“Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and, perhaps, foolish. Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man has to be himself.” —Francis C. Farley
We wait nearly 11 months for what has always been coined as ‘the most wonderful time of the year.’ While this is true for those of us who look forward to the holidays spent with family and old friends catching up over mulled wine, for others, the holidays are a time when better memories of the past may resurface to the present, leaving feelings of loneliness and nostalgia. We’re here to tell you that no matter how or where you’ve spent your holidays before, it’s never too late to start over with new traditions.
Whether you’re on your own for the first time, part of a new family, or coming home to the same Christmas jingle year after year, we want this to be a holiday you’ll remember as one that truly brought you joy.
To spark some ideas, we asked a few of our favorite Stylemakers and Tastemakers to share their favorite Christmas traditions. If your holiday spirit-o-meter is running low, we hope they inspire you to spend the next few weeks figuring out what the holidays mean to you, creating lasting memories, and celebrating the successful end to another year around the calendar. Here’s to the happiest holiday season yet.
“My favorite way to get into the holiday spirit is by burning my favorite Christmas candles and decorating freshly baked Christmas cookies with my kids by the tree.” —Camille Styles
Camille Styles | Founder, Camille Styles
image by Kristen Kilpatrick for Camille Styles
“The best way to get me in the holiday spirit is with mulled wine, or more specifically, Swedish glögg. It’s warm and comforting, served with sliced almonds and raisins, and best enjoyed with family around the Christmas tree! It’s a family tradition (I was born in Sweden), and we make it every year, despite the Texas heat!” —Britt Maren
Britt Maren | Model & Baker, @b_maren
image by Alison Engstrom for Camille Styles
“Watching holiday movies like Little Women and Home Alone never fail to get me in the Christmas spirit. I also love buying hot chocolate for the house to snuggle up with at night when I’m watching all the movies. I also always love making a little trip out the the Christmas market and enjoying a huge gingerbread man during my stroll.” —Eden Grinshpan Nivron
Eden Grinshpan Nivron |TV Host, Chef, Blogger | @edeneats
image by Kendra Scott Jewelry
“To me, the holiday season is all about being with my family and friends. I love to entertain during the holidays, so I always enjoy creating a festive space where we can all be together. The decorations are by far my favorite way to get into the holiday spirit. By the time Thanksgiving dinner is on the table, I’ll already have multiple Christmas trees up around the house, a mantle decked with garland and stockings, and of course plenty of lights outside. I do it all, and I add on every year. (My two oldest boys laugh at me because I do get a little carried away.) I usually like to decorate with a theme in mind, and this year I’m calling it Champagne Dreams.” —Kendra Scott
Kendra Scott | Designer, Kendra Scott
image by Belathée Photography for Camille Styles
“Sunny Los Angeles isn’t exactly a postcard for the holidays, so I like to create the mood at home with seasonal flowers and garlands of wintery greens. To get in the spirit, I light candles with warm, spicy notes like clove, cardamom, and pine. And of course, there’s our annual gingerbread decorating party, loved by both kids and adults!” —Jenni Kayne
Jenni Kayne | Designer, Jenni Kayne
image by Bryan Derbella for J.Crew
“In order to get ourselves into the holiday spirit, we love having a night in with family where we cook dinner for everyone; the evening involves a few key elements…The Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack (songs from this are in films like Wes Anderson’s Royal Tenenbaums and is a favorite holiday mainstay of ours, plus we’ve always love the Peanuts), a special winter-y cocktail like a homemade Old Fashioned or Manhattan on the rocks, a wonderful bottle of Barbera (a great type of Italian red wine) and a dish that’s comforting in the warm weather such as a Ragu Bolognese or Chicken Parmesan. We find that a special dinner with family can be the perfect way to get one into the holiday spirit, plus everyone can hint at what they want as gifts during appetizer hour which often includes lots of fun cheeses and charcuterie!”
Danielle & Laura Kosann | Founders, The New Potato
