What I Think of These Five Christmas Trends

A Christmas living room (Anita Austvika on Unsplash).

12/9/2025

Zachary Myers, Editor

It is getting close to Christmas time, which means that it is time for gift buying and tree decorating. While each family celebrates the holiday differently (or does not celebrate it), there are very common traditions associated with Christmas. These are my thoughts on common Christmas traditions.

Making Christmas lists:

I am sure that everyone remembers writing a few letters to Santa when they were younger. I am also sure your parents kept those letters as a memento of your childhood. According to an article by TIME, the writing of letters to Santa originated in the 1870s, with the post office allowing the handling of these letters by 1912. There is one problem I have with Christmas letters: at some point, they stop being special. At the end of the day, these letters are going towards your parents to tell them what you want. This is not to discredit the magic they hold in a young child, as they should believe in the hope of Santa. The point of letters loses their magic when a child hits middle school for numerous reasons. One, it becomes harder to think of as many gifts for older children since you can’t just get them a doll, a racecar set, etc anymore. They tend to want mostly technology, video games, and gift cards. This is also around the time where children stop believing in Santa, so most see the letters as a formality to their parents. Especially as an adult, if you are asking for a list, you are essentially telling someone you are supposedly close to that you do not know them that well. We can keep Christmas lists in our childhood.

Keeping track of the NORAD Santa tracker:

This is one of my personal favorites. The North American Aerospace Defense Command, more commonly known as NORAD, is in charge of keeping up with potential threats to America’s airspace. One thing they have also done is keep track of ol’ Saint Nick starting on Christmas Eve ever since 1955. According to Amaris Encinas of USA Today, the tracking started with a young boy in Colorado Springs trying to call Santa but instead reached NORAD. In a 1999 interview, Colonel Harry Shoup said that the young boy spoke for a while before remarking, “Hey, you’re not Santa.” Ever since then, NORAD’s tracking of Santa has drastically evolved and changed, including a website where people can track his movements across the world and a number people can call (1-877-HI-NORAD) to ask about his location.

For some reason, I always get fascinated with tracking Santa on NORAD. Even as I get older, it is still something I will look forward to, and I am not sure why. I think it is one of those things that you unexpectedly get hooked on that you cannot stop. I like refreshing the page and seeing where Santa is around the world and how many gifts he delivers. Parents should get their kids hooked on this and make sure it is ingrained in their brains, so they can do this for generations to come.

How did NORAD's Santa tracker begin? It started with a wrong number

Opening one gift on Christmas Eve:

This is a Christmas tradition that realistically should transcend all family celebration types. Ever since I was little, me and my parents would each open up one gift the evening of Christmas Eve. We would always do it after dinner, since it seemed like the appropriate time. I would always be the one to pick out the presents for us, and I’d be the analytical type to pick up every present and pick one based on size or type of wrapping. I do not have much else to say about this other than it is very fun. It can be cozy opening up a few gifts at night, and it is a trend I think all Christmas celebrating families can get behind.

Making milk and cookies for Santa. I am sure many families remember making cookies and milk Christmas Eve night and leaving them on their counter for Santa. Some of you may have also left some carrots for the reindeer. According to a HISTORY.com article, the tradition started in the US during the Great Depression era, when parents wanted to show their children that they should feel gratitude for the gifts they receive on Christmas, with its earliest origins tracing back to Odin, the most notable Norse mythology God. I am a fan of baking because it is an easy way of cooking great food that you can put special twists on. This activity is also great for all living types, whether you live alone, with a partner, with your family, etc.

When should you start playing Christmas music?

This last one is not a trend, but it is probably the most heavily debated question surrounding Christmas: when is it appropriate to start playing Christmas music? Depending on who you ask, this question can have drastic variations. Some play it the day of or after Halloween, the middle of November, the day of or after Thanksgiving and some may only start playing it closer to Christmas. In my opinion, the sweet spot to start playing Christmas music is Thanksgiving and beyond. This is because you have gotten past one big holiday and now you can associate things with another one. Those who start in the middle of November can also be accepted, but if you start right after Halloween, you may need to reevaluate your life choices.

While all of these trends are important to the meaning of Christmas, the true meaning of Christmas is continuing your belief in the unknown and being with your loved ones. That is the one tradition I did not mention that everyone should adhere to. Be with your family and friends this Christmas, and give thanks to every good thing you have.