Cris DinotoIt’s that time of year again, when stores have brought out the holiday decorations and started playing Christmas music. So should you give in to the holiday spirit and break out the Christmas tree and Santa figurines? Or is it just not worth the hassle at the end of a semester and right before final exams?
Embrace the holiday spirit now
Why wait until December to enjoy the magic of the holidays? Decorating early, whether for Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, is an excellent way to spread joy, boost your mood, and make the most of the season.
When you decorate early, you get to enjoy the festive atmosphere for a longer period of time. In Edmonton, the cold and snow can arrive as early as October, and by December, we’re often in the full grip of winter. By breaking out your holiday decorations in November, you have the chance to brighten up those long, dark days. You get to enjoy the twinkling lights, cozy wreaths, and cheerful ornaments for over a month. Why limit the magic to just a few weeks when you can enjoy it for longer?
Decorating early also gives you the luxury of time. With the busy pace of the holidays, it can feel overwhelming to rush through putting up decorations at the last minute. But if you begin early, you have more time to plan, get creative, and enjoy the process. Whether it’s crafting a handmade centerpiece or choosing the perfect tree ornaments, early decorating allows you to add those personal touches without feeling pressured. Plus, you can avoid the inevitable last-minute crowds at stores. This is especially valuable when the weather makes travel a little trickier.
When the winter chill can leave you feeling isolated, decorations help transform your home into a warm, inviting space. So why not have that earlier? The glow of lights and the festive atmosphere can be a welcome escape from the cold. It’s a simple way to make your home feel cozy and uplifting during the colder months.
Finally, decorating early reduces stress. Instead of scrambling to get everything ready at the last minute, you can relax and enjoy the season. You’ll already have your home set up and ready for holiday gatherings, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: spending time with loved ones.
So why wait? If stores can start displaying Christmas decorations right after Halloween, there’s no reason why you can’t bring the holiday spirit into your home a little early too. Especially when the Canadian weather is already giving us plenty of reason to stay cozy indoors.
— Navi Sahota
School first, decorating later
While decorating is all fun and games, becoming an academic victim because you were too busy with tinsel and lights is not. It doesn’t matter if stores are full of holiday decorations and whether or not Mariah Carey has defrosted. You shouldn’t be in stores anyways! At least not when the library is open. There are only a couple weeks until finals season begins. Every waking moment should be dedicated to “that grind,” not that twine and tinsel.
The only valid reason for your holiday decorations being up before the end of your finals season as a student is if you’re not the one putting them up. Say you live at home or have a holiday-loving roommate. Otherwise hell no, how can you be expected to, nonetheless desire to set boatloads of time aside to decorate? There are so many steps involved — you have to find the decorations, plan your setup, do the setup, and bask in the glory of your setup. That is at least five days of work right there. Never mind if you have to go out and buy decorations too, it could easily snowball into three weeks of work. Time and days you simply do not have.
To put it in simple terms, you will never academically recover from setting up decorations early. It is impossible. Every waking moment you have before finals season not spent studying should only be spent doing four other things. Sleeping, eating, basic hygiene, and thinking about what you’re going to study next. Notice how none of those are decorating.
Additionally, decorations are never just a one-off event. Rather, they come with a posse of mandatory time-consuming activities. If you decorate now, you’re roping yourself into baking of some nature, at least one holiday movie, and going to some silly holiday event or tradition! There’s absolutely no way you can have brilliant grades and decorate for the holidays. You spend all of this money on school and you want to throw it away for what? Incandescent lights and fire hazards? I think not.
Though I may seem like a cortisol monster-fuelled Grinch, I promise I’m not. I simply just don’t want to waste all of the “holiday magic” on the build-up. If you set up your decorations in November or even early December, you’ll be all holidayed-out by the time Christmas comes. But, if you set up after finals, you can actually relax and enjoy the shiny lights and cozy vibes.
— Julia Wadley
