It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

"It's the most wonderful time of the year, with the kids jingle belling, and everyone telling you "Be of good cheer". It's the most wonderful time of the year, it's the hap-happiest season of all!"

I have always said that my favorite time of the year is from Thanksgiving to New Year's - and I might even go as far as to extend it to the middle of January when my birthday falls.

I love Christmas, but when stores like Kohl's and AC Moore start playing holiday songs even before Halloween, something is terribly wrong. Why are the season's being so rushed? Christmas songs in October? Halloween decor on Labor Day? Back to School promotions on the Fourth of July? Swim suit sales in March? It really all leads back to making money; franchises that want to get you into their stores for "Doorbusters". (where did that name come from anyway - are they really that great that they're going to blow up the entrance? Somehow I find that very unlikely.)

In my opinion, once Thanksgiving is over, you're allowed to plug in the Christmas lights, and maybe even bring the wreaths down from the attic. Because if you've been listening to "The Christmas Song" and "Frosty the Snowman" since October, then you're going to be quite tired of them by December. Doing so loses the Christmas spirit and the fun that each new holiday brings.

There is this never-ending joy that arises from this season, derived from the jolly tunes, the smells of baking, the crunch of snow under your boots, and the cackling of the fireplace. There is something nostalgic and humbling from seeing the toy commercials on TV, although by the second week you can recite some of them by heart.

There is the basket of Christmas cards in the hall, and the brown packages delivered and then hidden under beds and in the backs of closets. There is the countdown until winter break in the back of every child's mind, and the feel-good holiday movies on ABC Family and the Hallmark Channel.

And then there are the holiday reads, the ones you curl up on a Sunday afternoon with, the ones that cannot be read without a cup of hot-cocoa in hand.

Here's what's on my Holday To-Read List:

1. Let It Snow, John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
2. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
3. Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe, Jenny Colgan
4. Clara Claus, Alexandra Lanc

We still have over a month to go until the big day, so no worries - there won't be any countdowns on the right side of this blog, or posts to announce each of the "Twelve Days of Christmas" because that is not really what it's all about. The holiday season is about experiencing all of the joyous things stated above, and really soaking it all in because it really is the most wonderful time of the year.