In the United States, Thanksgiving is one of the most celebrated holidays, with 91% of Americans celebrating it. Many recognize the holiday as a time for friends and family to come together and share food, love and gratitude. However, only a few weeks after Thanksgiving comes Christmas, with around 90% of Americans also celebrating the holiday.
Festive decorations are a staple of Christmas, while Thanksgiving is hardly celebrated in such a manner. Nationwide, 83% of Americans decorate for Christmas with 79% doing so by putting up a Christmas tree. Even with an inflatable turkey or two, Thanksgiving decorations do not have a huge market, appeal or demand. Because Thanksgiving and Christmas are located so close to each other on the calendar, there is significant debate regarding when to decorate for each holiday. Some people prefer to decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving, while others prefer to decorate after celebrating Thanksgiving. However, which of these options do Green Hope students prefer?
In a poll conducted by the GH Falcon, 29% of respondents claimed to decorate before Thanksgiving, while the other 71% claimed to decorate after. Following the survey, respondents from each group explained their preferences and what factors contribute to when they choose to decorate.
For Brayden Connely (‘27) and Jenna Costa (‘25), who both responded that their families choose to decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving, holiday traditions may impact their decision regarding when to decorate. The lack of Thanksgiving decorations prompts their families to jump straight from their Halloween ghosts, pumpkins and spiderwebs to Christmas wreaths, trees and reindeer.
Even though some may view Thanksgiving festivities as irrelevant compared to Halloween or Christmas, some still view the holiday as a time that should stand on its own in terms of decorations. For example, Andrew Zagacki (‘25), whose family decorates for Christmas after Thanksgiving, explained his family’s differences in Christmas decorating habits, stating “Inviting another family over to eat with us for Thanksgiving causes us to celebrate [and decorate for] Christmas after Thanksgiving because it would look weird if we have Christmas decorations out in our house on Thanksgiving. Our guests would question it.”
Another factor that influences when a family decorates for Christmas is traveling. Leaving home for both holidays with Christmas decorations already up helps keep neighborhoods festive and spirits high during the holidays. More importantly, decorating for Christmas before traveling also gives families a longer time to enjoy the holiday season without worrying about last-minute decorations. For Connelly, whose family decorates for Christmas before Thanksgiving and travels to Pennsylvania for both holidays, decorating for the holidays before Thanksgiving allows his family to enjoy the spirit of the season however they please before going elsewhere in the country.
The timing of putting up holiday decorations is based strongly on many considerations such as family tradition, practicality and personal preferences. A survey of Green Hope students revealed a strong preference for decorating after Thanksgiving, with 71% of students choosing to wait. However, many question the wait as well— if there’s nothing to put up for Thanksgiving, why not skip straight to Christmas? Thanksgiving is a time to reunite with family and friends and enjoy the time spent together. Rushing through this holiday straight into Christmas feels like leaving out Thanksgiving entirely for many, while others find it necessary to celebrate early. Ultimately, the decision belongs to everybody individually, and all the factors that contribute to the timing.
