Is it too early for Christmas music?

I haven't heard any holiday music on the radio just yet (though I expect to hear Adam Sandler's "The Thanksgiving Song" a few times between now and Thursday), but the music of the season has been creeping into my life slowly over the past couple of weeks. It started with the piped-in soundtrack to my shopping excursions to JC Penney and Kohl's (so far, the award for best music goes to Kohl's in a runaway), and went to the next level when a couple of "Sounds of the Season" CDs (John Legend and Enya) mysteriously hopped into my cart during a Target run. I figured it wouldn't hurt to give Mr. Legend a listen (even though it isn't even Thanksgiving yet) and popped the CD into my car's player...

...and I've had Christmas music on the brain ever since. Tonight, my holiday music frenzy was whipped into a fever pitch when I saw part of the movie "Elf" for the first time - what a great soundtrack of classics! Naturally, I paid a visit to the iTunes Music Store and downloaded the whole album.

All of this leads me to ask: when is it considered "too early" to start dusting off "Christmas with the Rat Pack"? Clearly, pre-Halloween is pushing it a bit, and the day after Thanksgiving is considered to be the official start of the holiday shopping season and a natural "green light" for cranking the Trans-Siberian Orchestra...but suppose I need a little Christmas, right this very minute? Is singing "Silent Night" or "Santa Baby" pre-Thanksgiving as much a seasonal faux pas as wearing white shoes after Labor Day?

Conventional wisdom says yes, but I say no. If Ebenezer Scrooge can promise to honor Christmas in his heart and try to keep it all the year, why not belt out "Jingle Bells" a little early if it keeps you in the spirit of the holiday season? Mind you, I wouldn't sing The Singing Dogs' version (the one that barks out "Jingle Bells") until at least December 1, but that's just me ;)

Thanks for listening!

- Laurie :)