As the weather gets colder and the holidays approach, people are ready to cozy up in sweaters and spend time with family. Christmas begins taking over the holiday season trends and becomes increasingly popular with home decor and holiday cheer. The city of Natchitoches, Louisiana is especially fond of Christmas, but it’s simply too early to deck the halls. We haven’t even had Halloween or Thanksgiving.
In Louisiana, it is hard to notice the difference in seasonal changes with the scorching heat one day and the sudden cold the next day. It’s easy to get excited for Christmas when the weather finally seems like it’s changing, but autumn is the time for Halloween and Thanksgiving to shine.
It’s important to honor each season for what it brings, and autumn symbolizes coziness, harvest and gathering. The festive moments of Halloween and Thanksgiving are what make autumn special. However, when Christmas decorations come too early, they often overshadow these celebrations and rush past a season that deserves its own appreciation.
Consumerism drives the trend of early decorations, as stores begin promoting holiday products earlier each year. This commercialization of the holiday pushes people to begin celebrating too soon; Christmas decorations and promotions often appear well before the holiday season.
This long buildup to Christmas can lead to holiday fatigue and burnout. Celebrating as early as October with festive decorations, music and shopping can make Christmas feel less special. This diminishes the joy and meaning of Christmas Day when it does eventually arrive. With decorations popping up across town, many residents feel pressure to decorate their own homes which adds to the stress of the holiday season.
Besides just the effect it can have on people, putting up light decorations too early in the year can have environmental consequences. The extended display can lead to increased energy consumption especially if traditional incandescent lights are used instead of energy-efficient LED options. The over-consumption of Christmas decor also increases the amount of waste, which does nothing but contribute to landfills. To celebrate the holiday season more sustainably, people should consider using energy-saving decorations such as going for reusable items and reducing the duration of lighting displays.
Here in Natchitoches, the Christmas season is the most popular time of the year with a Christmas Festival held on the riverbank annually. Even before sweater season, lights are strung across town in preparation for the festival which presents over 300,000 lights. Hundreds of tourists come to Natchitoches to enjoy the festival every year, so, for almost 100 years, residents prepare for a three-month Christmas season.
While the Natchitoches Christmas Festival is a cherished tradition that brings joy and tradition to the city, not everyone needs to match the festive scene. Residents shouldn’t feel pressured to go all out with decorations or feel obligated to compete with neighbors. The holiday spirit is about celebrating in a way that feels comforting and meaningful to each individual or family.
As we navigate through autumn with Halloween and Thanksgiving ahead, remember to embrace the beauty of the current season before diving into Christmas celebrations. While the excitement of Christmas is undeniable, waiting to decorate makes the holiday feel even more special and meaningful when the time finally arrives. By savoring the traditions happening now, we can create a more fulfilling celebration without rushing into Christmas until the right moment.
