Diary of a Gen Z Student: Christmas might start earlier every year — and that's a good thing

But could it be that the people telling us to cool the jets for a few weeks more are the ones who really kick start the Christmas season? Dealing with these questions is far beyond my pay grade, so I can’t answer anything with certainty.

Personally, it doesn’t feel like Christmas until I’ve listened to someone whining about shops putting out their Christmas displays too early. Those complaints are the opening chimes of Christmas, and one of my favourite festive sounds. My ranking of these sounds goes something like this: carol singers, the first bauble to fall off the tree and shatter, Scrooge-esque complainers, and the sizzling of a roast potato.

I know, I know, we’re supposed to let Halloween have its moment before we can start mulling our wine. And I get it, if you’re into Halloween, you want to bathe in fake blood, revel in Hocus Pocus and bob for apples. But I am not one such individual. In all honesty, I’m quite anti-Halloween. I don’t care for prancing around in a costume, horror movies, or scary things. The idea that some people enjoy having the living daylights scared out of them sounds more like they need a psychiatrist than another viewing of Insidious, if you ask me.

Last weekend, I even challenged myself to give the Halloween thing a whirl... I went to Farmaphobia. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s one of those scare-you-into-oblivion events, on a farm. After two hours of adrenalin flooding my system, being chased by a guy with a chainsaw, and having a clown whisper in my ear, I was left wondering how they actually charge people money to be there. People say they love it. But the only part I loved was the drive home. The whole experience confirmed what I had already believed to be true: Halloween is not for people like me, people that enjoy peace, people that like sleeping soundly at night.

So, I’m more than ready for a trip to an ice skating rink, watching Elf, whipping out my cheesy Christmas jumper collection. I want to drive around and look for the houses with the best light displays. No chainsaw-wielding men in sight.

Liking Christmas, for me, isn’t something I take lightly. I’m actually allergic to Christmas trees. But just because my body rejects this time of year, doesn’t mean I do. I’m no snowflake (despite what my trolls like to tell me). You’d have to tie me down with tinsel, to keep me from drowning a Douglas fir in twinkly lights and baubles.

And don’t get me started on the Christmas deniers. I don’t believe people that say Christmas is just an ugly showcase of capitalism. They make themselves look like the Grinch (a multimillion dollar grossing film, based on a multimillion dollar grossing book), with those ideas. They probably heard it from the guys telling us it’s too early to be excited for the festivities.

I choose not to buy into such negativity. With the days getting so short and exam season looming for students, we need something to look forward to. And so what if that’s a new pair of shoes under the tree? Sue me. I’m very grateful for Jesus’s birth, if it guarantees the best roast of the year sitting in front of me on December 25. I’m not afraid to admit that.

We’ve got 54 days until the biggest birthday of the year. Plenty of opportunity for the Scrooges of the world to get on board. In fairness, it’ll be hard not to swept up in the excitement with the rest of us and our joyful spirit.

But if you’re still saying it’s too early by the time the Toy Show rolls around, you’ve chosen misery. And I don’t know how to help you with that. Maybe start planning next year’s Halloween costume, work on your apple bobbing — that might be a little more your vibe. I’ve been testing different gingerbread recipes since September, so I really wouldn’t know how to help you there.