When my daughter went to work the day after Halloween, she found an informal poll scrawled on the breakroom white board: Christmas Music After Halloween: For or Against? She looked at it, and then added a new column—Thanksgiving songs.
November is in danger of getting lost. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love Christmas. I love Christmas more than any other holiday and Christmas music is my favorite. For all of you who love putting up your Christmas decorations right after Halloween, go for it!
But I have come to love November. It’s a break between the Halloween crazies and Christmas non-stop celebrations. Even nature slows down. The festive oranges and yellows fall to the ground, leaving a monochromatic, peaceful palette of neutrals. The temperatures drop, inducing time by the fire and sipping hot drinks.
November is a chance to breathe, pause, reflect. To enjoy a calendar that is not smack full of activities. October was filled with Halloween activities, which have somehow spread from a one-night childhood romp to a month filled with pumpkin patches, fairs, and costume parties. I’m not complaining, because it is a month of fun. But it’s nice to have a break.
November is a time for walks in the cold-- but not so cold you don’t want to walk. You can meander along a river framed with golden trees and a vaulted by brilliant blue. You can stroll through your neighborhood, chatting with friends who are also outside, doing end-of-season outdoor chores. You can savor conversations with those you may not see so much in the future, when they will soon be forced inside by cold and snow.
And of course, in the US, November is a time to give thanks, to prepare for what may be the most peaceful holiday of them all. American Thanksgiving is simple: 1) Cook some good food, 2) gather with family and friends to eat it. Maybe watch a parade or some football, go for a walk, enjoy a movie, play some games. There is no (or at least not yet) bleed-out of ancillary activities—just the one day.
So, November can be a time to pause and think about all the blessings in your life. My daughter’s family has a construction paper tree taped to the wall, and every day they add autumn-colored leaves with what they are thankful for. As the tree fills with leaves, their hearts fill with gratitude. I have been posting on social media my daily thanks—for family, friends, colorful leaves, a dance concert, rain, and blue skies. Our natural temperament is to mostly think about our wants, our lacks. It is heart-filling to look around and notice blessings.
November can also be a time to plan and prepare. My December calendar is packed. I know that there is a good chance I will have my traditional holiday meltdown at some point this Christmas. But this year I am trying to forestall that by working ahead a little. I’m making menus, buying gifts, doing some deep cleaning, getting the cards done, doing some advance party preparation. Somehow, when doing these things in November, they don’t seem so hard. In fact, it just seems even more peaceful, to be getting ahead on some things. I’m doing some preparation, but I’m not feeling frazzled by it.
Instead, I am savoring the spirit of November, the season for being cozy and calm. I am rejoicing in simple, daily joys. I feel peace.
But now, this week is Thanksgiving—and then, look out. The holidays will be upon us, in all their glorious non-stop celebration!
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