Through over usage by businesses and radio stations too early in the season, Christmas music has become a detriment to numerous Americans’ mental health around the holidays and their overall enjoyment of Christmas.
As Christmas gets closer and closer, there has already been an absurd amount of Christmas music playing in stores and on the radios.
Everyone knows this is the case every passing year, a cruel tradition that has continued to persist through pandemics, political turmoil and so much other uncertainty.
There is an official term for Christmas music being played early in the year known as the “Christmas Creep.”
Although many have grown accustomed to this constant stream of Christmas music, have they considered the mental health impact it may have on them?
Multiple studies have shown that playing Christmas music too early in the year may create stress.
According to a study done by clinical psychologist Linda Blair, the sound of Christmas music too soon before Christmas time makes people think about all that they must do come holiday time.
Some of these stressful activities include, but are not limited to: buying presents, organizing parties and booking travel.
The holiday seasons are supposed to be about taking time to relax with loved ones and be present in the moment.
Christmas music before December can be an early reminder that can negate the positives of holidays and facilitate additional stress.
Not only is Christmas music damaging to the psyche of willing listeners, it also bears a negative experience when listened to by a large number of Americans.
According to the 2011 Consumer Reports study, a whopping 23% of Americans “dread” seasonal music.
As Christmas music is played earlier each year, it detracts from the Halloween and Thanksgiving holiday experiences.
This should give anybody additional reason to delay the music.
No parent should be stressed about buying Halloween costumes, a Thanksgiving feast and Christmas presents all at once.
The natural succession of the holidays facilitates easy planning.
The Christmas Creep does not only detract from these other holidays, but it also makes Christmas feel less authentic.
Winter holidays should be about coming together with family and friends and celebrating the passing of another year.
It should not be about consumerism and shows of wealth.
For many, Christmas music is linked to the commercialization of holidays.
To go along with Christmas music being played early in the year, retail businesses will put out Christmas products and decor.
With businesses using the music as a marketing scheme to entice consumers to spend more on Christmas products, it turns the once sentimental feel to Christmas music into a meaningless white noise – which can and will induce stress in many.
A reasonable solution to the Christmas Creep is, clearly, to delay music until after Thanksgiving, as well as play a variety of music within retail stores to protect the sanity of retail workers and shoppers.
While holiday music can bring joy to many, the people who experience excessive stress due to the music must be considered and welcomed in stores just like people who enjoy the music.
At the very least, the music should be delayed until the winter holidays are the next sequential celebration.
This gives other holidays their time to shine as well as preserve holiday morale for millions of Americans.