It’s that time of year again. The weather is cold, the snow is falling—unfortunately—and Christmas music is reintroduced.

There are many arguments about when Christmas music should begin playing. Some say after Thanksgiving, some say in December, some even say after Halloween. The choice is up to the listener, of course, but is there really a best time to start listening?

Starting in October

If you start listening to Christmas music in October, you will appreciate it less. Playing it all that time means that the music won’t mean as much when December comes around. Christmas songs help people uncover the Christmas spirit—making them happier and more giving. These are qualities that you should possess all year long, yet, they come out more around Christmas time.

Listening to Christmas music in October takes away some of that Christmas spirit when December comes around. Appreciation depreciates because you listen to it for a long time.

Starting in December

In December, listening to Christmas music makes sense. It is the month of Christmas; enthusiasm is encouraged. Christmas music is a great way to do that. When you start listening to Christmas music in December, you only have 25 days to enjoy it—assuming that you stop listening the day after Christmas.

When you only get that for a limited amount of time, you savor it more. When listening to Christmas music, you want to enjoy it, and starting in December is a great way to do that. You only get that limited time to adore the music. After waiting a whole year, you will treasure those sparse days that you get to revel in the seasonal experience.

After Halloween

Starting to listen to the holiday music after Halloween is better than starting at the beginning of October, but still a questionable path. Listening to Christmas music after Halloween tends to steal the Thanksgiving spirit. Once Halloween is over, many people move on immediately to Christmas, forgetting about the holiday separating the two. Christmas music embezzles the appeal of Thanksgiving.

After Thanksgiving

This is undoubtedly the best option after starting in December. Once Thanksgiving is over, the immediate response is to move on to Christmas. There is Black Friday—one of the best times to buy presents despite the craziness—which diverts the mind to think of Christmas. However, it still isn’t quite December, the Christmas month. Maybe Christmas shouldn’t be the main focus quite yet.

Although this argument is one that is seemingly tireless, everybody is entitled to their own opinion. Christmas music should play whenever the listener deems appropriate. Although I have my own opinion on when the ideal time is to begin listening, that doesn’t mean it is necessarily correct. The best time to start listening to Christmas music is whenever you want. Enjoy the Christmas spirit as soon as you want, and whatever makes you content is the right decision.