Weekend Assignment #293: When Do The Holidays Begin?

From For Ellipsis

"Nothing says holidays like a cheese log."

-Ellen DeGeneres

Weekend Assignment #292: Halloween is behind us, Thanksgiving ahead, and Christmas advertising has begun. So how about it? When do the holidays begin for you? Do you avoid thinking about Christmas and Hanukkah until after Thanksgiving, or is any time after Halloween okay? Is it time for Christmas lights in your neighborhood, and do the neighbors agree with you? How about Christmas music? When does that become okay, if ever?

Extra Credit: Have you bought any holiday presents yet? If not, when do you think you'll start?

-Karen, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin.

Holidays begin for us all the way back in May. You see, there is a small rodeo parade here in the East Bay, which is held every Mother's Day weekend, and it is kinda the unofficial kick-off of summer, or at least it is for us. Two weeks later comes Memorial Day, and then my birthday and well, you get the idea. We don't really stop celebrating until January 1st. But if we are talking about the holidays... holidays... then I would have to say, they begin with Halloween.

That is when I get into our storage room and get out all the autumn/winter decorations. I get all of it out at the same time, because it just makes more sense then to lift the boxes over and over every month. Autumn is just one big celebration with Christmas and Hanukkah only barely official winter holidays. I love it. Life is too short to not put up colored lights. Tee Hee. And this year seem especially festive, as all the towns have put up the "Happy Holidays" banners. It's been really cold, so it's really all coming together nicely.

Extra Credit: No, no gift shopping yet. I think gift giving going to be a little sparse this Christmas, which is ok, I am at the age when I have everything I want. Although I am eyeing a "Monster in A Bag" for the boys. They will need something to keep them occupied during the rainy season this winter.

-Carly