Mariah Carey: Singer marks start of Christmas season with New York video

Mariah Carey announced the start of the Christmas season at 12 a.m. on Nov. 1 by posting a video that contrasts her punk persona with her holiday identity. The release follows the annual tradition of the singer marking the end of Halloween with a specific seasonal signal.

The footage captures Carey performing at a New York City club on Halloween night. She appears in a punk outfit while singing "Hermit," an alternative rock track she wrote in the 1990s under the alias Chick. Carey revealed her involvement in that project years after its initial release.

The video shows the artist jumping into a mosh pit to crowd surf before the clock strikes midnight. At the hour change, she sings the phrase "it's time" in her whistle register. This moment serves as the formal transition from the Halloween period to the winter holidays.

Carey's claim to the holiday spotlight is supported by the chart history of her 1994 single "All I Want For Christmas Is You." The song has accumulated 22 weeks at number one on the Hot 100. The track defines the commercial and cultural start of the season for many listeners.

This annual video release has become a long-running feature of Carey's public appearances. In previous years, the clips included guests such as comedian Billy Eichner. Her twins, Moroccan and Monroe Cannon, have also appeared in earlier versions of the tradition.