Why is your tree up so early?

Let's put an end to the Christmas creep.

It was a very snowy day in the Midwest. Probably brick outside.

But I was warm from my Long Johns that I was forced to wear to bed of course. When I woke up, I was eager to see if Santa Claus made his appearance. I softly walked passed my parent’s bedroom, trying to make sure my footsteps didn’t make the wood creek since my room was right above the basement. When I headed toward the living room, I remember wiping my eyes, trying to clear my vision while the red glowy Christmas lights peaked down the hallway.

To my surprised, Black Santa did make the drop. The tree was filled with so many gifts. I crawled down to count to see how many had ‘India’ written on the labels in my mama’s handwriting, and which had nothing on them…those I figured were from Santa. When I turned around, I forgot that we baked cookies that night before, and left them out on the living room table for the big guy. There was one huge bite in one of the cookies, with a letter that said ‘Thanks. Love, Santa” I bit the same cookie, because I felt like it was magical. Looking out the window, I saw track marks in my driveway and I just knew they were from the sleigh. I miss that kind of whimsy.

This was the exact vibe

When I lived around family, the holidays were a routine of the same, but one that I loved so much. We circled at least three houses, it was always very loud, and very chaotic but filled with love and good food.

You know how old heads are always like “back in my day”…it’s starting to feel more and more like that each day. Lately, the holidays just don’t feel like a warm hug anymore. It hasn’t felt like that in a while. I don’t know if it’s because we all aren’t watching the same things on TV anymore, or because I’ve buried half of my family within the past two years.

Ever since I heard someone say that the holidays don’t feel the same and it’s because we don’t have commercials anymore, it’s like a light bulb went off. Commercials told us the seasonal flows of the world. You knew it was officially back to school time when you saw those KMart deals, you knew it was fall when ABC family’s 31 nights of Halloween kicked off, and you knew it officially was time to put your Christmas tree up when the famous M&Ms commercial came on.

And maybe because we have so many streaming options and we’re not all watching the same 10 channels, is why some people are confused and put their trees up so early. It’s like as soon as the first day of fall comes, Rudolph and them are galloping out in every store…before their season. Before Halloween even comes, people are throwing up reefs, bows, and Christmas trees prematurely—and it grinds my gears. I feel like each season is special and deserves their chance to shine. Like we are still sweating outside why is your tree up so early?

This feeling actually has a name. It’s called “Christmas creep”, which I just learned this week. Forbes explained how I feel by mentioning that “prolonged exposure [creates] Christmas fatigue and the season’s magic wear[s] off.”

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I used to love the holiday season, because I did look forward to all the things. It’s really the most wonderful time of the year, but now I feel nothing. It’s like every day is meshing into one another. Partly because of my own grief and partly because as a whole, forreal…it’s just not feeling the same.

The sparkle I had for everything has disappeared. I almost remember the moment when my pumpkin spice latte didn’t give the fall sparkle it used to give me every season within the first sip. Even putting up my decorations isn’t bringing it back. Just like it’s nothing going to bring my best friend back, my granny back, my grandad back, my TT back, or my dog back. The dopamine hits ain’t hittin’ no more.

The internet is yelling that the holidays don’t feel the same because now we’re the adults and it’s up to us to create that magic…but I have a different thought. First off, we’re still having, give or take 90 degree weather in Texas with not a lick of a coat or chill in sight…ummm is anyone else worried? For me, weather plays a huge part, and maybe that’s because I grew up with winter wonderland Christmases. That’s the number 1 is one reason I can’t get into the holiday spirit. If the weather isn’t matching, it’s not clicking. Secondly, families are all spread out. Before everybody starting spreading their wings across the country, most families were in one central location. The family I do have is over 1,000 miles away, and since it’s been that way and when I’m not with them, it’s never felt like Christmas.

My immediate family isn’t the very festive, hosting type. So it’s usually me who’s trying to go all out, who’s forcing them to want to put up the tree, brainstorming to create our own special traditions, and trying to get everyone in the spirit. But I’m tired. I can’t pretend anymore and of course as the eldest daughter, and the family manager…I’m tired of trying.

I never thought I would be one of those people mourning during the holidays. The thing is— I’m not even sure if it’s the holidays or more so just the feeling of the warmth I felt growing up with my family period. The love and support I was surrounded by. The community. The togetherness.

But now every cousin is grown up with their own lives. Every auntie is aging and every uncle is going gray. And nothing will ever be the same.

It’s like when I look around I’m wondering does anyone not care anymore? Do I care too much? Is it just me? Heavily, I just keep pushing day to day.

So when I walk into any store and I hear Christmas music blasting before it’s time, I’m irritated. There’s no reason why I should hear Mariah Carey in the mall before I even pick out my costume for October 31. Not in a grinch type of way, but in a ‘can we just let each season have it’s allotted time’ type of way because I don’t need these feelings to linger for an extended amount of time. No more than it needs to be.

So when people are rushing the holidays, I always ask, really…why is your tree up so early? 🎄