Whenever the holidays start approaching I become very much a creature of habit. There are things that have always gotten me in the holiday mood and everytime the season comes around again I am practically itching to get back to my roots. Here’s a list of some of my favorite comforts of Christmas.
- Movies
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Jeremiah S. Chechik, 1989)
This movie is such a classic in my family that my dad quotes it all year long. I truly can’t imagine Christmas without the chaos of the Griswold family mimicking how my family celebrates Christmas– “Russ we checked every light didn’t we?” It’s truly a chaotic time getting the house ready for Christmas Eve dinner with the rest of the Grafs but if not quoting this movie, music gets us through it.
- Music
Everyday Is Christmas by Sia (2018)
Along with the classic songs of All I Want For Christmas Is You and Santa Claus is Coming to Town my family and I love to listen to this Christmas album by Sia. There’s something about the upbeatness of “Santa’s Coming for Us” and discordant beat of “Ho Ho Ho” that really makes my sisters and I work ten times harder around the house due to increased excitement over another Graf Christmas Eve Dinner.
- Toys
Disney Doorables Advent Calendar
My boyfriend and I discovered these Disney Doorables when walking through Target over Thanksgiving break and it’s safe to say that I am as addicted to them as I was to Shopkins in the fifth grade. They’re really just small disney figurines but taking them out of the wrapping is a little addictive. These toys are now being sold as part of a larger Advent Calendar and come December 1 I will be on the phone with my boyfriend opening them immediately to see which new figurine we get to add to our collection. It’s nostalgic, it’s fun to collect things, and it makes me happy to share it with someone I love.
There are plenty of other things that I’m looking forward to returning to during the holiday season but at the heart of it has always been spending time with the people that I love. Whatever it is that you celebrate or don’t celebrate during this holiday season I hope you find time during the break to spend time with your loved ones. At the end of it all it’s the end of another year and a time for reflecting on the people who are really important to you and showing them that in whatever feels right to you. For me, it’s always been quality time– be it watching a favorite movie, listening to music or gushing over nostalgic toys. This is a time filled with lots of love and joy and hopefully, snow. The Hallmark movies may be incredibly cheesy but it’s no fun being a Scrooge either. Find the things that bring you joy this holiday season and make your own list of all the things you’re excited to experience again in all its glory.