The first snowfall of November came as a delightful surprise, pushing me to swap out the fall decor for everything Christmas. But not just any Christmas—I’m diving headfirst into the festive spirit of the 1980s, where the holiday truly shines.
As someone who believes strongly that Christmas is the most joyous time of the year, I eagerly anticipate the seasonal offerings from Starbucks, including peppermint mochas and eggnog lattes. The moment Halloween candy hits the clearance rack, I know it’s time to make room for the real treasures: colorful ornaments, chocolate Santas, and festive wrapping paper. Growing up in the ’80s, I cherish those nostalgic traditions that I now pass down to my family of six. While I appreciate the magic of the season, I’m not one for contemporary trends like Elf on the Shelf or unwrapping a new Christmas book each day. Instead, we celebrate Christmas the way it was done in the ’80s. Care to join me?
1. Classic Christmas Movie Nights
In our house, November and December are reserved for timeless Christmas films. The kids know they can pick from a select few: Home Alone, Home Alone 2, Christmas Vacation, and Elf. We snuggle up with blankets and pillows, popcorn in hand, as we relive the joy of Kevin McCallister’s adventures. Movie quotes become part of our daily chatter, and if someone doesn’t know, “You’re so pretty! You should be on a Christmas card!” then the conversation might just end there.
2. Family Tree Decorating
Our Christmas tree resembles a delightful chaos of ornaments, some dating back to our childhoods. There’s absolutely no theme or color scheme—just a mix of Black Santas, hand-crafted ornaments from the kids, garland that smells suspiciously like plastic, and an old-fashioned star topping it all off. Instagram-worthy? Not a chance. This tree is a true throwback, complete with tinsel and those classic blinkering lights.
3. Cookie Baking Extravaganza
Yes, making cookies can be messy and time-consuming, but the kids revel in pouring heaps of colorful sprinkles onto cookies that are generously coated in icing. The outcome may not be pretty, but the process is what counts. We crank up the holiday tunes and, after baking, we box up our creations to share with friends and family.
4. Christmas Music Playlist
A few years back, I snagged a hundred classic Christmas songs for just $5.99 on iTunes during a Black Friday deal. Our playlist, which spans over ten hours, kicks off on November 1 and lasts well past Christmas. While we do enjoy a few modern tracks, the golden oldies from Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bing Crosby remain our favorites.
5. Gift Wrapping Revival
When it comes to wrapping gifts, I go all out. I pull out the wrapping paper, tape, ribbons, scissors, and tags. Gift bags? No, thank you! There’s something enchanting about seeing a pile of mismatched gifts under the tree, especially when they’re wrapped in delightfully tacky paper. I fondly remember my grandma wrapping gifts in the Sunday comics back in the ’80s.
6. Sending Christmas Cards
We keep the tradition alive by mailing out Christmas cards to friends and family, complete with a printed family photo. I’m not one for sending a quick “Merry Christmas” text. Instead, we select festive stamps, handwrite addresses, and adorn the envelopes with glittery stickers before dropping them off at the post office. When we receive cards, the kids eagerly debate who gets to open them first.
7. Visiting Santa at the Mall
Every year, my children anticipate our trip to see Santa. The excitement of standing in line, finally having their moment with Santa on his velvet throne, and receiving a candy cane is pure holiday magic. After perusing toy catalogs—which we still do—my kids can’t wait to tell Santa what they want for Christmas.
I know what you’re thinking; perhaps I have too much time on my hands. But I actively carve out opportunities to revisit the ’80s during the holiday season. There’s something heartwarming about sipping on Swiss Miss hot chocolate while basking in the glow of the Christmas tree lights. Ultimately, my love for Christmas is boundless, and I’m proud to embrace it.
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Summary:
Embracing an ’80s Christmas means reviving nostalgic traditions like classic movie nights, decorating a mismatched tree, baking cookies, and sending handwritten Christmas cards. It’s about creating memories filled with warmth and joy, all while celebrating the essence of the holiday season.