Christmas fans are (already) among us

The pumpkins aren’t even in the compost yet when some have already pulled out their Christmas decorations and are playing their favorite holiday music on repeat. Why such love for “the most beautiful time of the year”? We spoke to followers.

Florence Dancause
The Press

Mariah Carey delighted holiday lovers by kicking off the festivities last Tuesday. In a video posted the day after Halloween, she appears dressed as a witch. After a devilish laugh, the calendar goes from October 31 to 1^er November and the diva then dons festive clothes to the sound of her success All I Want for Christmas is You.

outside november

Content creator Émilie Desjarlais is one of those fans of the end-of-year festivities. She warned her subscribers last year during the first days of November. “I posted a video of my living room being transformed for Christmas and I was like, ‘You can unfollow now, because it won’t stop,’” she laughs.

The one behind the Brook & Peony Instagram page enjoys diving into the holiday season quickly. Her November and December posts are dotted with Christmas trees, garlands, paper stars, candles and carefully wrapped gifts.

Having moved into her new apartment about a year ago, Émilie Desjarlais is giving herself a little more time this year to spruce up her home, but everything will be in place by mid-November, she says.

Same story for Isabelle Maillé. “November is my worst month. I’m trying to compensate by bringing back Christmas. The music begins to resonate in the household in November and the decorations are quickly released in December. ” It’s a build up until the apotheosis”, explains the accountant.

“The decoration, generally, I do it on the 1^er December, but I’m holding back not to do it sooner,” agrees Isabelle Maillé’s spouse, Robert Gendron. The telecommunications engineer must also refrain from adding to their collection of decorations every year.

“For people who really love Christmas, it’s associated with a joyful time,” says psychologist Sylvie Boucher. As November is a flat and difficult month, some will wonder how to make it more pleasant. The decorations are therefore often associated with “joyful and family memories”, she explains.

Gathering traditions

During the pandemic, Pascale Jodoin got into the habit of taking out her Christmas decorations from the 1^er november. “It took on more importance,” she says. It put a balm on the fact that we were all alone in our houses. »

As a child, it was a ritual for her family to decorate for Christmas. “We put on Christmas music, we spent the day decorating the tree and the house. A tradition that the artistic development and programming coordinator made it a point of honor to perpetuate when she left home.

“I don’t have children, so the magic of Christmas is not Santa Claus, but being together as a family,” she says. She meets her loved ones every year on December 25 in the morning for a lunch-brunch “sitting on the floor with music and surrounded by gifts”.

The decorations, Émilie Desjarlais also puts them on for her daughter Brook. “It’s so magical to her, so to start putting magic on early stretches the good feeling,” she believes. Pajama days and gift wrapping are some of the rituals on the menu for the little family during the holiday season.

“I’m a single mom, so I don’t have a lot of down time with my daughter,” she explains. The holiday season allows me to share privileged moments. »

Traditions are positive, confirms psychologist Sylvie Boucher. “It gives meaning to the family, it creates bonds and a meeting point. It is also a festive desire, to gather and share with people. »

“Involuntarily, we didn’t think we were going to create traditions, but my spouse and I love Christmas, so it happened naturally,” says Isabelle Maillé, who believes that their two children in their twenties will maintain the tradition of decorating.

The most important thing for the couple? Spend time with family and friends, they say. “We have a crazy life, so taking the time to eat good food with family and friends is the best thing,” says Isabelle Maillé.

And those who find that November is too early to talk about Christmas? “The grinches will go away,” jokes Émilie Desjarlais, who nevertheless thinks that the majority of her subscribers appreciate her holiday content.

“We don’t give a damn about the judgment of others”, underline in chorus Isabelle Maillé and Robert Gendron. “I don’t stretch that, on the other hand, underlines Robert Gendron, who withdraws his decorations in January. There is an added value in decorating beforehand, because it seems to increase our anticipation. »