Just before fall break, I found my social media sites riddled with warning of the impending bombardment of Christmas time festivities. The Fairy Godmother reminded Cinderella that when the clock strikes midnight, Halloween will end.

Then bam! Christmas carols everywhere. Ned from Game of Thrones instructed me to brace myself for the Christmas music, Batman slapped Robin for singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” in November, and the hilarious memes continued.

While I enjoyed the small bits of humor, I couldn’t help but feel bothered by the truth in these memes. Halloween hadn’t even fully left us before the Christmas trees were beginning to be trimmed and stations brought out their Christmas and holiday music. As we all know, there are other holidays and observed days between Halloween and Christmas yet, unfortunately, they are being pushed aside for the sake of Christmas preparation.

The emphasis on giving and receiving gifts appears to have completely overcast the true meaning of the holidays and the “reason for the season.” My intent is not to preach or lecture to everyone, but instead to remind everyone that while holidays that celebrate through gift giving are just as important as any others, they have their time.

I’m fully aware many people have always shopped for gifts many months in advance, however it seems as though holiday shopping for society as a whole is beginning to jut into Thanksgiving, which sadly takes away from the whole purpose of the holiday.

While it may not have originally been celebrated in the fashion that we do today, Thanksgiving is a time in our society dedicated to spending time with loved ones, eating good food and giving thanks for whatever it is that you may be thankful for.

In a day in age in which time is extremely precious, it is important to spend time that you can with those that you love, but if that time starts to become dedicated to shopping well, then that’s time lost.

Erynn Williams is a junior majoring in interdisciplinary studies. Her column runs biweekly.