Let's take the holiday season one step at a time

For many, the end of fall signifies the beginning of one thing and one thing only: the holidays. There are memes all over the internet satirizing the transition from Halloween to the second the clock strikes midnight and November begins. From here on, families all across the world celebrate their favorite winter holidays, notably Christmas. Christmas music, movies and traditions have become customary before snow even hits the ground. Should we really be so eager?

The urgency to jump into the holiday spirit completely takes over Americans, especially parents. Asking kids for their Christmas lists and rampantly planning their shopping trips requires much more work than is necessary.

To swap out Halloween decorations for a holiday wreath is to overlook important holidays that lie in between. Whether Veterans Day is important to your family or Thanksgiving is an important gathering, it's obvious that there isn't a time warp over the month of November. We should treat it that way. Thanksgiving and the autumn are becoming the workshop months for how to top last year's Christmas, such that Pew Research Center reports that about 60% take great effort in the planning of Thanksgiving dinner

Each year, we facilitate the jump into this season more and more with seasonal coffee drinks, blasting Christmas music and huge department sales to urge early shopping. What's the rush? For many, the holidays are an important time to unwind and find some serenity with people they care about the most. Rather than fast track toward big spending and harsh weather, it should be in our best interest to take the holidays slow. Thanksgiving season first, then we can wish each other "Happy Holidays."

Liam Griman

Glen Ellyn