10 Holiday Traditions Only Older Adults Remember
We probably don’t need to tell you that holiday traditions have changed over the years! While we love listening to Nat King Cole sing about chestnuts roasting an open fire, we don’t often partake in the tradition ourselves. Caroling isn’t as popular as it used to be, and our trees tend to come from a store, not a forest or a Christmas tree farm. Yes, Christmas has changed, but many older adults probably have fond memories of holidays past. So, if you’ve ever found yourself nostalgic for your childhood Christmas celebrations, here are 10 holiday traditions you may remember.
1. Making popcorn garland.
The tradition of making popcorn garland dates back to 1842 with American colonists in Williamsburg, Virginia. At a time when decorations like tinsel and pre-made ornaments weren’t readily available, people had to get a little more creative and often turned to items they had on hand at home. The trend exploded in popularity in the 20th century with the arrival of German-American immigrants. A lot of older adults probably have fond childhood memories of transforming popcorn and cranberries into beautiful Christmas decorations.
2. Watching Christmas specials on TV.
Remember the Christmas episodes of your favorite sitcoms? From The Andy Griffith Show to The Beverly Hillbillies, most shows had a holiday episode or two for viewers’ enjoyment. Back then, it was a watch-or-you-miss-it situation. While streaming is convenient, there was something particularly magical about watching holiday specials as they aired.
Some vintage holiday specials that you may want to check out this holiday season include:
- The Andy Griffith Show, “The Christmas Story” (1960) – Available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- The Brady Bunch, “The Voice of Christmas” (1969) – Available on Amazon Prime, Paramount+, Pluto TV
- The Dick Van Dyke Show, “The Alan Brady Show Presents” (1963) – Available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Tubi
- Gilligan’s Island, “Birds Gotta Fly, Fish Gotta Talk” (1964) – Available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Tubi, YouTube
- Happy Days, “Guess Who’s Coming to Christmas” (1974) – Available on Amazon Prime, Paramount+
3. Assembling Christmas tree train sets.
Model trains come in all shapes and sizes, but many manufacturers created trains to fit perfectly under Christmas trees. Around and around they’d go, circling the tree skirt and zipping under ornaments. Some people went even further and began assembling whole Christmas villages. Unfortunately, Christmas tree train sets fell out of fashion along with tinsel and bubble lights, but this tradition deserves a revival!
If you agree with that sentiment, you might want to check out this train set on Amazon!
4. Putting up aluminum trees.
Nowadays, most people put up fake trees resembling members of the evergreen family. But in the 60s (befitting of the Space Age), shiny, vaguely futuristic aluminum trees were all the rage. They came in all sizes and colors, from silver to pink to gold. The aluminum tree was so popular that it even was mentioned in the 1965 classic A Charlie Brown Christmas. But, as it often goes, these sparkly, eye-catching trees were all but obsolete by the 70s. But many older adults may remember a time when their family enjoyed this short-lived trend.
5. Making (and receiving!) fruitcake.
Oh, fruitcake. The most misunderstood holiday dessert of all time. Fruitcake tends to evoke a strong response in people, but more people dislike it than not. Despite its reputation, you can’t think about holidays past without thinking of fruitcake! Britlit fans and Anglophiles have probably heard the words “plum pudding” uttered in British media and might be surprised to learn that plum pudding isn’t pudding at all. It is, in fact, what we know in America as fruitcake!
6. Stuffing stockings with oranges.
Nowadays, stockings are stuffed with the latest electronics, socks, and even beauty products. But in the past, it was tradition to stuff stockings with fruit, namely, oranges! Some parents also included sweet treats, like chocolate and gumdrops. The citrusy tradition dates back to the Great Depression when many couldn’t afford candy…or much of anything at all. Times were so scarce that receiving an orange in a stocking was a luxury!
7. Making Christmas cookies from scratch.
Most stores and bakeries sell Christmas cookies by the dozen, but it used to be popular to make Christmas cookies from scratch. And while you might still bake like a fiend during the holidays, there’s another cookie-related tradition that isn’t as popular as it used to be: having Christmas cookie swaps with your loved ones and neighbors.
8. Going Christmas caroling.
Experts believe that Christmas caroling dates back to the 13th century. Today, only 16% of Americans say they still go caroling. We’d wager that percentage was much higher in the holiday seasons past! Many older adults probably have memories of sharing the gift of music with friends and loved ones around the holidays. This is one tradition we hope resurges. In today’s world, we all could use a song to cheer us up during the holiday season!
9. Attending a Christmas pageant.
Mentioned in A Charlie Brown Christmas and Ramona and Her Father, Christmas pageants were once a staple of the holiday season. But, unfortunately, they’re more popular in movies and books than in real life, with many expressing online their sadness at the near-extinction of Christmas pageants.
10. Sending Christmas letters.
Everybody Loves Raymond fans might remember the episode where Marie wrote a Christmas letter in which she told all her relatives everything that happened to her family that year. While she stretched the truth just a tad, the idea likely stemmed from a long-standing Christmas tradition that older adults probably remember. Many people used to write their relatives letters at the end of the year, which (like Marie’s letter) were full of stories and updates. This tradition has gone the way of fruitcake and tinsel trees, thanks to social media. However, there’s something so special and personal about a letter that makes this tradition long overdue for a revival.
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Originally published November 26, 2024
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