The neighbors across the street from my house won the “earliest holiday display” award this year. By the second week of November, their home was awash in colorful lights, with a full porch display of festive characters and greenery, and a Christmas tree fully visible through the front window. I overheard them talking to another neighbor on the sidewalk not long after the lights went up: “I just felt like we needed it this year.”

That seems to be a common sentiment. All over social media, people are sharing photos of their early Christmas lights, their holiday movie marathons, their new collection of the fuzziest socks and softest blankets, or their commitment to comfort foods. “Only pie and things with gravy for the holidays this year,” one person proclaimed. Another posted a photo of the entire chocolate cake she and her sisters planned to eat all in one sitting, “no plates, no cutting slices.”

The vibe right now seems to be “whatever makes you happy or brings you comfort.” And whether you call it a case of extreme universal hygge, a little bit of backlash to the unusually late Thanksgiving (and therefore delay of the “official” start of the winter holiday season), or – not to be a downer – a reaction to a collective sense of fatigue and disheartenment, it seems that seeking creature comforts is going to be the order of things for a while to come.

Honestly, who are we to argue? There’s something awfully appealing about leaning in hard to comfort right now. So here are some cozy, hibernation-mode ideas to help you and your family draw closer this holiday season:

• Go backwards. Upside-Down and Backwards, that is – now is the time to turn dinner into a pj party, eat dessert first, and just generally break the rules in favor of a little gentle fun.
• Try a “book flood.” The Icelandic “book flood” tradition of eating chocolate and reading new books in bed on Christmas Eve has captured the internet’s imagination in recent years. Turn it into a family dinner activity with some of these fun literary ideas from Dr. Anne Fishel, or make it a “book flood family dessert” with some chocolate recipes like Chai Hot Cocoa, Stone Bay Brownies, and Old Fashioned Hot Fudge, shared over a family read-aloud session.
• Have Dinner and a Movie. Our list of Holiday Dinner and a Movie ideas – inspired by themes of gratitude – is just as relevant in this season of comfort-seeking as it was when we first created it during COVID lockdowns. Get comfy and indulge in food, fun, and conversation with classic family movies that center around seeking bright spots even when they’re hard to find.
• Share some treats. Making homemade treats to give to others is one of the coziest, simplest ways to comfort yourself and your loved ones. Check out these homemade gift ideas and get into the kitchen!

Of course, there are lots of ways to celebrate the season, and we’ve got plenty more ideas at our Holiday hub. But the big idea this year is: You Do You. Love pillow forts and twinkle lights? Go for it. Prefer a moonlight stroll and a midnight hot cocoa date? Perfect. Let’s all make these last weeks of 2024 about seeking, and giving, relaxation and joy to ourselves and others.

Food

Nothing says comfort quite like a steaming bowl of soup — and this chowder recipe from our friends at the Military Special Operations Family Collaborative has “cozy” right in the name!

City Slickers Cozy Chowder

Fun

Holing up at home with your family and some holiday movies is pretty much the definition of comfort. For all those who keep saying “I didn’t have THAT on my bingo card this year,” we’ve created two new sweet holiday bingo games perfect for your family binge-watching days.

Holiday Bingo Cards

Conversation

Cozy up with these collections of conversation starters about holiday traditions, family history, and special recipes.

Holiday Recipes for Conversation