Halloween is officially over. You know what that means. It is time to spread cheer by “singing loud for all to hear.”

If it were up to me, it would be socially acceptable to listen to Christmas music all year long.

However, there are those who disagree. Many people believe that the proper time to start listening to Christmas music is after Thanksgiving.

There are others who believe you should never listen to it. But the truth is, starting Nov. 1, it is completely acceptable to start listening to Christmas music.

Listen up, Scrooges: Christmas cannot be stopped. Walk into your local Target or Walmart, and you will see that the most wonderful time of the year is on its way.
Santa Claus is coming to town, and there is no way to stop Rudolph’s nose from shining bright.

If you can’t stand the music, put one foot in front of the other and keep on walking, because I am going to keep on blasting it.

There is something about Christmas music that just makes people happy. The spirit of Christmas does not lie solely in the music, but it is a huge part of the holiday.

Be honest, how can you turn on Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas is You,” and not start singing and dancing?

Erie is eventually going to become a winter wonderland, meaning you might as well enjoy the chestnuts roasting on an open fire and take a sleigh ride or two. We are all going to be dressed like Eskimos anyway.

But, even while you are trudging your way through the snow, you can pretend you are in the land where palm trees sway and listen to “Mele Kalikimaka” (for a “bright Hawaiian Christmas Day”).

Now if you are not a fan of music with lyrics, don’t fret. There are plenty of instrumental pieces for you to listen to, such as Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride,” a Christmas classic.

There are also Christmas songs that include some form of rap or R&B, but please do not listen to anything having to do with Christmas by Justin Bieber, because that stuff is fake.

Modern Christmas music is what you are looking for? Do not worry, Michael Buble is the answer.

No matter what style of music is your favorite, there is some type of Christmas song for you to enjoy.

While listening to Christmas music (because the inevitable will happen, and you will start hearing it everywhere), there is much more you can do to get ready for the season.

Start decorating by making fake snowflakes and hang your Christmas lights—unless of course you live on campus, because that is a fire hazard.

Feel free to wear red and green together. Oh, and be sure to always answer your phone by saying, “Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?”

Pretty soon, it is going to begin to look a lot like Christmas, so you might as well be prepared.