Hold the Frost – Defending November Against the Encroachment of Christmas

Every November, a familiar phenomenon strikes: the clock hits midnight on Halloween, and suddenly, the push for Christmas is in full force. Retail stores swap out pumpkins for tinsel, “spooky” for “jolly,” and autumn colors for winter whites and reds. But there’s something uniquely unsettling about this rapid switch, something that inspired a song capturing the chaos and consumerism that threatens to overtake the meaning of the holiday season itself. The song “Hold the Frost” resonates deeply with those who want to savor November’s character without Christmas overshadowing the month. Inspired by years in retail and the increasing trend to jumpstart the holidays prematurely, “Hold the Frost” calls for respecting the holiday season by celebrating each holiday in its own time.

Respecting the Holiday Season

Retailers play a significant role in this seasonal rush, as they push holiday items earlier each year, gradually diminishing the character and individuality of each holiday. The song “Hold the Frost” is a lighthearted yet critical response to this retail-driven phenomenon, where the so-called “Witch Hunters” rise to protect the sanctity of each season. Set against the imagery of defiant modern-day Puritan witch hunters, this song tells the story of those who “stand strong and true” to defend November, giving each holiday its proper time to shine.

Verse by Verse: A Story of Defending November

The song opens with the solemn line, “They come for Mariah, as winter nears, But the Witch Hunters rise, to silence her cheers.” This opening evokes the idea of a vigilant force determined to preserve the quiet dignity of November, a month traditionally associated with gratitude, autumn, and reflection. The idea of “Mariah” symbolizes the annual resurrection of Mariah Carey’s iconic holiday song, “All I Want for Christmas is You,” which has come to signify the unofficial start of the Christmas season. Year after year, this song returns like clockwork, seemingly as soon as Halloween candy hits the clearance aisles.

The lyrics touch on characters familiar to anyone who’s experienced this retail rush, like the “Karens” and “Wine Moms” who eagerly embrace early holiday cheer. These figures represent the enthusiastic shoppers who align with retail chains, seemingly demanding a premature start to the festivities. Lines like “The Karens cry, ‘Bring the snow!’ / Wine Moms cheer, ‘Let her go!’” humorously capture the excitement for Christmas before Thanksgiving even arrives, creating a lighthearted juxtaposition between the eagerness for holiday magic and the retail-driven haste that leaves little room for November’s unique seasonal charms.

Why It’s Important to Give Each Holiday Its Own Space

Retail’s influence on seasonal shifts has caused Thanksgiving, November’s defining holiday, to become increasingly overshadowed. Thanksgiving, often a time for family, gratitude, and reflection, holds a special place as a peaceful moment between Halloween’s excitement and Christmas’s spectacle. Yet retail chains, driven by revenue goals, replace Thanksgiving’s harvest colors with wintery whites and metallics, aiming to attract customers into holiday shopping mode early.

“Hold the Frost” brings a voice to those who want each holiday to be celebrated in its own time. By hurrying into Christmas, there’s a risk of diluting the significance of each holiday. When we give each season its proper moment, we enrich its meaning, allowing traditions and gatherings to unfold with depth and reverence. This is the sentiment behind lines like “Retail chains with lights ablaze, push her song through holiday haze / With jingles loud and aisles of cheer, they haunt the night, they draw near.” These lyrics illustrate the relentless push of holiday jingles and merchandising that overshadow November’s quieter beauty.

The Unyielding “Witch Hunters” – A Symbol of Seasonal Balance

The “Witch Hunters” in the song represent a grounded, almost mystical force of balance, standing firmly against the overwhelming rush to the holidays. “But Witch Hunters stand, strong and true, To keep her hidden, till the month is due,” illustrates their resolve to hold back the floodgates of early Christmas promotions, safeguarding the seasonal balance. They are an anthem for anyone weary of holiday marketing’s relentless push and longing for a seasonally respectful approach to the calendar year.

The “Witch Hunters” rise against not only eager shoppers but also corporate influences. Characters like the “Man Baby Dads” and retail chains are painted as forces that amplify this early holiday push, caught up in the joy of Christmas to the point where it starts to bleed into November’s time.

“Hold the Frost” as a Rallying Cry to Enjoy Each Season Fully

The chorus, “Hold the frost, keep her sealed, / ‘Til December’s dawn, our fate revealed,” is a rallying cry to hold off on Christmas celebrations until December, advocating for each holiday to have its own special place in time. Thanksgiving and the quieter charms of November are, for many, moments of family bonding and introspection. Celebrating each holiday in turn allows us to savor their significance, to mark the passage of time with purpose.

The song’s bridge, “Retail chants fill the air, but we resist, with autumn’s glare,” is a reflection of the spirit of those who value the sanctity of each holiday, pushing back against the premature festivity in favor of savoring each moment. This line encourages listeners to “resist” the commercialization and instead take part in more personal, authentic celebrations of the season.

Mariah Carey and the Symbolism of “All I Want for Christmas is You”

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” has become an anthem synonymous with the holiday season, a song that instantly invokes Christmas cheer. However, as retailers play it earlier each year, the song has almost taken on a life of its own, becoming a symbol of holiday commercialization. Its early arrival signals a retail-driven rush into the holiday spirit, often at the expense of Thanksgiving and the slower-paced, reflective moments that autumn can bring.

“Hold the Frost” is an ode to resisting this rush, of keeping “All I Want for Christmas” under wraps until December. Just as Mariah Carey’s song has become iconic, so too has the desire to delay it until the Christmas season genuinely begins. The song’s outro, “Until December…” whispers the wish of those who want the beauty of November to remain uninterrupted, allowing each season its own respectful space.

In Conclusion: Why “Hold the Frost” Matters in Today’s Retail Climate

The song “Hold the Frost” speaks to a growing need to preserve the distinct identity of each holiday. In a world where Christmas promotions appear earlier and earlier, taking a stand to “hold the frost” is a meaningful step towards respecting the holiday season. By giving each holiday its own space, we create an atmosphere that celebrates tradition and seasonal shifts with genuine reverence.

In an age where retailers are eager to rush us from one holiday to the next, songs like “Hold the Frost” remind us of the beauty of seasonal change, each with its own unique meaning. This song resonates as a reminder to respect the holiday season, giving each month, each celebration, and each tradition the time it deserves.