Christmas will be upon us all before we know it. So whether you caught a glimpse of your flannel pj’s in the closet or saw your decorations in the storage room, you thought about getting into the Christmas spirit. And by that, I don’t mean the store in Banff, Alberta, Canada. Why else would you be here reading this post today?
For my family and me, the holiday time is always a fun time of year. There are many ways to find and spread love and joy every holiday season. Whether you’re searching for the Christmas spirit or want to spread the good vibes to your friends and family, use this guide to start some new Christmas traditions or revisit a few old ones! Welcome to my top four ways to help you get into the Christmas spirit.
Stream Movies and Shows with Christmas Spirit
As the old saying goes, seeing is believing. So what better way to see the Christmas spirit than watching Christmas movies? From classic holiday cartoons to family comedies and even a few action-packed holiday specials, there’s a Christmas movie for every night of December.
Over the years, there have been a few favourites I would like to invite you to watch:
- Elf
- How The Grinch Stole Christmas
- Home Alone
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – Official Trailer 1989
- Die Hard (yes, it totally counts as a Christmas movie)
- The Ref
- Don’t forget to check out Netflix to prepare with some family-friendly Christmas options
With many streaming options available today, such as Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and let us not forget Hallmark Movies Now, finding your past or a new favourite holiday special is not hard.
Christmas Playlists on Spotify
When you think of Christmas music, many people already have a favourite song or album that immediately springs to mind. With Christmas being a time to spend with friends and family, you will have many generations in the room at any given time. So don’t be afraid to do as your Christmas tree and branch out your musical tastes! (See what I did there?, Lol.)
Spotify has an endless list of Christmas songs and playlists for you to stream, which may be found simply by searching for Christmas. Of course, we at Rusty Griswold’s Light Display have created a Spotify list of our Christmas favourites that are available year-round! These are perfect for holiday dinners, Christmas parties, Christmas-in-July feels, or boring car rides to relatives. Above all else, regardless if you listen to a pre-determined list or one of your own, be sure to turn up the volume! The holidays are meant to be a joyful time of year, and by sharing your Christmas music, you are guaranteed to help someone else get into the Christmas spirit.
If you are looking for more of a “radio feel” year-round to your Christmas music favorites, be sure to visit AccuRadio as they have dozens of Christmas music channels for your listening pleasure full of Christmas spirit as well! And last but not least, you can find some great easy-listening Christmas tunes on YouTube like this 8-hour-long medley.
Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree becomes the focal point of every household on Christmas morning. Whether you have an artificial or a real tree, this is the best way and symbol of the holidays to get into the Christmas spirit.
Setting up and decorating your Christmas tree is typically an early activity you can do with your family to prepare for Christmas. However, once up, it becomes a constant reminder of Santa’s upcoming worldwide trip. A solid recommendation from my family to yours is to make sure you use picture ornaments and add a new one of loved ones every year. Viewing a picture ornament guarantees that loved ones from today and yesterday are in your heart during the Christmas season.
While you decorate your tree, this is an excellent time to try out a Christmas playlist such as Rusty Griswold’s Christmas Hits for the ultimate feeling of Christmas spirit.
Christmas Light Displays
Gather your family, hop in the car and drive around local neighbourhoods to take in the great lights others have placed on their homes. If you are looking for a more extravagant light display, check out websites such as The Original Christmas Light Finder, which proudly lists fantastic displays in Canada and the United States with pictures and directions! If you are in the Burlington, Ontario, Canada area, check out our display as it is sure to get you into the Christmas spirit. Nothing inspires the Christmas spirit better than sharing the joy an animated light display gives to a crowd of people. Here are a few things to look out for in your neighbourhood:
- Christmas lights – Drive around your area at night and see the magical wonder of lights and props others have put into their yards and homes.
- Visit with Santa – If you are out and about anyways, stop off at a local mall where you are sure to see Santa where children can provide him with their wishlist.
Other ways to Inspire Christmas Spirit
The above ideas are our top ways to get into the Christmas spirit this holiday season, but by no means are they the only ways. Bake some gingerbread, build a snowman in your front yard, dress your pet in an ugly Christmas sweater, or rock a Santa hat yourself! Many ways require little effort to get into the Christmas spirit this holiday season.
Did we miss a personal favourite of yours in our recommendations above? Do you have an innovative way to spread the Christmas spirit? We would love to hear from you in the comment section below!
