By Sofia Montoya-Deck\/\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The average human falls into one of two categories: those who love Christmas music and those whose hearts have been stolen by the Grinch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we near December, Christmas music begins to fill the air\u2014on the radio, in stores and in our homes. For many, these songs evoke memories of family, holiday joy and the spirit of giving. So why limit these jolly tunes to just one month of the year? Christmas music deserves to spread cheer, from January to December, far and near.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grinches and Ebenezer Scrooges argue that Christmas music should be confined to a box and saved only for December. To put it bluntly, they\u2019re wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s be honest with ourselves here: you like Christmas music. It\u2019s catchy, it\u2019s joyful and you can\u2019t help but do a little dance or head nod when you hear it. Don\u2019t kid yourself. Your only issue is that you think it\u2019s overplayed. And I can empathize with that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s no denying that the over-commercialization of Christmas can sometimes dampen the true meaning of the holiday. But, by reclaiming Christmas music as more than a retail-driven phenomenon, we can redefine it as a celebration of happiness and generosity, no matter the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you can tolerate the \u201cCha-Cha Slide\u201d at every wedding and \u201cSweet Caroline\u201d at every sporting event, then you can definitely handle Christmas tunes for more than one month each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Compare it to indulging in turkey or mashed potatoes in March. Just because these foods are traditional at Thanksgiving doesn\u2019t mean they can\u2019t be enjoyed the rest of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the very least, Christmas music should be embraced beginning Nov. 1. After all, many begin their Christmas celebrations long before December. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arrived in Midtown Manhattan on Nov. 9. Dunkin\u2019 welcomed back its holiday drink menu on Nov. 1, and Starbucks did the same on Nov. 7. Frederick\u2019s own Francis Scott Key Mall opened \u201cPhotos with Santa\u201d on Nov. 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As of mid-November, Spotify\u2019s \u201cChristmas Hits\u201d playlist has already reached No. 1 globally, with nearly twice as many streams as last year. Spotify even moved up the release of its annual Holiday Collection by a month to accommodate the growing demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, what\u2019s the hold-up? Why delay your happiness until the first snowflake falls when you can bask in Christmas tunes while still in your Halloween costume?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And while we\u2019re jamming out to those Christmas tunes over Halloweekend, let\u2019s turn on some other holiday hits too. Like \u201cI Have a Little Dreidel.\u201d Oh, dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay, and when it’s dry and ready, then dreidel I will play!<\/em> As catchy as that song is, it shouldn\u2019t be restricted to just the eight days of Hanukkah. And don\u2019t forget about Adam Sandler\u2019s \u201cThe Chanukah Song,\u201d which is just as funny in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some argue that playing Christmas music year-round dilutes the magic of the holiday season. But I\u2019m not suggesting you decorate your tree in May or start donning your Santa hats in August. Christmas will remain special even if you enjoy its music before December rolls around. After all, we drink champagne on ordinary days, not just on New Year\u2019s Eve. We celebrate love throughout the year, not only on Valentine\u2019s Day. We even wear green when it\u2019s not St. Patrick\u2019s Day. The fact of the matter is that the magic of any holiday is not bound to a specific date; its significance is what we make of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Picture this: It\u2019s finals week in May. You\u2019re tired and your brain is fried. As you walk through Whit to get to your dorm, \u201cFeliz Navidad\u201d rings through the speakers. Suddenly, you\u2019re no longer a stressed-out student\u2014you\u2019re overcome with pure jubilation. Your heart grows three sizes. You suddenly recall every formula for your physics test and magically conjure up the five-page essay you need for criminology. Christmas songs can make us believe in the magic of the season\u2014even when \u2018tis not the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So go ahead and hit play on \u201cLast Christmas\u201d in the middle of May.
Let\u2019s also remember that \u201cChristmas music\u201d includes songs that aren\u2019t even about Christmas. So why are we handcuffing them to the month of December? Classic \u201cChristmas\u201d hits such as \u201cFrosty the Snowman,\u201d \u201cBaby It\u2019s Cold Outside\u201d and \u201cLet it Snow,\u201d don\u2019t even mention Christmas\u2014and those are just the songs currently stuck in my head. So, who\u2019s to say these songs can\u2019t be equally enjoyed during a February blizzard or, heck, an August heatwave?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t let your inner Grinch stand in the way.
Find that holiday spirit and let it take flight.
Merry listening to all and to all a year-round delight.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"