Winter is approaching. The temperature is dropping, more leaves are falling from trees, and days are becoming increasingly shorter. In addition to this, the most wonderful time of the year is approaching. With that, many debates are being held and I’m not just talking about the kind you might have with your relatives during Thanksgiving. I will be talking about much more important debates such as: When is the appropriate time to start listening to Christmas music?

I know many people have very strong opinions when it comes to this subject. Some say you’re insane if you listen to Christmas music before December first, yet others wonder how you could not listen to Christmas music before then. I do not abide by either extreme. I understand why people would want to hold off on listening to Christmas music until the month of the holiday arrives, however, I think that those who choose to listen to Christmas music before then should not be criticized.

If we break it down, music, in general, is therapy for many and can help people when they are not having a good day, month, or week. If Christmas songs are the cure for one’s unhappiness or even lift your spirits on a great day, then by all means feel free to blast “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” in your car, mid-November, judgment-free. Isn’t the whole point for people to be merry anyway?

Christmas songs also come in many different genres from classical, jazz, and pop. What if someone is just really into jazz music and can’t resist the dancing swing of the bass line in “A Marshmallow World” or “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas?” As everyone has had to learn in one way or another recently, there are things that others do that affect those around them and listening to Christmas music before December is not one of them. So, go ahead and break out the Buble, Jackson 5, Nat King Cole, or Frank Sinatra, you deserve it no matter if it ‘tis the season or not.