I’m a planner at heart, but the one thing I never get around to planning is my Halloween costume. So, as usual, I found myself at Target at 5 p.m. on October 31, perusing the aisles in search of some kind of inspiration. Unfortunately, the Target I visited either decided not to carry adult Halloween costumes this year, or if they did, they had already been replaced by holiday decorations. You’d think by now I wouldn’t be surprised by their appearance, as they seem to make their way to the shelves earlier every year. I don’t know about you, but there is just something that still irks me about seeing red and green in October.

I was just reminiscing with friends the other day about how Thanksgiving used to mark the start of the holiday season and how it used to be a big one itself in the retail world, so it was a timely run-in with the ornaments. Thanksgiving and the weekend following used to mean more than just being the first in line to get a deal, but a celebration unto itself. It seems we’ve since skipped Thanksgiving completely in honor of Holiday Preparation. 

I just can’t get behind all the hoopla.

What I can get excited about, however, is National Chocolate Covered Anything Day. That’s right- a day devoted to nothing but anything chocolate covered happens on December 16. I can also get excited about American Chocolate Week (March 14-20), National Milk Chocolate Day (October 28), and National Chocolate Chip Day (May 15). You get the drift.

I was excited to find that there are months, weeks and days that are devoted to honoring everything under the sun. Did you know that during the month of November alone, we’ll celebrate Aviation History Month, Child Safety Protection Month, International Drum Month, National Adoption Awareness Month, National Epilepsy Month, National Model Railroad Month, Native American Heritage Month, Peanut Butter Lovers Month, Real Jewelry Month and National Sleep Comfort Month? And in addition to All Saints Day, we’ll celebrate Look for Circles Day (11/2), Sandwich Day (11/3), King Tut Day (11/4) and Chaos Never Dies Day (11/9). I may need to call in sick that day, or perhaps I’ll save up for November 30, otherwise known as Stay at Home Because You Are Well Day (11/30). That just happens to fall on the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend. Coincidence? Or just a much needed reprieve for those who elected to get up at 3 a.m. for Black Friday (November 27)?

Of course only a few of these are official holidays according to U.S. Congress mandate, and I don’t get half of them (Look for Circles Day??), but each provides a fun excuse to celebrate sans the stress, hustle and bustle of the bigger and more commercial holidays. Not that we should ever need an excuse to celebrate, but all of this time and energy and money spent on one holiday just seems out of whack. Perhaps we should spread it out a bit and focus on celebrating something each and every day.

So, in honor of National King Tut Day (which was actually yesterday, November 4, but I couldn’t resist), please enjoy this clip featuring Steve Martin on Saturday Night Live. Good times, free of charge.