At 12:01 a.m. on Nov 1, many people shed their spooky layer in exchange for one that would better fit the upcoming holiday season.

These changes in moods were highlighted by many tweets “of me on Oct 31 vs. me on Nov 1” along with photos of dogs — one wearing a halloween costume and one wearing an elf costume, or screenshots of their lockscreens, one featuring Jack Skeleton and one featuring Jack Skeleton as Santa Claus. On Snapchat, it was hard to avoid videos of people belting out the classic “All I Want For Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey.

Another population of Internet-users replied with the same fervor, but they weren’t going in on the holiday fun. They protested the cheer and outraged at these online displays of holiday spirit. They argued, “It’s too early for Christmas music!” and “What about Thanksgiving? It comes first! Don’t forget about Thanksgiving!”

For those who are also bitter about the early festivities, don’t fear. Nobody could ever forget about the wonderful, delicious celebration of food and gratefulness that is Thanksgiving. But also know that there is no such thing as “too early” for holiday music.

Thanksgiving with its traditions, such as the turkey, parade and pumpkin pie, marks the beginning of the Holiday Season. Who is featured on the last float of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? None other than good ol’ Saint Nick and his wife.

They are letting the world know that it is officially the Holiday Season. As such, Thanksgiving is included as the kickoff event.

People need to prepare for the beginning of the holiday season. To do this, we must be in the right mood. And Christmas music does the job. What other festive music would one listen to for Thanksgiving? Adam Sandler’s “Turkey Song?” No thanks.  Christmas music is about something greater than just Christmas. It’s about joy and the celebration that comes along with the holidays in November and December (Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s included). All of these holidays are meant to be a time for families to come together in happiness.

“Christmas music” goes beyond religious boundaries. There’s a deeper love of the winter season intwined. Who hasn’t imagined dueting “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with their significant other (imaginary or not)? Who doesn’t relish the thought of cozying up by the fireside with a cup of hot chocolate as “Let it Snow” plays on the radio? Holiday music, which encompasses all the songs, religious and not, that are associated with the holidays are perfect for people to listen to in order to get in a festive mood.

Holiday music can get us in the mood for more than just dancing around while baking cookies. It allows us to get in the right mood to do another favorite holiday activity: shopping. The role that consumerism plays in the flow of time is responsible for the early holiday cheer. Advertising seeps into our minds without us consciously noticing. Stores like to be a few weeks ahead; they begin putting out their back-to-school supplies in July, Halloween candy in August, Thanksgiving-themed food in September, and holiday decorations in October.

Stores begin playing Christmas music on Nov 1 — it’s supposed to subtly encourage shoppers to begin thinking about gift shopping so that they’ll either buy a lot of stuff in the moment or come back to the overloaded madness of Black Friday. There’s nothing wrong with this advertising because nobody should go shopping for gifts the night before.

These arbitrary constraints of time should not define holiday-related things to be limited to late November and December. Love Actually is a wonderful movie to watch all year round (just ask me and my best friend; we watch it whenever we’re together). I will concede that it is too early to hang the stockings or put out the menorah — but people should be free to listen to holiday music all they want. The Grinches of the Internet should not destroy anybody’s holiday spirit.