The most wonderful time of the year filled with caring and giving is quickly approaching. The weather is getting colder, birds are migrating south, and, all around, the holiday spirit swells. This time of the year brings out the best in people and facilitates people to come together. All around families are jamming out to Christmas music, bundled up on the couch watching holiday movies and sipping hot cocoa. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah are some of the most commonly celebrated holidays this time of year, all of which carry a sense of family togetherness. These holidays, although merry, can bring about loads of stress and for many, it would be beneficial to begin celebrating or preparing for the holiday season in advance.

Holidays can be very stressful for people, especially regarding gift shopping. Gifts for mom, dad, siblings, grandparents, cousins, friends and others can differ in price and quality. Black Friday takes place the weekend following Thanksgiving and is the biggest shopping event of the year. During this time, items are on sale with prices marked down for so-called massive savings, and this is when most people begin their holiday shopping. However, there are other times earlier in the year that also help you save a considerable amount of money. According to an article on realsimple.com, November 1-11 is considered early Black Friday and one can see discounts as high as 30 percent. Black Friday can be stressful and in some cases a dangerous time with no guarantee that you will be able to buy what you were looking for. If you start purchasing gifts in early November then you don’t have to risk not being able to get what you want come Black Friday.

Volunteering is a very common practice during the holiday season. Whether it’s donating gifts to families who can’t afford presents, donating money to a place of worship, or helping pack Thanksgiving meals for the homeless, holiday spirit often brings out the kind and generous side of people. If this holiday spirit were able to begin earlier in the year, the possibility arises that more people may volunteer earlier, which would have the potential to lead to a decrease in those who are hungry and poor throughout the year. Junior Finn Cork volunteers at his local church. Cork said, “Volunteering is a great way to give to the less fortunate, especially around the holidays. This time of the year is about giving, and volunteering helps bring out that spirit.”

The holiday season is truly a wonderful time that brings out the generosity in many and gives people opportunities to spend enriching time with their families. At the end of the day, the holiday season benefits many people. Why not start celebrating it earlier and allow for an increase in holiday spirit?