It’s Halloween night. Fake cobwebs, jack-o’-lanterns and creepy decorations fill neighborhoods as the last wave of trick-or-treaters circles through.

Yet just hours later, everything transforms.

The clock hits midnight.

“It’s time,” echoes across the internet as Mariah Carey’s annual video resurfaces, officially kicking off the Christmas season.

Almost instantly, skeletons are replaced with sparkling reindeer, evergreen trees topped with bright stars and Halloween candy gives way to peppermint bark. Grocery-store aisles flood with red and green. Even though it’s only Nov. 1, it already feels like Christmas has arrived.

Every year, many Americans jump straight into Christmas the moment Halloween ends, often skipping past Thanksgiving entirely. Some joke that the holiday calendar goes like this: Oct. 31 is Halloween, and the next two months are Christmas.

For many, the rush feels too fast. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time to slow down, reflect and show gratitude. Skipping it highlights how quickly our lives move and how often we look for the “next fun thing” instead of appreciating what we have.

Still, I’ll admit it—I love getting into the Christmas spirit early.

Wait for it: I don’t even celebrate Christmas.

I love the winter lights, the music and the cozy feeling the season brings. Even though I’m not a coffee drinker, I still look forward to the release of the Starbucks holiday menu. Humming “Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson every November gives me—and so many others—something joyful to look forward to.

But I also understand the frustration. When Christmas starts too early, we build it up so much that the real day struggles to live up to the hype. By the time Dec. 25 actually arrives, the excitement has faded, and the decorations and music can feel worn out.

The magic that felt so special in early November often fizzles by late December.

That’s the contradiction of the holiday season. The earlier we start celebrating, the longer we can enjoy the cheer, but the faster it burns out.

This might be why Thanksgiving gets overshadowed between Halloween and Christmas. It isn’t flashy. There are no themed playlists or elaborate light displays. It’s simple: food, family, gratitude.

And that simplicity is exactly why it matters. When we rush from Halloween straight into Christmas, we miss the quiet space in between—the space that encourages us to pause in the middle of a hectic year.

To balance things out, the first half of November could be a time to ease into the winter spirit. Drink hot chocolate. Hang a few decorations. Play a few festive songs—without going overboard.

Then when Thanksgiving arrives, let it be about gratitude and being present. And once the dishes are washed and the wishbone is snapped, Christmas can begin at full force.

The truth is, holidays are meant to bring people together, no matter how you celebrate. Whether your home is covered in lights on Nov. 1 or you wait until after Thanksgiving, what matters is the meaning behind it.

As the year winds down, the holiday season—all of it—is a chance to slow down, warm up and share the joy we all look forward to.