10 Ways to Get in the Holiday Spirit

Bake Cookies

There are few things more wonderful than the smell of cookies warming in the oven. Make an event out of baking with holiday-shaped cutters — reindeer, menorahs — or by experimenting with ingredients like cinnamon, pretzels and, yes, crushed-up potato chips.

TELL US: How are you getting in the spirit of the season?

Visit Candy Cane Lane

Grab those still-warm cookies, pile a couple blankets into the car, and drive over to a street in your neighborhood or city that’s known for its fabulous winter decor. As fireworks are to 4th of July, lit houses are to Christmas. The dazzling displays will surely put you in the yuletide spirit.

Trim the Tree

Download some Nat King Cole Christmas tunes and turn the music up while you (gently) unpack all those ornaments. But don’t put them on the tree just yet — make the experience memorable by reminiscing with your fellow trimmers as to where and when you got each decoration.

Make Gifts

If you’re feeling crafty, why not give your gifts a handmade touch this year? The experience of making them will help you get even more into the holiday spirit, and those you give your handiwork to will be oh-so-touched. We like making a similar gift for everyone on our list, such as cozy wool scarves if you’re a knitter.

Hold a Game Night

Host friends or family members for an evening of fun: Light the fire and spin the dreidel, break out a giant Christmas puzzle or try your hand at holiday Mad Libs. Whatever games you choose, you’re sure to have a blast.

Exchange Gag Gifts

Try a new spin on an old holiday tradition by doing a funny gift exchange with a theme. You can be specific, like the present has to start with the same letter as the person’s name (Uncle Jerry would get, for example, a Justin Beiber doll), or more general, like all gifts must be a certain color or all the same item (books, mugs, 2011 calendars).

Make It Movie Night

Heat up some hot cocoa or hot apple cider and watch a seasonally themed movie together. Go traditional with a holiday-centric flick like It’s a Wonderful Life or a more alternative route with a film that’s set around the holidays, like Die Hard.

Divide the Dishes

When it’s time to plan your holiday meal, make it a true family dinner by allowing each member to take charge of a certain dish. Even if your 12-year-old son insists on heating tater tots in the microwave as a side dish, it’s more fun when everyone pitches in somehow.