It’s the most wonderful time of the year; Christmas decorations are hung, festive music starts playing on the radio, and kids are writing their letters to Santa Claus. But wait– it’s only October!

It seems every year that Christmas arrives sooner and sooner.

“People shouldn’t start decorating until at least December 1,” senior Ryan McLoughlin says. “Not  weeks before Thanksgiving.”

But why does Christmas come so much earlier than usual? Well perhaps because Christmas is more commercialized than ever. New advances in technology have influenced the way people look at the holiday. More people today look toward Christmas as a secular holiday rather than a religious one.

Many believe that Christ and religion have been taken out of the holiday, and it now is only about material things. Many people have voiced their opinions using the slogan: “Keep Christ in Christmas.”

Less than ten years ago, the number one item on Christmas wish lists was either a doll, action figure, a Furby or a Razor scooter. Now most wish lists to Santa Claus include iPods, Mac Computers and cell phones.

However, Senior Brendan Lesko, looks at the idea of a commercialized holiday as  positive.

“It’s very excessive,” he says, “and yes the holiday is commercialized, but if it’s helping our economy out of a recession, so be it.”

Normally, many people believe Christmas shouldn’t even be a thought until Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. It’s the best time to buy and it gives you exactly one month until the big day.

But even before Black Friday, Christmas has plastered itself across the country in department stores, shopping malls and on television. Walking into Costco a few days before Halloween, you can notice some aisles up and ready for the early Christmas shoppers.

While many people do not approve of a commercialized Christmas, everyone is buying, so everyone is causing it.

Regardless whether or not you want a commercialized holiday, be prepared because Santa Claus is coming to town earlier than you think.