Despite lasting only one day, Christmas manages to take up nearly one month of our lives every year. A few hours after we fall asleep from eating too much food on Thanksgiving, we are harshly greeted with the chaos of Black Friday. This eagerness has developed into a greater Christmas culture, which includes many different ideas and traditions. As we venture closer and closer to holiday break, allow me to bring those of you not yet on board into the Christmas spirit with some of the best activities the season has to offer.

1. Sledding (weather-permitting)

No matter how old you are, sledding is an effective way to get into the Christmas spirit. One of the few physically demanding activities, alongside ice skating, sledding is a good way to combat the urge of enjoying the warmth and comfort of the indoors. Coupled with the activity is of course drinking hot chocolate after you spend hours in the freezing cold, constantly walking up and down hills. If you live in the city, I suggest sledding at Blue Slide Park. Looking past the various warnings posted throughout the surrounding area, this hill has a uniquely fast, open experience to offer.

2. Decorating the Christmas tree

This activity, in particular, is very important because it sets the tone for the remainder of your Christmas-related endeavors. Whether it’s looking through old pictures, hanging up old ornaments, or listening to Christmas music, decorating the Christmas tree is one of most memorable moments of the holidays. It kicks off the Christmas spirit while also acting as a classic, much-needed, form of family bonding.

3. Christmas mass

Let’s not forget the true meaning of Christmas here. Attending mass with your family is one of the most memorable activities of the Christmas season. Dressed in your finest clothing, Christmas mass marks the peak of the Christmas spirit. Although a little longer than the usual Sunday mass, it is always a very nice service to attend and good opportunity to see old friends.

4. Christmas food

Since there is so much to talk about here and “Christmas food” isn’t technically an activity, I’m going to break this down into three categories in hopes of creating an inclusive definition: breakfast, dinner, and desert.

Imagine: Christmas morning is finally here. Whether you eat pre or post gift-opening, start off the day right with a solid breakfast. For those of you who usually don’t eat breakfast, I hope that your Christmas day breakfast this year changes your mind.

Christmas dinner is one of the most anticipated meals of the year. Similar to Thanksgiving, this meal is eaten with family and there are often way too many leftovers. Christmas dinner, however, is different from Thanksgiving in that there isn’t a defined menu to dictate what makes it on the table. Whatever route your family chooses, it is ultimately the experience that makes this experience so memorable.

Christmas, in many ways, is focused around deserts and other sweets. Making gingerbread houses and other cookies can be seen as another method of bonding during the Christmas season. Food brings people together. The aspect of giving that Christmas provides makes this a little different than other holidays. Giving and receiving these treats is an opportunity to show other how much you care (by way of butter, sugar, and loads of calories).

5. Watching Christmas movies

Having all these activities make the holiday season stressful for many people. Watching Christmas movies can be a calming, nostalgic way to enjoy your evenings during Christmas break. The unique thing about these types of movies is that they never really get old or outdated. The majority of Christmas movies we love are usually more than 15 years old, we leave little room for newer movies. This is interesting to think about and I believe it all goes back to the idea of a defined Christmas culture. Movies are a part of Christmas culture that undergo little change, we find ourselves watching the same movies every year and we only watches these once a year, which is during the Christmas season. Knowing that this aspect of Christmas has remained generally untouched makes this a much-anticipated activity come Christmas time. [Editor’s note: We here at the Viking recommend Elf and a day-long marathon of every Friends Christmas episode].

Well I understand that this list may not be entirely applicable to you all, I hope that this article at least made you excited for Christmas and think about the uniqueness your own family’s traditions in relation to modern-day aspects of mainstream Christmas culture. As we enter into our Christmas break, remember to spend time with others and enjoy all that Christmas has to offer. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ????.