There is an ongoing debate around holiday music and when is the appropriate time to listen. The students and faculty at GA had a lot to say about the issue.
After a series of interviews with GA students and faculty, 43% voted that the appropriate time to listen to holiday music is after Halloween while 57% voted after Thanksgiving.
“Holiday music should happen after Halloween because all you do at Thanksgiving is eat and do nothing festive,” Elli Wang ‘26 said. Wang’s favorite holiday song is “All I Want for Christmas” by Mariah Carey.
“I think after Halloween, because Christmas music makes you so happy and Thanksgiving has no music,” Faith Geissele ‘26 said. “Christmas is such a festive time and I want to make it last longer.” Geissele’s favorite holiday song is “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Buble.
Zach Zighelboim ‘26 also voted for holiday music beginning after Halloween. Zighelboim’s favorite holiday song, like Wang, is “All I Want for Christmas.”
“Holiday music should start after Halloween because Thanksgiving does not have music,” Zigelboim said, “Thanksgiving is boring and does not have the fun of music or getting candy like Halloween.”
Another student, Kat Kou ‘26, told us that she believes that holiday music should start after Halloween, and her favorite holiday song is “Last Christmas” by Wham!
Of course, not everyone shares this passion for holiday music. “I want to abolish holiday music!” Upper School history teacher Mr. Roxie Bratton said.
Noelle Petersohn ‘26 voted in favor of holiday songs after Thanksgiving.
“The beginning of November is too early,” Petersohn said, “It needs to be winter weather and cannot be celebrated for more than a month before the holidays.”
Petersohn’s favorite holiday song is “All I Want for Christmas.” Evidently, this Mariah Carey song is very popular among the GA community.
Mr. Matthew Kraynyak, Upper School Science teacher, told us that his favorite holiday song is “Little Drummer Boy.” Mr. Kraynyak also voted for holiday music starting after Thanksgiving.
Mr. Kyle Donahue, Upper School History teacher, has a favorite holiday song that is different from most that we heard. His favorite song is “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
Mr. Juan Leon, Upper School Modern Language teacher, and Mr. Kevin Mylod, Upper School Math teacher, both believe that holiday music should begin after Thanksgiving. Mr. Leon’s favorite holiday song is “Feliz Navidad” and Mr. Mylod’s favorite holiday songs are “Silent Night” and, of course, “All I Want for Christmas.”
Ben Creighton ‘26 told us his favorite holiday song is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Frank Sinatra. When asked what the right time to listen to holiday music was, Creighton said Thanksgiving.
Mick Mckee ‘26 told us his favorite holiday song is “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney. He added on, saying that he thinks holiday music should also be after Thanksgiving.
Jake McVeigh ‘26 said his favorite holiday song also happens to be “Last Christmas.” McVeigh was also in favor of holiday music after Thanksgiving.
“I just think it’s the best time right after Thanksgiving because Christmas is the next holiday.” McVeigh said.