New year rolls in, yet the age-old question about when it's appropriate to begin indulging in holiday music persists. Is November truly too early to hit play on those festive tunes? What about the day following Thanksgiving? These queries have sparked a lively discussion among music lovers.

Unraveling the Timing of Holiday Music Listening

Early Holiday Music Listeners

According to Spotify's data, people in the United States typically start tuning in to holiday music around November 13th, with Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" taking the lead. It's no wonder she's often referred to as the queen of Christmas. Some individuals are eager to pack in as much holiday music as possible during November and December, without spoiling their Spotify Wrapped experiences. They believe that the earlier, the better when it comes to getting into the holiday spirit.For example, on American University's campus, Halloween is a time of excitement. But once October ends, there's a nearly month-long lull until Thanksgiving break and the much-anticipated winter break. Students who wish to showcase their holiday cheer through dorm decorations and music on campus only have about a week and a half between these breaks to do so. This makes it seem quite reasonable for them to start listening to holiday music as early as November 1st, aligning with the early listeners.

The Later Crowd

While there are those who are eager to start early, there are also many who kick, scream, and dread hearing the same holiday songs year after year. They quickly grow tired of them before the actual holiday season begins. School of Communication sophomore Arati Periyannan shared her opinion in an interview with The Eagle. She said, "Two opinions here: One is the weekend after Thanksgiving, and then another would be the first time it snows. But I'm also from California and it doesn't snow at all." Another AU sophomore, Emma O'Hara from the School of Public Affairs and School of Education, stated, "I would say after Thanksgiving, but I feel like December is when it's really acceptable."This shows that there is a divide among students when it comes to the ideal time to start listening to holiday music. After Thanksgiving seems to be the most acceptable time according to the general student opinion. Students can then freely enjoy their favorite holiday hits as soon as they return to campus after the break or when their parents send their winter coats for the first D.C. snow.

Holiday Music Trends

In recent years, a new trend has emerged in the holiday music genre. Successful pop songs are getting "holiday versions" or "holiday makeovers." For instance, Sabrina Carpenter's "Nonsense Christmas" features added sound effects, lyric changes, and instrumentals like sleigh bells or chimes. These holiday makeovers provide an alternative for those who dread hearing the same old holly and jolly tunes every December.College of Arts and Sciences junior Sophie Carter recommended Lo-fi beats as a traditional holiday music alternative. She said, "Personally I'm a big fan of Lo-fi beats. There's always themed playlists out there so there's a lot of Lo-fi Christmas music I like to study to during finals." This shows that there are various options available for those looking to add some variety to their holiday music listening.

The End of Holiday Music

Despite the division over when to start listening to holiday music, one thing that most music listeners can agree on is when it should end. College of Arts and Sciences junior Sophie Carter, who worked in retail during the holiday season, shared her perspective. She said, "I worked in retail during the holiday season, so a lot of Christmas music isn't my favorite. I would say after New Year's is the cutoff. When it's still festive it's fine but after New Year's I'm like nope, we're done."No matter when one starts listening to holiday music, whether it's after Halloween, the weekend after Thanksgiving, or after the first snow, it's clear that once midnight strikes on December 31st, the holiday songs should take a break until the next year.This article was edited by Jessica Ackerman, Marina Zaczkiewicz. Copy editing was done by Luna Jinks, Emma Brown, and Ariana Kavoossi.arts@theeagleonline.com