*Cue the intro to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You”. *

For some, the beautiful tingles of this Christmas classic bring immense joy and anticipation. For others, the effect is quite the opposite and includes a keen desire to run to their room, lock the door, and stay inside until the holiday season is over. As with everything, responses vary. 

Before we get into the decades-long debate, we must settle another ubiquitous question: when is the right time to start listening to holiday music? Again, everyone is different. Start times range from September (September?!?!) to December, some people restricting themselves until the first snow. One of my friends only lets himself listen to Christmas harp music for a while. But truly, there is one right answer. Holiday music should be listened to the day after Thanksgiving. What better tool to utilize for a seamless transition between festivities?

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s get into it. As aforementioned, some people don’t just dislike holiday music, they despise it. I assume they must feel at least slightly connected to the Grinch in those moments. Or maybe they hate the Grinch too. On a more serious note, the holiday season is a high-emotion time – good and bad. When negative emotions and memories are associated with the season, holiday music tolerance is lower. Of course, that’s not the only reason people dislike holiday music. Many reasons don’t run as deep – people think it’s overplayed, annoying, or just plain old bad. 

I have to disagree with the overplayed, annoying, and plain old bad part. Holiday music is only played for a month a year (ish), if you follow the Thanksgiving rule. How is that overplaying it? And annoyingness is relative – if we get philosophical, isn’t something annoying only if we perceive it to be so? So maybe the holiday music isn’t the problem, you are. Just kidding – kinda :). Also, plain old bad? Elvis Presley has some holiday bangers, and I’m pretty sure Elvis Presley was called the King of Rock n’ Roll. And the King of Rock n’ Roll’s music is definitely not bad…

The overwhelming reason that holiday music is absolutely essential to the season is its emotional value. For many people, that’s the reason they listen to it – it puts them in a good mood, or ‘the holiday spirit’. It makes people think of family, of connection, of the happiness they experience at this time of year. Almost every Christmas movie written aims to show just how far the Christmas spirit can go. 

In lieu of this, I think that holiday music is essential to the season and should be enjoyed according to this. It’s the most wonderful time of the year!