Emily Flores
Every December, we slip back into holiday traditions that feel more inherited than enjoyed. They survive because no one wants to be the first to say, “Do we really have to keep doing this?” Yet we keep playing along anyway. Let’s look at the customs we maintain on autopilot and check to see if yours made the list.
Mandatory Office Secret Santa
Nobody actually wants to participate, yet everyone does. You spend thirty minutes wandering store aisles searching for something generic enough to suit a coworker whose last name you just learned. The gift also gets opened with forced enthusiasm at the office party. Then it’s quietly donated or regifted the following year, repeating this workplace charade indefinitely.
Fruitcake Exchange
Fruitcakes have a reputation for being heavy, long-lasting gifts that people politely accept but rarely eat. Many are simply stashed away, some reportedly circulating for decades. We continue this baking and exchange mostly out of nostalgia, thereby honoring the custom more than the flavor.
Christmas Card Mailing List
December usually turns into a marathon of mailing cards to people who rarely interact throughout the year. A short recap of the past twelve months is written, though everyone knows it will be skimmed at best. And eventually, the whole ritual feels unnecessary once you remember that social media already covers these updates daily.
Annual Family Photo In Matching Pajamas
Matching pajamas seem cute in theory, but the moment everyone starts putting them on, things get messy. Someone dislikes the pattern, and you have to take dozens of photos to get one decent shot. Eventually, you settle on one picture, even though it hides how hectic the moment really was.
The “One Gift Must Be Handmade” Rule
This rule starts out sweet but quickly becomes stressful. Anyone who isn’t crafty ends up scrambling to make something passable while envying the relatives who are naturally artistic. The handmade gifts range from genuinely impressive to hilariously terrible. Everyone praises each attempt with exaggerated enthusiasm, but is secretly relieved when the tradition ends.
Watching A Holiday Movie Everyone Secretly Dislikes
Your family has watched the same Christmas Eve movie for fifteen years, even though no one enjoys it anymore. Mom keeps it going because she calls it tradition. As soon as it starts, everyone settles in with quiet resignation. Most would skip it if they could, but they sit through it to keep Mom happy.
Extended Family Gift Swap With Strict Price Caps
Every year, the extended family does this gift swap where people draw names and spend exactly $25 on that person. Sounds easy, right? Well, it never is, because as soon as unwrapping starts, family members anxiously compare receipts and launch into heated debates about whether the price cap includes tax.
Hanging Stockings For Adults Who Never Use Them
Adults still hang stockings every Christmas, dutifully filling them with random toiletries and socks. Sure, everyone’s capable of purchasing their own ChapStick and grooming supplies without waiting for December 25th. What makes it hard to let go, though, is that removing the stocking would mean admitting something heavy—that childhood has genuinely ended.
Christmas Eve Church Service Attendance By Non-Believers
Christmas Eve brings a massive influx of people to churches across the country and turns the annual service into the year’s most attended event. These folks participate in the communal ritual—reading responsively, sharing peace, holding candles—all while lacking any genuine belief in what’s actually being said or celebrated.
Serving A Dish Nobody Eats (E.g., Jell-O Salad)
Nobody ever touches that one molded salad on the table. Aunt still makes it every year, just because she always has, even though it goes uneaten. To keep the peace, someone takes the leftovers home, only to toss them out privately, and that’s a waste of food on what could have been avoided by scrapping that habit.