It’s no secret that I love Christmas. I love everything about it. The lights, the brisk chill to the air, shopping, wrapping, baking, and the happiness and magic that surrounds it all gets me in the Christmas spirit early. My family, however, is not always on board with my holiday cheer that begins immediately on November 1st. So instead of letting the scrooges bring down my it’s the most wonderful time of the year mood, I use other tactics to get them on my level.
So if your family is the same as mine, here are 7 ways to get them in the Christmas spirit.
Lights
Nobody can really be mad or upset when looking at Christmas lights. Season 2 of Grey’s Anatomy has a holiday episode where at the end the main characters are laying on the floor under the Christmas tree looking up at the twinkling lights on the tree because they had had a bad day. Looking at the lights made them feel better. That’s how I think of Christmas lights. They are magical and give you all the happy feelings.
There are many light displays in Maine that open up at the end of November and if you are in the area make sure to check them out. L.L. Bean offers their Northern Lights Display which is free while Boothbay Botanical Gardens lights up their gardens with Gardens Aglow.
Movies
If you have been in my house lately, you would know how much I love holiday movies. I love them so much that they are playing immediately the day after Halloween and well into the New Year. A holiday tradition I must get from my parents due to Hallmark holiday movies being on repeat at my parent’s house around the holidays.
To get the kids into the holiday spirit we watch Elf, Home Alone and the Grinch.
Decorations
You want to put your tree up the day after Thanksgiving, you do you girl. Sadly, we get a real tree every year so putting it up too early means it will be dead by the time Christmas rolls around and the pine needles will invade every corner of my house Despite not having a tree early on, I love decorating the house with little bottle brush trees, Christmas candles, throw pillows and garland. Oh yeah, and lights, Because lights make everything magical!
Music
Christmas music is always a great way to get the family in the holiday spirit. Many radio stations in my area play only Christmas music after Thanksgiving but if you want it before there are many options such as Pandora, Spotify and Apple music.
Traditions
We have traditions that we do every year around the holidays. You can check mine out HERE. Create some of your own to get your family excited about the holidays.
Baking
Every year my mom, my sister and I find a day where we can spend all day baking Christmas cookies. It’s a fun tradition that we do every year that leaves us with cookies for many weeks afterwards. We make tradition Chocolate Cookies, (my fav) Snickerdoodles, old fashioned cookies that are recipes from my grandmother and the most amazing sugar cookies I have ever tasted. It’s fun and it puts us in the festive spirit.
Write letters to Santa
Well, have your kids write letters to Santa to get them in the holiday spirit. I have a fun tradition with my son to sit down, drink hot cocoa in our pajamas and write out his letter to Santa. I know that my time doing this with him is limited and this year may be the last year but I will hold onto the magic with him for as long as I can.
Hopefully these tips have helped those with reluctant family who aren’t quite ready to get into the holidays. How do you get yourself and your family into the Christmas spirit? Let me know in the comments below!
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