I don’t know about you, but nothing gets me more fully ensconced in the Christmas spirit than two smiling pilgrims looming over a bloated, hapless turkey. Come to think of it, I’m never more inspired to launch into a chorus of “Deck the Halls” than when I’m strolling through the aisles of my local Target or Wal-Mart surrounded by pirate skeletons and life-size witches serenading me with incantations to summon the spirits of the underworld. Nothing better represents the birth of Christ, the spirit of giving, peace on Earth, Santa Claus and Frosty the Snow Man than … Thanksgiving and Halloween.
Now before you accuse me of hyperbolizing or being cynical, think back to when you were running around, looking for that last-minute Halloween costume or even when you pillaged the produce section for ingredients for that delectable Thanksgiving green bean casserole of yours. Did you happen to notice a banner here and there, promoting a sale on Christmas tree ornaments? Or perhaps, were you greeted at the drug store entrance by a booty-shaking Santa Claus? Maybe your path to the Halloween candy aisle was obstructed by a giant, innocuous snow globe featuring Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, the inhabitants of the Island of Misfit Toys, and Yukon Cornelius?

Every year, our collective desire to get the ball rolling on the Christmas season grows steadily more impatient. Since early October (that’s right, October!), I’ve seen Christmas-themed JCPenney, Old Navy, Zales, and Kay commercials; A Charlie Brown Christmas on ABC (twice!); A Christmas Carol on TCM; and Q99 has been playing Christmas music unremittingly since Dick and Dave only know when.

At the multiplexes, we’ve been bestowed with early holiday offerings like This Christmas, Fred Claus, and Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium. Have you seen them yet? If you rely on reviews to serve as your barometer for cinematic selection then probably not, but if you do want to see them, you better hurry. They’ve only been out since November!

Yes, all of the aforementioned had transpired well before the stroke of midnight on Dec. 1, and fewer credit card-oriented holidays notwithstanding, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if next year we start seeing national yuletide preparations around Independence Day.

Now, if all this sounds a tad vitriolic on my part, allow me to proclaim that I am not, in fact, a Scrooge. Yes, I know what you’re going to say: the true spirit of Christmas should be celebrated all year long, right? Absolutely it should. But you don’t have to deck your hall with holly in August to manifest that spirit. Anyone can spring up a few decorations; extending good will to your fellow man, for whatever reason, can be a lot more burdensome.

So adopt a somewhat modest Christmas spirit at first and work your way up from there. For example, start by curbing that I-81 road rage and actually allow someone to enter the passing lane in front of you. You could even try smiling and waving a friendly “come on in” hand while you do it. Granted, that may be pushing it. Take a stab at holding the door open for someone that’s about to exit a building at the same time you’re entering it. And if you’re the person for whom the door is being held, try your very best to say, “Thank you.” Trust me, small gestures of basic courtesy will be far more appreciated by most than the fact that you have the neighborhood’s tallest Christmas tree in time for Black Friday.

And if none of that is your particular cup of eggnog, at the very least, make it clear every day to those you care about just how much they mean to you. Isn’t that an auspicious celebration of the Christmas spirit to be embraced all year round?

And when it is time to put up your decorations, please, please, pretty please with fruitcake on top—do not leave them up until March. That’s St. Patrick’s time after all.

When not at home, Todd Guill spends his time volunteering at Santa’s Village, teaching cobbling techniques to elves.