Christmas really should be a happy holiday; it’s a time when we get together with those we love most, exchange gifts and enjoy enough food in one day to last us all week. A spirit of bonhomie prevails, or at least it should do. For too many of us, the stresses and strains of the holiday season mean that we don’t really enjoy the big day itself. If that sounds like you, here’s our handy guide to seeing the funny side of Christmas.
Switch Carols for Christmas Comedy
Christmas carols are a traditional part of the holiday season, some of which go back hundreds of years, so we’re not saying you should dump them altogether, but it’s easy to get carol overload during December. Some carols do little to lift the mood, and nobody ever cracked a smile at another verse of ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’. Get your holiday party in the swing by playing some of the all-time classic comedy Christmas songs. From ‘Dominic The Donkey’ to ‘I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas’ and ‘Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer’, these are songs that all your guests will join in with, especially after a dry sherry or two. By the way, if you’ve invited someone whose granny really got run over by a reindeer, skip that last song.
Raise Money with a Crazy Jumper
One of the biggest holiday season trends in recent years has been the adoption of Christmas jumpers, and many businesses now have a specific ‘Wear a Christmas Jumper to Work Day’ in mid-December. It’s good to get out of the stuffy business clothes you normally wear once in a while, and it’s even better when it’s for a good cause. The official ‘Christmas Jumper Day‘ is in aid of Save The Children, but if your workplace isn’t involved, why not organize your own in support of a local charity? Reds and greens are to the fore, and don’t be afraid to add antlers and a flashing red nose.
Embrace Unusual Gifts
There are some Christmas gifts that nobody really wants but everyone gets. I’m talking about the likes of socks, cheap toiletry sets and a dull jumper that doesn’t match anything else in your wardrobe. You have to smile when you receive such a present, of course, but that doesn’t mean that you should give them yourself. An unusual gift will be much more welcome than a boring one, and there really is a huge choice out there – from a gift-wrapped box of Brussels sprouts to track days or flying lessons, if you’re feeling a little more extravagant.
As you can see, we’ve taken a lighthearted look on putting fun into the holiday season, but there’s a serious message behind it. Many people feel lonely and depressed on December 25th. This could be because of Seasonal Affective Disorder or because they can’t be with the ones they love, or because they are in ill health or missing a family member who once shared the big day with them. If you know someone like that, take the time to visit them and share some Christmas joy – that, after all, is the true meaning of the holiday season.