This is an opinion column

On a tree-lined street in my former neighborhood, people are taking down yard decorations and putting them up at the same time. Their inflatable Halloween figures—seven feet tall skeletons and even taller vampires-are still filled with air but losing it fast.

They sway in the breeze like a final goodbye wave to the holiday. The next one is just inside the house in the form of little pilgrim candles and pumpkins and cornucopias spread across the long dining room table. Pretty soon, the big front window will be filled with a fully decorated Christmas tree and the roof will wear blinking lights.

And I want to say, “Let’s just slow things down. We don’t need a rushed-up holiday called

Hallowthankschristmashanukkah. Let’s celebrate one holiday at a time.”