Point/Counterpoint: Should holiday music be played year-round?

Debating whether festive tunes are always jolly, or a winter-only wonder

Mariah Carey

No 

As the clock strikes midnight on Nov. 1, my life undergoes a dramatic transformation. Pumpkins morph into evergreen trees, bags of candy turn into sacks of presents, and garish costumes change into cozy knitted sweaters. 

Halloween disappears, and my life becomes a winter wonderland as visions of Christmas dance in my head like sugar plums. On top of everything else, my go-to fall playlist is replaced with the jolly sounds of winter music, too.

Despite my love for all things Christmas, I’m a firm believer in one rule for holiday cheer: holiday music should never be played before Nov. 1, no matter how much you love it.

it’s officially november. halls: decked. bells: jingled. mariah carey: defrosted. merry christmas.

— (@softlumos) November 1, 2019

I think I’ve already shown that I’m no Scrooge when it comes to winter festivities, but even a Christmas fanatic like myself gets sick of the cheery holiday carols—especially after months of hearing the same songs repeated endlessly in malls and grocery stores. 

In order to preserve the childlike wonderment that Christmas music brings, I force myself to wait until November so I can still enjoy my favourite festive songs when the actual holiday rolls around. 

Imagine listening to sleigh bells on a hot summer beach, or trumpets in a springtime rainstorm. That just sounds plain wrong. There’s a time and place for Christmas music, and I refuse to believe otherwise.

That’s why last week, when I woke up the day after Halloween, I dusted off my “holiday cheer” Spotify podcast, hit shuffle, and got ready for another busy school day with a pep in my step and some cheer in my heart. 

Tegwyn Hughes, Assistant Lifestyle Editor

 

Yes

Imagine this: it’s a sweltering August day, and not even your air conditioner is beating the heat. You’re desperate for anything to remind you of the frozen comfort of December. The solution: Christmas music. As soon as Bing Crosby invites you to walk in a winter wonderland, you feel cooler already.

Throughout the winter exam period, listening to Christmas music helps me cope with stress as I dream about the end of exams and being able to go home for the holidays. So why can’t I do the same during the spring exam season?

I keep myself from getting bored of the same songs during my year-long celebration by switching it up. Having multiple jolly playlists, with everything from Mariah Carey’s classic 1994 album—the gift that keeps on giving year-round—to traditional carols sung by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, is the perfect way to ensure that I’m never tired of holiday tunes.

Let’s face it: we’re all a little sad when the holiday season comes to an end. We can eliminate that by keeping the carols coming.

Mariah, the queen of Christmas herself, has been promoting her All I Want for Christmas Is You tour since September, and I think we can all agree that she’s the authority on holiday music.

Lambily! Celebrate the holidays with me on my All I Want For Christmas Is You Tour ❄ Presales start 10/1 at 10am ET.
Get more info @ https://t.co/4fkAcyh35z pic.twitter.com/lz7un90OtD

— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) September 30, 2019

No matter who you are, the first few bars of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” will transport you straight to the North Pole, and that doesn’t only apply to December. Embrace it, and keep the merry melodies coming all year.

Colin Walsh, Contributor 

Tags

Holiday, point/counterpoint, Spotify

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