It seems that the day after Halloween, everything changes. Stores replace Halloween candy with Christmas trees, pop music with cheerful carols and pumpkin spice with eggnog. Somehow we forget that there is another holiday sandwiched between the two. What happened to the excitement of Thanksgiving? It seems that we collectively skip over this turkey-filled and historic holiday and stretch out the Christmas holiday for almost two months.

Although UW- La Crosse still looks like its same old self, the holiday excitement and celebrations have started to arise. There are many people very excited about this change, and some who are hiding in their rooms trying to avoid the carols and cookies.

It seems that the holiday ads and commercials playing this time of year is fairly controversial and complex topic. “It’s possibly too early, because it isn’t even Thanksgiving yet, it’s just the beginning of November,” sophomore Kaitlyn Sankey said.

So when is the appropriate time to change from one holiday to the next? “We can’t say ‘as of this day, you can start playing Christmas music,’” Sankey stated. There is not a set rule on when people are allowed to start celebrating the holiday, and that blurred line makes it hard to tell when it is socially acceptable.

“Nov. 1 is kind of too early, but if you don’t start there, when do you start? After Thanksgiving? That would too late, in a way,” Sankey said.

Although it is hard to tell when it is appropriate, Sankey believes that when you decide to make this switch depends on your own traditions and opinions.

When it comes to Christmas carols, freshman Megan Marlowe stated, “I think that Christmas music should be played after Thanksgiving.”

Although the music usually starts before that time, she doesn’t believe that Thanksgiving is just being skipped all together. “Well, there isn’t any good Thanksgiving music out there, so I understand,” she said.

When you choose to tune into this music all depends on how long you want to draw out the holiday spirit.

As the holiday fanatic I am, I am thrilled when I walk into a department store and see tall, artificial evergreens smothered in ornaments and hear “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey over the intercom. I love the joy this time of year brings and never want it to end. Christmas movies on T.V. in November? No problem, let’s start them earlier! Of course, I know I am one of a rare kind and a lot of people don’t feel this same excitement.

I don’t see any major change over when the holiday celebrations begin and end in the near future. Take time to celebrate your favorite ones for as long as you please. Happy Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanza, New years or whatever you decide