Ho, Ho, Ho: Loose's Favourite Holiday Traditions

It's the most wonderful time of year. The air is frosty, the evenings are getting darker, and families are bringing their old hats and scarves out of hibernation for annual festive fun. Today we will be going through some of the many cherished Christmas traditions to get you in the mood throughout the holiday period. So, grab a hot chocolate, pile on the whipped cream, and sit back!

Image via Pinterest

Gingerbread Houses

I don't know about you, but one of the first things that comes to mind when I think of Christmas traditions is decorating mouth-watering gingerbread houses.

The best part is that this is something you can do with both your friends and your family. Gather around the kitchen table, roll up your sleeves, and get stuffing those piping bags with rich royal icing. If you fancy going all out, buy some little sweets and sugar decorations from your local supermarket and pour them into bowls for you and your loved ones to decorate your edible miniature homes until your hearts are content.

If you aren't quite ready to bake your own delicious gingerbread, feel free to cheat! (I won't tell if you don't.) Shops like B&M, ASDA, and Wilko all sell ready-made gingerbread house kits from anywhere between £2 to £10. A perfect activity for an evening in with the ones you love, and I guarantee the sweet tooths will love you even more afterwards.

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Elf on the Shelf

Love or hate this cooky tradition, Elf on the Shelf is going nowhere.

For many years, families have been rooting out their naughty plastic elves on December 1st and hiding them around the house on the run up to Christmas, for children to find and discover what mischief they've been causing.

You can use your imagination for this one, go as crazy as you like. Pick up some wrapping paper and wrap something bizarre for your elves to sit next to. Or crack open the chocolates and display empty foil wrappers all over the floor — turn those naughty elves into greedy elves who have scrounged the family treats!

If you haven't already, you can grab yourself an Elf on the Shelf from places such as ASDA or Tesco for the small price of £3, or up to £5 on Amazon. An Elf on the Shelf isn't just for Christmas, it's for every Christmas. So pick up those beloved (... though slightly creepy) bad boys and add them to your list of traditions.

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Carolling

Now this may seem like an old fashioned tradition to suggest, however there isn't a single Christmas carol you could listen to without feeling your heart burst out of your chest. There's something about those classic festive jingles, and the soft opening notes of a vintage piano, that sends a magnificent chill up and down every inch of your spine.

There are many ways to sing your favourite holiday hits at the top of your lungs this season — whether it be Last Christmas by Wham!, or the iconic Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You. The Queen of Christmas has defrosted, and she is more than ready to whistle tone for her life during these upcoming weeks.

My family and I aren't overly religious people, but the one tradition we have been doing since I took my first steps is going to church on Christmas Eve. Strolling into that same echoey building every year on the twenty-fourth, nostalgia welcoming me in, with the smell of beeswax and incense travelling up my nostrils. It's always packed out, and we would hold our mass sheets tightly and sing carols like Little Donkey and Silent Night, tucked together like sardines in the pews.

Of course, if church isn't your thing, there are other ways to sing with your friends and family. For example, do some research and see if there's a tree lighting ceremony coming up in your area. There is almost definitely going to be mulled wine, and 100% Christmas carols, I'd call that a win-win!

Or, if you have the confidence to do so, gather a group of people, knock on those doors and sing your little hearts out. That's what they do in the movies, so why shouldn't you?

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Christmas Movie Marathon

If you didn't see this one coming, you should've, because movies like Elf and How the Grinch Stole Christmas are the pride and joy of this time of year.

At least one evening in December (though let's be honest, we all do it multiple times), throw on your cosiest pyjamas, snuggle under the fluffiest blanket you own, and pick out a Christmas film with the people you love. Preferably holding a beverage of your choice, with a bunch of sweet and/or savoury snacks close to hand, (hot chocolate and mince pies for me, please!).

Some movie recommendations for you are Love Actually, Nativity!, The Muppet: Christmas Carol, and not forgetting the brand new Netflix movie featuring the Lindsay Lohan and Chord Overstreet, Falling for Christmas; a fun, snowy, lighthearted rom-com, perfect to watch alongside your significant other this winter.

There is an abundance of traditions during the Christmas period which families of all kinds can enjoy together. Perhaps you and your family members do something completely different, but I suppose that's what builds such a special connection, and brings out that spirited excitement in each and every one of us. 2022 is coming to an end, so let's celebrate with a bang!

Words by Jasmine Neave

(@jasneave on IG)

Edited by Lucy Eaton

(@llucyeaton on IG)