Christmas... the birth of Christ, the day Santa comes, gifts, toys, cookies, family, red, and green.
Those are just a few things that come to mind when I think about Christmas. With Christmas decorations going up, stores beginning to put Christmas items up for sale and Christmas literally just around the corner (33 days and counting), there are some who don't spend 364 days excited for Christmas like me. But as an avid Christmas celebrator, I feel like I should share how to get in the mood the easiest and funniest way you can.
1. Pretend Thanksgiving isn't a holiday.
The main argument of anyone who does not like to begin Christmas anything before Thanksgiving is just that...Thanksgiving isn't even here, why should we celebrate Christmas? Look, technically, Thanksgiving is a holiday but it is really just a cheat day for EVERYONE. All you do the whole day is cook, eat and spend time with family. You can do that any day of the year! So start by thinking Thanksgiving is just another day on the calendar.
2. Listen to Christmas music.
As weird as that may sound in the middle of November, listening to Christmas music can really get you in the spirit. You have such classics like "Jingle Bells," "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer," and "Christmas Time is Here." But you can't forget the updated versions such as "All I Want for Christmas," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," and "Please Come Home for Christmas." Pandora, Spotify, and 8Tracks are full of great playlist full of Christmas cheer.
3. Make Hot Chocolate or Eggnog.
These drinks are seasonal favorites and can warm you up on a cold night. Plus, they are super easy to make which means you spend less time in the kitchen and more getting in the holiday mood. Besides you can't go wrong with hot chocolate and marshmallows on a cold night.
4. Put up a tree.
If you aren't like my family and have already put the Christmas tree up, now may be a good time. It will guarantee that your holiday won't be filled with trying to find all your ornaments last minute and if you break one, you will have time to go get more. Just imagine getting done before Christmas and all you have to do is stare at the hard work you just spent hours on.
5. Decorate your home (inside and out).
While you're decorating your tree, you might as well decorate your house. Start putting Christmas lights up so you can spend the whole month of December in the mood. Also, as it gets closer to Christmas, the temperature will go down, so it seems that it would be better (and warmer) to go ahead and put the lights up now. With you getting the mood and decorating, your neighbors may do the same and soon enough, your whole neighborhood is in the Christmas mood.
6. Go see a Christmas light display.
If you are lucky enough to be near Large Christmas Light Show, then GO! Driving through a light show route with the Christmas music blaring through your windows is a great way to both get in the mood and get to spend time with family and friends. If not, Look back at #5 and get your whole neighborhood to decorate that way you can just walk outside to your own personal light show.
7. Wear ugly Christmas sweaters.
I love these! Just putting on a Christmas sweater can help with the mood making but an ugly Christmas sweater! That is just icing on the cake. They are just so corny and so ugly that you have to love them. The sweaters just have a feel to them that can't be explained but when you put them one, it's just like Christmas surrounds you in warm sweater love. I am currently wearing an ugly Christmas sweater as I write this and I couldn't be merrier.
8. Go Christmas gift shopping.
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday literally around the corner, you might as well get some shopping done. Go ahead and set aside a certain amount of money that you need to go shopping and get it done. You can get the gifts, have them wrapped, and put them under the tree or ship them out with no last minute worries. You don't have to worry about massive crowds all fight over one coffee maker because you already got yours.
9. Make/buy an advent calendar.
Advent calendars are a fun way to count down the days, as long as you aren't taking the candy beforehand. Buying premade ones can be fun but making your own can just as fun. You can send yourself funny messages, words of encouragements, a different bible verse about Christmas on different days. Make it your own and if you have kids, they can make their own personal ones and keep them busy until the big day.
10. Read Christmas books.
Reading Christmas books can help get you into the mood as well. Books such as "The Night Before Christmas," "The Polar Express," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," and of course, "A Christmas Carol" can really let you spend time nestled up near a fire with a great book and hot chocolate.
11. Watch Christmas movies.
Oh, where do I begin with the amount of Christmas movies you can watch? There are exactly (according to the Wikipedia) 354 Made for Television Christmas-themed movies and exactly (also according to Wikipedia) 96 Theatrical Christmas Movies. Don't even get me started on just the Christmas television specials. So there are no reasons as to why you can't find a Christmas movie to watch because there are hundreds of them and every single one of them will get you in the Christmas mood.
12. Be generous and give.
I know that this is always "expected" during the holiday season. "It's the time for giving" etc etc. But giving just during the holidays shouldn't be expected, you should already be doing this. You can donate your time, clothes, toys and money to those less fortunate than you during the holiday season. Do a good deed, make someone's day, give to the Santas that stand outside of your grocery store. It doesn't have to be an extravagant gesture but a gesture of kindness. A simple gesture can go a long way.
So there are my 12 ways to get in the Christmas mood (haha see what I did there... 12 ways to get in the mood... 12 Days of Christmas) :P
But really, Christmas is a wonderful time of year and one of the few holidays where watching children movies is totally acceptable. Christmas is also a time of spending time with your family and friends, so why not start a little early with Christmas cheer?
