It is acceptable the day after Thanksgiving”. It’s important to note that there was also a strong minority of people who believed that it’s never too early to listen to Christmas music. Further, there was an even smaller group who noted they never listen to Christmas music, despite the usual holiday fanfare. This all goes to show that the issue continues to be highly debated.

Results of the question “When is it time to stop listening to Christmas music?”

It wouldn’t be a complete Christmas music poll without asking when this playful tradition ends. These results were also highly debated, but a clear winner has come to the top, which is that all Christmas music listening should be stopped in January. The runner-up was that Christmas music should stop being listened to as soon as Christmas ends, that joyless bland day, the 26th of December. People were incredibly aggressive with their opinions on this, claiming that, “Christmas music is not good enough to be listened to other than during December”. Others tended to explain their choice in a more passive way: “If you listen to Christmas music all year round then it’s not fun at Christmas anymore. You have to save it, like a treat”.

To some it’s a treat and to others it’s a bore, but what most people find so exhilarating about Christmas music remains to be seen. What is clear is that Christmas music carries different meanings to people, and everyone has their own individualized preferences on when it should be brought to center stage. One person noted that this year especially, the Christmas music has been starting earlier than usual.

The holiday season brings up values of community and warmth in a time of frosty weather. Perhaps it’s because of the Santa tales we tell, or the desperate need to ignore the depressing weather, or the inspiration that stems from old stories carried forward and made anew. But something about Christmas time seems to melt all away one’s worries. However you celebrate, and even if you don’t, take some time to grab a steaming mug of hot chocolate, watch the snowflakes outside drift to the ground, and discover a new tune during this whimsical time of year.

If you’d like to be involved in our polls, consider following our Instagram at @buzz.nrhs for updates!