October is over and November might as well be December with the way majority of people react to the upcoming holiday seasons.

Saturday was Halloween and the ending of October and Sunday I was able to pick from four Christmas movies playing on the TV.

I think it is safe to say that many people love the winter holiday season but is celebrating them for two months a little absurd?

Personally, I am one of those people who will watch the movie “Elf” on November 1 since Halloween is over and the scary movies have less appeal.

I think it is never too early to turn on Christmas Pandora stations on long drives to and from school either.

However, some people get offended that Thanksgiving is completely downplayed and forgotten in the midst of Christmas coming along. More people are excited about the Christmas tress, the gifts, the snow, etc. that we forget that there is a holiday that comes before Christmas.

Thanksgiving is a time when people get to sit down with their families, friends, or both, and eat a meal together while hopefully reflecting on all the things they are thankful for.

To some people it is offensive to jump over such family time.

Not only does Thanksgiving get the boot because Christmas is right around the corner, but it also has to compete with Black Friday shopping for Christmas.

The past few years the black Friday shenanigans have become worse at taking away from Thanksgiving.

Many stores are open later in the evening on Thanksgiving instead of just early morning on Friday. This leads people to leave Thanksgiving early just so they can go shopping.

Some people even miss it completely because they camp out in tents outside the stores so they can be first inside for the deals!

Lines for Black Friday shopping can get up to multiple hours long!

Material items have begun to take priority over this holiday as well as the anxious build up towards Christmas. My family has fallen into this change as well. As soon as we finish with the family meal the women all gather around a table of ads and coupons and begin to plan their shopping trip.

They usually gather at one house around 5 a.m. and car pool to all the stores, waiting in ridiculously long lines, only to get one item out of it.

It’s ironic that people are missing out on a holiday where you’re supposed to be reflecting on things you’re thankful for because they are out greedily shopping instead.

I don’t see much wrong with having an overly eager Christmas spirit clouding Thanksgiving, however, I do think Black Friday has grown a little too big.

With Christmas and Black Friday shopping casting a shadow over Thanksgiving it’ll be a surprise if we can keep the holiday alive in years to come!

Cheyenne Fitzgerald is a senior journalism and psychology major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or cmfitzgerald@eiu.edu.