Every year as fall rolls around, it starts the debate of when is it too early to start decorating for Halloween? The autumnal equinox, which is what signals the start of fall, happens on either September 22 or 23 yearly. However, for many, this is still too early to start celebrating. Because of this, it is rare to see a house decorated for Halloween. Some houses simply put out a few tombstones and halloween colored lights, while others do nothing at all, simply just leaving out a candy bowl for trick or treaters the night of Halloween. Halloween gets further overshadowed, as the day after October 31, Christmas begins in full swing. Department stores blast Michael Buble and Mariah Carey, shelves are filled with Christmas decorations and streets blink red and green at night. November 1 is never too early to celebrate Christmas, even though it is almost two full months before Christmas. So why do so many people celebrate Christmas much more than Halloween?
A large part of it is due to the demographics of those who celebrate the two holidays. Halloween is typically celebrated by younger kids. Most children love to dress up in fun or scary costumes and trick or treat all night with their friends and family, but as they grow up, Halloween becomes more of a social event. While their kids are young, parents might decorate and put more emphasis on Halloween, however, as they grow up, parents start putting less effort into Halloween just like their kids. On the other hand, Christmas is loved and celebrated by all ages. People ranging from babies to older people all anticipate the arrival of the Christmas season every year. Christmas trees can be seen lit up through the windows of houses, colorful Christmas lights blink on every house and on Christmas morning, presents adorn the bottom of the trees.
“People on my street usually decorate a lot for both Halloween and Christmas..” Said Ethan Boyd, one of Eucalyptus’ residents. “But they usually go all out and put more effort in during Christmas since that is when the most people come.”
Another reason for the contrast in the amount of people who decorate for Halloween vs Christmas can trace back to the holiday’s origins. Halloween started in Celtic culture as a part of the Samhain festival. Participants would put on costumes to try and ward off the ghosts that would come back from the dead on November 1. Christmas has a much more joyful origin, commemorating the birth of Jesus. This inspires a season of giving, kindness and goodwill.
Overall, many people simply enjoy and embrace the season of Christmas more than they do Halloween, resulting in less excitement around Halloween.
