Don’t get me wrong, I love the holiday season just as much as the next person, but do I want to watch holiday commercials the day after Halloween? No. I understand that putting up lights and decorating early are ways of spreading “holiday cheer,” but the concept of the holidays has changed drastically over the years.

Take Black Friday for example. I’ve always seen it as ironic that people spend Thanksgiving talking about how grateful they are, and then go out and spend hundreds of dollars at the mall the next day. Year after year, Black Friday starts earlier. People begin lining up in front of stores halfway through Thanksgiving. They miss out on the true idea behind the holiday, instead engaging in frivolous spending.

And then there’s Christmas. Originally a day for Christians to celebrate their faith by coming together, it has become insanely commercialized. The Christmas season begins months before the holiday itself, with ads encouraging shoppers to “get ahead this season.” I understand that Christmas is the busiest time of year for retailers but constant promotion of the necessity for material goods in order to have an enjoyable holiday is ultimately ruining the Christmas spirit.

Reflecting on past experiences, my fondest memories of the holiday season include baking cookies with my family and decorating the tree, not what presents I received. For the sake of preserving the real meaning of the holidays, let’s take a step back and remember what is truly important: being with family and spreading joy.