The passing of Halloween means only one thing for Mariah Carey: “It’s time.” Every year, the undisputed Queen of Christmas uses her festive powers to herald in the official start of the holiday season, which only truly begins when she says so.
And while zealous Lambs start chomping at the bit to press play on “All I Want For Christmas is You” sometime in October, the superstar has always practiced a winking restraint, with her calls of “not yet” having become almost as much of a holiday tradition as the indefatigably merry hit itself.
This year, Mimi announced the start of the season with a cute Halloween-themed video, in which a door to a haunted house opens to reveal her in holiday pajamas and surrounded by Christmas trees and fake snow. Looking down at her watch, the star sing-songs, “It’s time,” as the unforgettable opening notes of her now-iconic Christmas classic chime in the background.
And her trusty fans have answered the call. In just the first two days of November alone, Carey’s landmark 19th No. 1 hit — which finally ascended to the top of the Hot 100 last December 25 years after its release — has already seen a surge of 160 percent on streaming, garnering 1.14 million streams over the 48-hour period.
Below, Billboard has rounded up all the ways Carey has marked the beginning of Christmas over the past few years.
2020
Guess what? ❄️ pic.twitter.com/2IUNkCOyCz
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) November 1, 2020
2019
Breaking news ❄️ pic.twitter.com/PBwOYLRpJK
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) November 1, 2019
2018
https://twitter.com/MariahCarey/status/1057979208763404288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1057979208763404288%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.billboard.com%2Farticles%2Fcolumns%2Fpop%2F9478642%2Fmariah-carey-christmas-kickoff-posts%2F
2017
All I Want For Christmas Is……….
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Youuuuu, baby! 💖🎄https://t.co/bD9hgZr4BR— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) December 25, 2017
2016
Come see my performance today at Toronto Queen Street Hudson's Bay and Saks Fifth Avenue for the holiday window unveiling! @CFtoeatonCentre pic.twitter.com/kZN3ddoEjo
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) November 3, 2016
