The holiday season is finally upon us, and you know what that means: half of the national population busting out Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You,” while the rest are waiting until after Thanksgiving to turn up the Christmas tunes.

      The St. Andrew’s community is split; students are expressing their preferences for both sides.

      “I listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving because it gets me in the holiday spirit, and it gets me excited for the last two months of the year,” Junior Isabella Flores said.

      The excitement that people feel listening to Christmas music really resonates with multiple students.

      “I think Christmas music can definitely be played before Thanksgiving because when I think about those songs, I really connect them to the holiday season in general, and Thanksgiving is obviously a holiday, so it just gets you in the spirit!” Senior Grace Ellen Crongeyer said.

      There are also Saints that have been rocking out to Michael Bublé and Pentatonix since November 1.

      “Christmas season starts on November 1, and anyone who disagrees with me on this is profoundly mistaken,” Senior Savannah Grace Gober said. “I am so passionate about this issue that my Christmas music playlist on Spotify is literally called ‘November 1st.’”

      Many students agree with Gober’s outlook.

      “Christmas music is totally fair game immediately after October 31st!” Senior Alisa Hill said. “We all deserve to indulge in the joy of Christmas – especially this year – for as long as we want.”

      Not every student feels this way. Others believe that listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving shows disrespect for the famed turkey holiday.

      “I definitely think Christmas music should be played after Thanksgiving, or else Thanksgiving itself will be overlooked,” Senior Allison Santa-Cruz said. “It’s an important holiday because it reminds us to be thankful and loving to our communities and families, and if Christmas music is already playing, everyone will just be thinking about presents!”

      Other Saints agree with Allison’s reasoning for waiting to play the holiday songs after Thanksgiving.

      “I always think Christmas music shouldn’t be played before Thanksgiving because by the time Christmas comes around it feels overplayed,” Senior Ashlynn Payne said. “People should focus on being thankful during Thanksgiving instead of skipping the holiday.”

      The people have spoken. On a school-wide poll in Rowdie, eighty-eight upper schoolers voted with fifty-two people saying Christmas music should be played after Thanksgiving, while thirty-six people said the jamming out should start on November 1.

      No matter which you prefer, the season’s greetings are here and they’re here to stay! After a difficult year, we all deserve some good ol’ holiday cheer–regardless of how or when you choose to turn up the aux to your favorite Christmas songs.