New Southern Dad: Changing a stance on holiday decorations

Money is getting a little tight out there. 

Diesel fuel is at an all-time high – just in time for cotton and peanut season – not to mention gas and energy prices as a whole; groceries are more expensive; and every statement that comes in the mail, from taxes to the WiFi bill, is creeping up. Despite all of that, people are still willing to throw some cash around as the spooky season approaches. 

The National Retail Federation is predicting Halloween spending to also reach an all-time high this year, about $13.5 billion, this season. That’s a lot of people buying decorations, costumes and candy. And not to continuously drive this point home, but cocoa and candy are also extremely expensive now. 

But this is not a rant about how costly life is becoming or how people spend their hard-earned money. If buying costumes for your dog brings you joy, by all means dress your pet up for every occasion. What I’m interested in is the infringement of holidays and notable seasons to other parts of the calendar. 

The internet calls it maxxing – taking a habit or hobby, whether for good or ill, and pushing it to the extreme. I see a lot of decoration maxxers out there. 

In the past, I’ve taken a strict approach on when it is appropriate to decorate for various holidays, notably Christmas. I’ve publicly declared that no Christmas tree should be trimmed before Thanksgiving or a giant skeleton installed before Labor Day.  

And you know what? I was wrong. 

Along the route of my daily commute I pass a home that, as far as I know, has had a towering skeleton figure in the front yard for months if not all year long. Wrapped around the boney neck of its lanky frame is what appears to be a red, white and blue necktie, still unchanged from the summer holidays like July Fourth.

Another house fully crowds a corner of the yard of skeletons, spiders and other spooky decor in early September. Last year the skeletons remained by the road until New Year’s, wearing pilgrim hats in November and Santa Claus hoods through Christmas. 

Very soon, probably before we experience any real change in the weather, some people will begin decking the halls, hanging garland and setting up Nativity scenes. And now I’m all for it. 

It’s been another strange year. Whether from political strife at home, wars overseas, the never-ending debate over data centers and artificial intelligence and not to mention expensive living, we’re all frazzled and a little over stimulated. Some twinkling lights, whether orange and purple or silver and gold, may do us some good.  

So decorate away, good people. Put up your inflatable Frankenstein’s monsters and have Santa Claus on deck. If it makes you happy and brings a little peace to the world, I won’t complain anymore.