Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday, so here are some of my opinions on the best holiday ever and some activities to do that will hopefully get you in the Christmas spirit this year.
Start celebrating on November 1
This one is huge for me because Christmas just doesn’t have enough time to be celebrated. I mean, 25 days, that’s it! And Halloween starts in September. I don’t think so. Start doing little Christmas activities, listening to Christmas music, and watching movies ASAP.
I don’t watch any of the main nostalgic movies or overly listen to songs in November because I don’t want them to lose their magic, but I do start making my Christmas list and watching Hallmark or Disney Christmas movies.
Christmas free pass day
I take a day off from work (or really everything else in life) and do nothing but watch Christmas movies, drink hot chocolate, and eat candy. It is such a relaxing day that gets me in the Christmas spirit. Even better if you convince a friend or family member to take that day off with you and just relax.
Best Movies
My favorite movies are all three “The Santa Clause” films. I have met too many people at college who have not watched the Santa Clause’s which is so sad because they are so nostalgic for me. I definitely recommend giving them a watch if you haven’t seen them. “Home Alone” is another good classic to get you in the mood. The music in the movie really brings me back to when I was little, for example, “Run Run Rudolph” when they are running through the airport is such an iconic Christmas scene.
“Elf” for me is a little overplayed, but it’s such a good classic. It’s something you know just from watching every year, but that is what makes it have that Christmas spirit.
Very hot take, but I only watch the newer cartoon “The Grinch” rather than the old live-action version. Jim Carrey as the Grinch always scared me when I was little, and the new Grinch is actually really good in my opinion.
Another hot take, but I hate “The Polar Express.” I like the music, but I hate that animation style and just never felt that Christmas magic from it.
Even though it is a little cringey, “Daddy’s Home 2” is such a good Christmas movie. I honestly like watching it every year and think it’s just a good movie to watch with my family.
A good Hallmark movie (as cringey as it is) sometimes is good for the background and to get you in the mood. Those predictable rom coms when the guy is in the green sweater and runs into the girl in a red sweater and they can’t be together for some crazy reason, but then they are together… those movies are just what you need sometimes. Even if they are just on in the background, it just gives that nostalgic Christmas spirit. A Hallmark-like Christmas movie, although not really Hallmark since it’s from Netflix, is “The Christmas Calendar.” It is a bit cringey, but it’s one I put on in the background every year and think is a cute Christmas movie.
Music
I have so many Christmas songs that just start playing, and I instantly feel Christmas. My favorites are the nostalgic older songs, such as:
- “Winter Wonderland” by Aretha Franklin
- “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney
- “A Marshmallow World” by Dean Martin
- “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee
- “Baby It’s Cold Outside” by Dean Martin
- “It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Bublé
- “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Frank Sinatra
- “Please Come Home for Christmas” by the Eagles
- “We Are the World” by U.S.A. for Africa
- “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays” by Perry Como
- “Silver Bells” by Dean Martin
There are so many more, but I will leave it at those.
Some of my pop favorites are:
- “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey
- “Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande
- “Last Christmas” by Taylor Swift
- “12 Days of Christmas” by Pentatonix
- “Buy Me Presents” by Sabrina Carpenter
Some other niche ones that I just like to listen to are “I Don’t Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime is Here)” by John Murphy from Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Soundtrack and “The Chipmunk Song” by David Seville and The Chipmunk.
Making Your Christmas List
Making your Christmas list can be so fun, get you in the spirit, and make sure people are getting you the things you are hoping for. Every year, I make mine on a different Christmas-themed slideshow with links and pictures while I listen to Christmas music. This is also good to do before Black Friday, in case anything goes on sale.
Messy Christmas Tree
In my house, we have a neat, fancy tree and one messy tree filled with all the ornaments we have gotten over the last 20 years that my siblings and I made when we were four years old. Personally, I prefer the messy tree since it reminds me of childhood and old Christmas. Decorating the tree is such a good activity to get you in the spirit. In my house, we aren’t allowed to put the tree up until Black Friday, but I would’ve put it up Nov. 1 if I could’ve.
Christmas lights
I hate LED lights. They are too bright and white and not Christmas at all. My favorite lights are the warm yellow one that just makes any room cozy and Christmasy in the midst of winter. I prefer the warm lights over the colorful lights, but I am not against the colorful lights as well.
My family doesn’t decorate our house as much as I wish we did, but I love driving around and looking at decorations with hot chocolate, music, and family. This is a perfect Christmas activity to get you in the spirit. My favorite houses are the ones fully outlined in the warm yellow lights or colorful lights, like a gingerbread house. I can’t really judge since I don’t decorate myself, but I don’t like overly decorated houses that have a lot of mismatched light colors, blow-ups, projectors, etc. They just look like Christmas threw up and not in a “Wow, how Christmasy!” way.
Bake
My family always bakes cookies and makes little boxes to deliver to family and friends. Sugar cookies, peanut butter balls, chocolate chips, gingerbread, and so many more delicious treats. Trust me, when the house smells delicious, and you’re making Christmas cookies with music in the background, that Christmas mood creates itself.
Although it is more making than baking, decorating gingerbread houses with friends can also be a really fun activity. Mine usually crumbles immediately, but it’s fun in the process.
NYC trip
This one depends on where you live, but the NYC day is worth it. If you live in Connecticut, you can train into the city. The tree, the food, the light displays. It is definitely a little cliche (and a little expensive), but I never experienced a full NYC Christmas day until last year, and I love looking back on those memories because it was such a perfect day. Don’t put your hopes up too high because it is definitely expensive and crowded, but just enjoy the day, the vibes, and accept whatever Christmas comes your way, and you will have a great day.
I really recommend going to the Union Square Market over the Bryant Park Market because last year I went to both and they had most of the same vendors, but Union Square was way less crowded.
Noon Christmas Eve to Noon Christmas Day
These 24 hours are the real holidays. On Christmas Eve, after midnight, I go to my Aunt’s on my Dad’s side, and after that, I go to my Uncle’s on my Mom’s side. I love seeing my family, playing games, and maybe even opening a few presents. Even though Christmas night isn’t the same as when I was little, it still feels nostalgic and exciting to go to sleep knowing I am going to wake up with presents with my family, go see my little cousins, and play games all day. Christmas Eve is as much a part of the holiday for me as Christmas Day, maybe even more Christmasy.
I also always sleep in matching pajamas with my family, which I know sounds a little cringey, but it is in a fun Christmas way and is really fun to wake up matching.
Christmas Games
Last year, I made Christmas Jeopardy for my family, and it was a really fun activity to get in the spirit. This year, I want to make a Christmas Wheel of Fortune, which I think would be really fun. Creating Christmas games gets you in the Christmas spirit, and people who get to play your game. You could also do Christmas trivia or charades.
Produces happiness
The second I hear that Christmas song go on or a classic movie starts, or start drinking hot chocolate, I swear my body just produces so much serotonin at once, it’s like an overload. Christmas is a time to be happy and be with family and friends, so don’t let anything get you down when it is the Christmas season.
No matter your Christmas activities and traditions, I hope Christmas is as happy and nostalgic for you as it is for me. If it’s not, I hope you try some of these ideas to make it a more magical Christmas. These are my opinions, so maybe you love the movies I hate or hate the movies I love. I hope you found some new to try or I reminded you of an old tradition to bring back. From movies to songs to lights to Christmas trees to trips, there are so many ways to create that Christmas magic and get in the Christmas mood this year. A lot of people say it doesn’t have that magic for them after they grow out of Santa, but it still can have magic, just in a new way. Christmas is magical and happy and fun, so do your best to make that magic come to life because how could anyone possibly be sad at Christmas?