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This is all of It on WNYC. I'm Alison Stewart. We have to discuss a very important matter before we wrap up today's show, and that is Christmas decorations. Is it too soon to start evoking the holiday spirit or is it the perfect time to put that star on top of a tree or play Santa's sleigh on top of the roof? This is the topic of today's installment of our ongoing call in series called Small Big Opinions, which we discuss something that is deeply felt and not all that meaningful in the grand scheme of things. In previous conversations, we've debated topics like the best train line, bagel shops, best seltzer flavors, cruise ships, where upstate New York begins. And joining us today to help us navigate this important question is all of It. Producers Luke Green, Jordan Loff and El Malik Anderson, welcome to the studio.
C
Hello.
B
Hello listeners. We want you to join in on this conversation. Do you think it's too soon to put up Christmas decorations or have you already begun placing ornaments on the tree? What about lights? Did you pull them out of the garage or the closet yet? Give us a call or send us a text at 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC all right, this started because Jordan saw a story. Was it on Instagram?
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TikTok it was on Instagram.
B
Tell us about the story, Jordan.
A
Yeah, I saw something that deeply disturbed me personally. Which, surprise, surprise, is that I was scrolling on Instagram on Halloween trying to everyone's fun Halloween costumes and a person who will remain nameless. But someone I know from my life posted a story that before she and her kids go out trick or treating, they decorate the whole house for Christmas. And there was something that just sat so wrong with me about watching her kids in their Halloween costumes, like put up a stocking on a mantle and bring The Christmas tree out like, it's fall. It's still sunny. It's not even cold or snowing yet. And you've got your kids in, like, a skeleton costume putting a Christmas tree up. There was something about that that just really did not sit right with me. So I brought it to the team, and it began a whole discussion.
B
Malik, is November 1st way too early to set up our decorations?
D
Absolutely not. I say, when Mariah Carey Claus says that it's time, and you hear that high note, it is the right time to be pulling out your decorations, I think that person was probably prepared, as we all should be.
B
I understand that you might have a tree in your house. Is that true?
D
I do. And it's gonna stay up until January. I need everybody who comes to my house between now and January 6th and maybe even beyond if I get a little lazy, if I'm being honest, to see that tree.
B
Luke, where do you stand on this?
C
I honestly have no strong opinions. I feel like I'm in between the two of you right now. I'm someone who. I love Christmas. Like, I have a feral love of Christmas. Like, but I think my. I come down on December 1st. December 1st is when I think that lights and decorations should go up, because to me, that's the month of enthusiasm and lights and things like that. So that would be my basic setup. But I'm nowhere near the strong opinions of these two.
A
I would say, well, and we're forgetting that there's a whole holiday between now and Christmas, and it's called Thanksgiving. And Thanksgiving is a great holiday. It's a secular holiday with beautiful decorations. You can keep. Allison, I know you. You were like, I'm going to keep my pumpkins out.
B
I do. I kept it simple. I put flowers. Not flowers. I put leaves and lights and gourds. And I figured that would just translate to Thanksgiving.
A
I just think that, like, we. Winter is so long already.
B
Why.
A
Why rush it? Let's take November and get in the autumnal spirit. Keep your gourds out, put your pumpkins out, and let's do some Thanksgiving decorations before we pull out the tree.
B
All right, I've got.
D
Thanksgiving is just, let's be honest, a Christmas preview.
B
Oh, wait. What?
D
You don't have as many people coming to your house for the actual Christmas day. So the way I see it is, like, okay, Thanksgiving, when I have family over for dinner and friends, I want them to come and see the holiday spirit, to see the thought and intention I put into my Christmas decorations before Christmas so they can say wow, Malik, you go all out every year.
A
Malik just wants praise, I think is what this is coming down to.
B
All right, let's read some text. Allison. The answer is clear. No Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving. General winter decorations are fine. Frankly, I don't think any holiday specific decorations should go up more than two weeks before said holidays. It's just tacky.
C
So general winter decorations.
B
General winter is it.
C
Lights.
B
Could be lights. We're going to get to that. This next text says, I was at my local Chase branch this morning and while I was ready, while I was waiting, I realized they were playing Christmas music. I happened to mention it to one assistant VP there and asked if there was any way they could hold off since it's only November 6th. Surprisingly, he said, sure, we can do that.
A
Interesting.
B
The next one, it's way too soon. They put up Christmas decorations on fifth Avenue and Park Slope on October. No. And this last text says was in the TJ Maxx on 6th Avenue yesterday. It was wall to wall Christmas music and gifting messages all hell no.
C
I had the same experience where the day after Hallo. In a Marshalls in downtown Brooklyn and I was. We were just shopping, but then the music comes on and at first you're like, ah, I don't know about this. But then it sort of comes on and you start singing it under your breath as you're shopping. And I think that's kind of just like a pleasurable experience. So I am sort of leaning towards Malik a little bit. Where it's like when it's Mariah season, it's Mariah season. When that comes on, I'm never gonna be upset about it.
A
No, that's completely incorrect. Because if you start listening to Christmas music now, there are only so many songs. How many times can you listen to Jingle Bells between now and the end of December?
C
But I'm only listening to it when I'm in a shopping place of shopping and that's not very often, so.
A
Well, I just think. I think two months of Christmas carols is too long. I think we can all wait. And then it makes December much more special and you appreciate it. Rather than getting to like December 5th and thinking, oh my God, I can't.
C
Wait three more weeks of this to.
A
Never hear Jingle Bells ever again. That's a shame.
D
Wait, maybe you need to just build up your Christmas endurance so you can like handle two months of Christmas music.
C
Yeah, maybe you actually just hate Christmas and that's why.
A
No, I. I will not be the Scrooge. I love Christmas in its time and place.
B
We're debating whether it's the right time to put up Christmas decorations as part of our call in series. Small stakes, big opinions. Let's talk to Elizabeth in Yonkers. Elizabeth, Yonker, you're on the.
E
Hello, Allison, Hi. Can you hear me okay?
B
I hear you. Great.
E
Okay. I'm here to settle this dispute. There is only one reason. There is only one reason people are dragging their, you know, lights and everything out this early. And that is we have learned from stores, they want our money. They're the culprits who started all this early stuff. And the one way to stick it to the man is to not put up anything until after December 1st. It's because they want our money that we're in this crazed decorating thing.
B
Elizabeth, thank you. We've got Eric and Katie, who I think are on the phone together.
C
Duo.
E
Yeah, hi, good afternoon. This is Eric and my wife Katie's with me. We're listening. And yeah, we agree. We think Christmas decoration is. Right now, it's too early. It's way too early. We haven't gotten through Thanksgiving yet. There's. There's a lot that still leads to a lot of fall events that we still need to get through. And so I think, like, after Thanksgiving, they can come on. You have the whole month of December, but right now, it's too soon. I used to work retail, and we would start with, like, Christmas music in September, which would drive me crazy.
C
I think we got. That's too far.
A
That's ridiculous.
B
As rough. That's rough even.
C
Yeah.
B
Let's talk to Adrian from the Lower east side. Hi, Adrian. Where do you fall in on this? What's your big opinion?
E
I believe it shouldn't be put up till December 15 and taken down January 6. The feast of the Epiphany. Christmas is worldwide, no matter what. The overlay is, is the feast of light. And we trivialize it and dilute it by extending it for this long period and it loses some of its magic, you know, you have to keep the magic. Now, I will admit I keep Christmas lights above my picture railing all year round, but I don't keep them lit. But I do. If I have a party, I'll light them up. That'll give a little zoom to the place, but, you know, it should be as short as possible.
B
Thank you so much for calling. We appreciate it. I want to throw one thing out of here to you this year, though. Were the Halloween decorations particularly scary, especially in the West Village or in West 69th Street?
A
I wonder how much of that is like social media? Also, I think people want to post their most, goriest, craziest.
C
They're trying to outdo their neighbors, too, right?
A
Yeah, Yeah, I think that's true. I think people really. But you know what? I don't mind it because that is in the spirit of the holiday and it's in its appropriate time and place. But, yeah, I think if you're a really little kid, there are definitely some places you could go trick or treating and end up really, really scared this year.
B
Yeah, they were a little scary. I was kind of psyched to see November come. Just the gourds. Just gourds and hay rides.
C
There were some houses in my neighborhood that I sort of had to walk quickly by because at dark, because, you know, all of a sudden this DJ starts moving, and as a skeleton, I'm like, whoa.
A
Yeah, there are a couple that jump out at you. I really don't like those that drop out of nowhere or make a noise. No, thank you.
D
I enjoy that. I like to be a little scared.
A
You know, Malik the contrarian.
B
Today, let's talk to Kyle in SoHo. Kyle, what's your big opinion?
E
Hi, Alison, longtime listener. You get me through my work day every day, so thank you. So my opinion is that Santa arrives at the end of the Macy's Day Thanksgiving parade for a reason. That's the start of Christmas season. That's when the decorations can come out any earlier. Is Thanksgiving erasure? And I was also born on Thanksgiving, so I take it as a personal.
A
Oh, yeah, that's. That's personal.
B
That's true. Thank you for calling in. How about Fred in Newark? Fred in Newark, what say you?
E
Long time? First time, Let me say. I. I'm a Christian pastor who also has a wife who loves Christmas from a secular perspective, you know, and so I look at it in both ways. It's most likely that Jesus was not born in December anyway. And so I am very open to people celebrating love, peace, joy whenever they wish. And so I say, if you want to put up your Christmas decorations now, go do it. Seek love, joy, peace, and share it everywhere you go.
B
Thank you so much for calling in.
A
Well, how am I supposed to argue with that now? Come on. I know that just ended it right. Right there.
B
Let's talk about inside the house versus the outside. Right. Jordan, does your opinion differ if the decorations are in someone's home, a tree in the living room like Malik has, versus outside their home? No.
A
And that's probably a wrong opinion because whatever you do inside Your own home should be your business. What, what does it bother me if you have a tree in your own home? But I just. I just. I just think, why rush? And for me, again, it's all about everything having its time and its place. And if you really, really want to put up a tree in your own home, I guess obviously you should do whatever you want in your house. I really extra don't like when people put up the Christmas decorations outside super early because, again, it's just. It's rushing things along and I don't want to rush the end of the year. This is a great time.
C
You're inflicting your enthusiasm on me. Save it. You know?
A
Yeah, that's sort of how I feel.
B
This says, give Thanksgiving respect. It's not costumes, it's not gifts, just grateful deliciousness with people you care about. We need that break. And especially if it's cold and dark. I'm totally in favor of decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. That is festive. That is the rule in ours.
C
It is true that Thanksgiving is perhaps a less commercialized holiday, too. So in between two hyper, you know, mall lights, music, it's a nice relief from that.
B
So what's going to happen to your tree that's in your house, Malik, right now? Is it going to go through a Thanksgiving sort of decoration and then turn into Christmas or what's going to happen to it?
D
So right now, my tree, it's very bare. It's going through a metamorphosis. You know, it takes some time to grow. It's actually not growing. It's very much a fake tree. But I thought out this year because I had a bunch of decorations from previous years and I had the same decorations, and I really wanted to start anew this year. And so the plan is to start with some neutral lights, go with a base color, and over time, kind of add things to it throughout the month. And so, I mean, I see it fitting for both holidays. I mean, right now it could be a Thanksgiving tree. I mean, who. Who's gonna tell me?
B
I can't.
D
You know me.
B
That's how I. Jordan, let's talk to Richard in Rockland County. Hi, Richard. Thanks for calling, all of it. What is your big opinion about our small story?
E
Hi, yes, I was listening to your show, and I just. I told my girlfriend we just dropped off a car at the Enterprise here, and I said, listen, you gotta listen to the show. It's exactly what we're going through. And she goes, I. Okay, fine. We sit in the car and it starts the biggest fight ever. There's no way. It's just like she just stormed out the car. We just moved up here to Rockland county from the Bronx with transplants. We got a new home. And it's just one of these things where, you know, she wants to decorate the house, which I understand, but now the argument has become, do we have two trees or one? Like. No, we have. We brought one Christmas tree. It's enough. She wants one for the den, she wants one for the living room. She wants one, and she wants to start decorating. So listen, we just had this argument over Halloween. You did the same thing. It was summer. People were wearing shorts and short sleeve shirts, and you're wearing worried about pumpkins on the steps. It's crazy, just crazy. I don't know. I can't. I wasn't raised that way, you know, Roman Catholic. And I always waited till about two weeks right before Christmas, and that was it. So it's really causing up strife in our. In our.
C
You see what we've done here?
B
I want you to go to your home, go in your house. I want you to hug your wife. She say, I'm sorry, and whatever you want, dear. Happy wife, happy life. When is it too late to start decorating, Luke?
C
When is it too late for Christmas decorating? I mean, Christmas day, that's pretty late. I feel like you've got to get it done by then. Yeah, I would say December 1st, I think is like, I'm on the December 1st. I like the routine December 1st. Anything after you've missed the deadline, like, you got to launch the month in a good way. Because I think about, you know, blame it on my upbringing, but I think it's such a great time of year, my favorite time of year, such a special time of year. Why? The more you shrink it, the more special it feels. Because you have to sort of maybe. Yeah. Blame it on my upbringing is like, the more you punish yourself and like, make it as short as possible.
B
Learn a lot about Luke.
C
The more you will. You will appreciate it.
B
And for its timeline, when it's too late to start decorating, I think the.
A
Callers who are saying two weeks before, that's a little short. That's a. That's a shrunken schedule to me. I agree with Luke that the. Around the 1st of December is a good time. And I would make the argument now people are gonna get upset because I said, don't start too early. My flip side of this take is you can leave your decorations up as long as you want in January. I don't.
B
What?
C
Yeah, now that's. That's okay. We got problems.
A
There's no holiday in January. So it's not like you're giving a January holiday. Short shrift. New Year's, but sure. But there aren't really, like, New Year's decorations. It's festive and it's cold. January is cold and sad. And sometimes having a nice tree with some lights really can improve your winter. So I say don't start too early, but you can kind of keep it up as long as you want.
B
Melanie from Lock Arbor, New Jersey. What do you say?
E
I say hello.
B
And I don't start outside even until.
E
The week of Christmas, like about five days before, maybe six.
B
And I don't decorate inside the house.
E
Until Christmas week, sometimes even Christmas Eve if I'm busy. But I leave it up until usually Valentine's Day.
A
Wow.
B
She's got a whole different schedule. Appreciate that. Let's talk to Dave in Seaford. Dave, what's your big opinion?
E
When I was growing up, my dad wouldn't let us put up the tree till Christmas Eve. And so as an adult now, because I love this holiday and I work 40 hours a week or more, I want it up as soon as possible so I can, you know, have as much joy as possible.
C
There we go.
B
And let's talk to Kim in Brooklyn. Kim, what's your big opinion? Hi.
E
Yes. So, first and foremost, Halloween is 365 days a year. Second, October's for Halloween, November's for Thanksgiving, December's for Christmas, and Hanukkah and January is a free for all.
C
Mix it all together. Yeah.
B
All right, we've got a last minute or so. Does anybody want to make a final case for anything we've discussed whether up too early, too late. Do you leave your lights up longer? What do you think?
D
Listen, I'm of the opinion you should be able to celebrate whatever holiday you want whenever you want. Life is short. I mean, times sometimes can be tough. And if you need that little boost or that joy, go ahead. Who am I to stop you?
B
What do you say, Luke?
C
I would say that my favorite part of the lights, tradition and decorations is that it makes people all feel connected to each other and. And you get to walk down your block and people are working together to make it beautiful together. And I think, as Malik said, that is a tradition to be valued and appreciated. And so do it whenever you want. I've come down that way.
B
Do you keep your lights up?
C
Yeah, keep them up. I think January 6th is a good cutoff date. Yeah.
B
Jordan, you have strong opinions.
A
Well, I know I have been the Scrooge this whole time, but I know that everyone is talking about having joy and comfort and celebration in their life, and I think that's lovely. So really, you should do whatever the heck you want inside your own home, but I reserve the right to judge you.
C
You know what? I agree with that. Yes.
B
This last text says lights, whites only can be strong during daylight savings Xmas. Specific decorations are better in early December. And the tree is nicest one week before Christmas and left up until Valentine's Day.
C
So we have a lot to look forward to.
A
We may have dissolved one marriage, but maybe we've. We've solved some other problems.
B
And that does it for this edition of Shakes. Big opinion. Seriously. Go, go, go. Give your wife a kiss. Malik, Jordan and Luke, thanks for joining us.
C
Thank you.
B
It's been fun. I'm Alison Stewart. This is all of it. I appreciate you listening and I appreciate you. I will meet you back here next time. This is Ira Flato, host of Science Friday. For over 30 years, the science Friday team has been reporting high quality science and technology news, making science fun for curious people by covering everything from the outer reaches of space to the rapidly changing world of AI to the tiniest microbes in our bodies. Audiences trust our show because they know we're driven by a mission to inform.
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And serve listeners first and foremost with.
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Important news they won't get anywhere else. And our sponsors benefit from that halo effect. For more information on becoming a sponsor, visit sponsorship.wnyc.org.
In this lively installment of “Small Stakes, Big Opinions,” host Alison Stewart and the All Of It team dive into a perennial cultural debate: When is the right time to put up Christmas decorations? As New York City tiptoes from Halloween into the last stretch of autumn, the team and listeners call in and text with deeply held (yet lighthearted) convictions about holiday timing, Thanksgiving’s reputation, and the ever-present influence of Mariah Carey. The episode blends friendly banter, listener perspectives, and genuine reflections on tradition and cultural shifts.
Jordan’s Viral Outrage (02:25):
Framing the Question (00:55):
Malik’s Early Enthusiasm (03:27):
Luke’s Middle Ground (04:04):
Jordan’s Respect for Thanksgiving (& Skepticism) (04:32):
Team Banter about Motivations (05:13):
(06:10–15:29 | Multiple Callers & Texts)
Too Soon for Many (06:30):
Retail Blame Game
Save It for After Thanksgiving
Short, Special Christmas Windows
Contrarian and Joyful
Are Halloween Decorations Getting Scarier? (10:24 – 11:28):
Inside vs. Outside Decorations (12:54):
Huge spectrum among listeners:
Luke’s Rules (16:50; 20:10):
Jordan’s Contradictory Take (20:36):
Malik’s Inclusive Joy (19:52):
“When Mariah Carey Claus says that it’s time… it is the right time to pull out your decorations.”
– Malik Anderson, 03:27
“Santa arrives at the end of the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving parade for a reason. That’s the start of Christmas season. Any earlier is Thanksgiving erasure.”
– Kyle in SoHo, 11:38
“If you start listening to Christmas music now, there are only so many songs. How many times can you listen to Jingle Bells between now and the end of December?”
– Jordan Loff, 07:12
“I love Christmas in its time and place.”
– Jordan Loff, 07:54
“We trivialize it and dilute it by extending it for this long period and it loses some of its magic, you know. You have to keep the magic.”
– Adrian, Lower East Side, 09:41
“I say, if you want to put up your Christmas decorations now, go do it. Seek Love, Joy, Peace, and share it everywhere you go.”
– Fred, Newark, 12:45
This episode is a cozy, relatable dissection of holiday culture wars that will ring true for tradition-keepers, maximalists, and holiday skeptics alike.