Holidays are filled with traditions that make them special. Think of Thanksgiving with its turkey, St. Patrick’s Day with shamrocks, and Halloween with jack-o’-lanterns. Christmas is no different, boasting many traditions enjoyed worldwide.
Some Christmas traditions, like enjoying candy canes and marveling at decorated trees, have been around for a long time. But others are relatively new, popping up in the last century. Let’s explore ten newer Christmas traditions and the stories behind them!
Watching Network Television Christmas Specials
Did you know the oldest Christmas special made just for TV isn’t Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or A Charlie Brown Christmas? It’s Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol, a cartoon from 1962. This special retells Charles Dickens’s classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a grumpy businessman who learns the value of kindness through ghostly visits.
Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol featured voice actors like Jim Backus, who later starred in Gilligan’s Island, and Morey Amsterdam, who was also working on The Dick Van Dyke Show at the time.
Conducting Toys for Tots Drives
The tradition of donating toys to less fortunate children through the Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots began in Los Angeles in 1947. A Marine Corps Reserve member was encouraged to start an organization to give dolls made by his wife to children in need.
In its first year, the campaign collected and distributed 5,000 toys. By 2023, it had given approximately 677 million toys, books, and games to 301 million children.
Listening to Radio Stations’ Christmas Music Marathons
Around 1990, a Phoenix radio station, KEZ, started playing Christmas music nonstop after Thanksgiving, against the advice of consultants. This format became popular, and since then, many stations have followed suit. The start dates vary, with some beginning as early as November 1.
In 2024, stations like Chicago’s 93.9 FM and Cincinnati’s 94.9 FM began their Christmas music marathons in November. One station in Fort Wayne, Indiana, 95.1 FM, even started playing Christmas music in July 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown!
Wearing Ugly Christmas Sweaters
The trend of wearing over-the-top, “ugly” Christmas sweaters seems to have started in the early 2000s. While simpler versions were popular in the 1950s and 1980s, the modern, glitzier versions have taken on a life of their own.
Today, even fast-food chains and creameries create ugly Christmas sweaters. Many companies host Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties, some of which support nonprofit organizations.
Shopping on Cyber Monday
In the early 2000s, the National Retail Federation noticed a spike in online sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving. They decided to create a name for this day, and in 2005, Cyber Monday was born.
The Federation believed this was due to people using their faster work computers to shop for gifts, making it less likely the recipients would find out what they were getting.
Cyber Monday sales have generally increased yearly. In 2019, sales totaled $7.4 billion, rising to $13.3 billion in 2024, with a slight dip in 2022.
Showings of A Christmas Story for 24 Hours Straight
This tradition began when the 1983 movie A Christmas Story started airing on TBS, TNT, and TCM in 1991. By 1996, the movie was shown eight times across these channels. In 1997, TNT started the 24-hour marathon. Since 2014, both TNT and TBS have aired the marathon.
In 2020, 32 million people tuned in to watch the movie at some point during the marathon. Director Bob Clark and star Peter Billingsley noted that the movie’s popularity stems from its compassionate and candid approach to the holiday season, with many fans seeing their own lives reflected in the story.
Leaving Milk and Cookies for Santa
The tradition of leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus started during the Great Depression in the 1930s. It was a way for children to show gratitude and understand the importance of giving to others.
Santa apparently enjoys all kinds of cookies, from peanut butter to chocolate chip. As for the milk, there’s no specific type he prefers!
Considering the number of homes Santa visits, he likely consumes hundreds of thousands of calories, far exceeding the recommended daily allowance and quite a workout, even with all those chimney trips!
Watching Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular
This holiday-themed show, co-created by Vincente Minnelli, premiered in 1933 at Radio City Music Hall, the world’s largest indoor theater. It has always included the dancing Rockettes and a Nativity scene.
Over the years, the show has incorporated modern elements like LED light boards and 3D effects. Each year, it uses about 1,200 costumes, 30,000 red dots for the Rockettes’ cheeks, and nearly 14,100 batteries.
Paying Homage to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph, the reindeer with a glowing nose, was created in 1939 by Robert L. May, a catalog writer for a Chicago-based department store. He initially considered names like Rollo, Rodney, and Reggy before settling on Rudolph.
May drew from his own experiences of isolation and sadness, reflecting these emotions in Rudolph’s character, as the reindeer grapples with his differences and feelings of loneliness.
Reenacting Colonial Troops Delaware River Crossing
For over 70 years, hundreds of volunteers have gathered on Christmas Day along the Delaware River, north of Philadelphia. Dressed in uniforms like those worn by George Washington’s army in 1776, they reenact the surprise attack on the Hessians during the Revolutionary War.
The day includes 1770s-themed activities and speeches, even if the weather prevents the actual river crossing. Thousands of spectators from around the world come to watch the reenactment and participate in the festivities.
From watching TV specials to reenacting historical events, these newer Christmas traditions add unique and exciting elements to the holiday season. Each tradition has its own story, reflecting cultural shifts and creative innovations over the past century.
Which of these traditions do you enjoy the most? Are there any new traditions your family has created? Leave your comment below and share your holiday stories!
