L

ast week, just after Halloween had ended, I noticed — was taken aback by — the most enormous Christmas tree I have ever seen, out in the middle of the Outlets at Vicksburg parking lot.

I wrestled some trees in my day, 10, even 12 feet tall, but they were no comparison to the giant evergreen in Cracker Barrel’s backyard.

The trees I’ve helped set up and adorn with festive balls and garland have taken hours, and I would love to know the specifics on this tall timber: how many crewmembers, hours and lights did it take to put this together?

This is but one example in a city ready for Christmas.

Frontage Road shops had their Mingle & Jingle Christmas Open House Thursday, and the annual Tree Lighting and Santa Visit at the Outlets is scheduled for Saturday. Maybe I’m naïve, but I don’t remember Christmas coming so early when I was younger, yet here we have two big Christmas events in Vicksburg during the first half of November. Didn’t we used to at least wait until Black Friday to break out the ugly sweaters and eggnog? Blame it on the commercialization of Christmas, after all, that’s what this Christmas creep is caused by, right?

Or don’t blame it on the retailers who are trying to earn your buck. Don’t blame it on anyone.

Christmas time, filled with family, food and fun has always been one of my favorite times of the year, and now we get to enjoy the season a little bit longer.

Everyone seems happier during Christmastime. It’s the cheer that keeps us pushing forward through these dark, damp winter months.

Extending the season, even to the point of putting up massive Christmas trees in the days after Halloween, doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

Instead of complaining that November is no time for “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Santa Baby” to be intruding through your radio frequency, unwind with loved ones and my personal favorite “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”(I’m looking at you Grinches!) One of my favorite things to pull down from the attic as a child each winter was a paperclip countdown of the days until Christmas.

I would detach one oversized paperclip each day from December 1 until it was time to tear the wrapping paper to shreds.

At this rate, it looks like my own children will have 55 paperclips to take down, but I won’t complain. It’s just another extended tradition to look forward to.

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Austin Vining is a reporter for The Vicksburg Post. Email him at austin.vining@vicksburgpost.com.