Why do the holidays seem to start earlier every year? – The Prospector

Mariah Carey is thawing faster every year. It’s November, but the aisles are already glowing red and green. Halloween candy sits half-off on one shelf, while Christmas ornaments hang on the next. The rush to move from one holiday to another seems faster every year, and somewhere between profit margins and Pinterest boards, our calendar has turned into a countdown to the next shopping season. 

Stores push decorations out earlier each year hoping to stretch sales windows and catch early spenders. Social media doesn’t help either, fueling new “holiday aesthetics” and color trends that make last year’s decorations feel outdated. From maximalist LEDs and minimalist neutrals to Ralph Lauren’s traditional red-and-green Christmas revival, there’s always a new way to buy into the holiday spirit — literally. 

But how early is too early? 

For some, the early cheer is comforting. University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) sophomore, Janezka Sandoval said she doesn’t mind when holidays start early. 

“I personally do like getting in the spirit. After Halloween, Nov. 1, I was like, okay, it’s Christmas time, because I really do look forward to it,” Sandoval said. 

For others, though, the quick transition feels disorienting. UTEP sophomore Angel Mejia said seeing Christmas decor before Halloween had even begun was jarring. 

“It’s way too soon. I was at Walmart and already saw Christmas stuff up. Thanksgiving hasn’t even passed,” Mejia said. “It does not give people a chance, like, last minute shoppers, to get what they need.” 

For Mejia, it’s more surprising than exciting. 

The rush to shop early shows how consumer culture keeps pushing the holiday season sooner each year. (Victoria Adler)

Even for those who enjoy it, like Sandoval and I, there’s an awareness that this acceleration in holiday spirit isn’t exactly organic. 

“I feel like they’re trying to get rid of old stuff, or they’re moving on really fast. I know a lot of people really look forward to it, but at the same time, I feel like it’s kind of misleading,” Sandoval said. “They are probably trying to get more customers. A lot of people really look forward to the holidays, so they probably want more people coming in. It’s a way to grab their [customers] attention.” 

There’s no clearer example of this “holiday creep” than Christmas arriving in stores before Thanksgiving even has its moment. Halloween decorations come down, and suddenly the stores are filled with Santa hats and snowmen. I’ve seen Bath & Body Works’ holiday collection promoted since mid-October, and TikTok trends have already crowned Ralph Lauren’s nostalgic “Americana Christmas” as 2025’s newest look. 

Between influencer hauls, aesthetic content and limited-edition product drops, we’re encouraged to perform the season earlier every year. The result is that holiday joy starts to feel like another checklist item. You can’t just enjoy the moment; you have to keep up with it.

That sense of pressure extends beyond the decor, it’s about time and how quickly it feels like the world expects us to move on. One week, we’re carving pumpkins; the next we’re buying garland and wrapping paper.

It’s easy to blame retailers and influencers, but the truth is more complicated. Stores wouldn’t start the season early if people weren’t…ready to celebrate early. After all, who doesn’t love planning their next Halloween costume months in advance, or dreaming about their Thanksgiving feast? There’s comfort in nostalgia, a chance to pause and enjoy something familiar when life feels busy, expensive and uncertain. Getting lost in holiday traditions can feel like an escape, a small, well-deserved break.  

Even my own family is guilty of it. As a kid we’d have our Christmas trees up well before my birthday in October and it was something I looked forward to. Still, there’s something to be said for patience. The faster we sprint through holidays, the less time we leave for the anticipation that makes it special.  

Consumer culture has a way of collapsing everything into the next moment, leaving us less time to actually experience them. But even with fatigue, the excitement doesn’t seem to be fading. There’s still something joyful about the glow of string lights, the first hint of cinnamon in the air and the sense, even if brief, that we’ve arrived at something worth celebrating.

Jewel Ocampo is a staff reporter and may be reached at [email protected].