5 Old-Fashioned Christmas Traditions Overdue for a Comeback

Do you remember the Christmases of your childhood? Were things different? Are there traditions that you miss? Sadly, some Christmas customs, like shag haircuts and windbreakers, are a thing of the past. Here are 5 that we feel are long overdue for a comeback!

Candles on Trees

Candlelit Christmas trees began with German families in the 17th century. By the 1800s, the tradition had made its way to England and America. Inventors even patented special wax-catching dishes just for Christmas trees. Even after electricity became commonplace in homes, candlelit trees remained popular for a while yet. We feel this is one tradition deserving of a revival, with a small caveat: you shouldn’t use real candles. Instead, use their battery-operated counterparts! Check out this 12-pack of flameless, remote-controlled candles on Amazon.

Handmade Christmas Ornaments

Most of us have amassed a huge collection of store-bought ornaments. While your ornaments likely hold a lot of sentimental value, they were still made by someone else. There’s something extra special about hanging homemade ornaments on the tree. And that’s exactly why we think this holiday tradition should return! This Christmas, why don’t you sit down with your family and make a few ornaments? You can paint them and use glitter, rhinestones, and other pretty things to make a one-of-a-kind Christmas decoration. They don’t have to be beautiful or even good by a technical standard. All that matters is that you have fun and make a few precious memories with your family!

Christmas Potluck Dinners

Christmas potluck dinners haven’t fallen completely out of fashion. Many churches and even offices host potlucks during the holiday season. But you can’t deny that they’re still not quite as popular as they were the peak of their popularity in the ’70s. If you miss the days when friends and family would gather together and swap recipes and stories, revive the tradition this holiday season! Call up your family and friends and ask them to make a dish to bring to your Christmas potluck.

Homemade Candy

Nowadays, we can grab a box of Christmas chocolates or candy cane from any store shelf without a second thought. But, as you might remember, homemade holiday candy used to be all the rage. If you haven’t had homemade Christmas candy since you were younger, we urge you to get out your favorite apron, grab some semisweet chocolate chips, and get baking! Your taste buds (and all the friends and family who visit you this holiday season) will thank you.

Christmas ghost stories

“There’ll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago.” Raise your hand if you’ve ever sung these lyrics of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and puzzled over them afterward. Most people probably don’t realize that telling ghost stories was once a popular Christmas tradition. Families used to gather together during the holidays and share spooky stories better suited for Halloween than Christmas Day. However, Puritans frowned upon the tradition, and so it soon fell out of fashion. If you’re someone who can’t get enough of A Christmas Carol, then this is the long-dead tradition you should bring back to life. Gather with your family and friends and start telling ghost stories. You can share campfire staples, like the story of La Llorona or the Man with the Golden Arm, or create your own. It might not be traditionally festive, but it will certainly be fun!

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