🎄 Modern vs. Past Christmases: A Sentimental Sleigh Ride

I’m sure many of you can think back to your childhood and remember something magical about Christmas that’s now a distant memory. Back then, people looked forward to the future when it came to their Christmas trees—aluminum trees with color wheels, or live ones dripping in tinsel like a glitter explosion. Some were so heavily flocked it looked like a blizzard had hit the living room.

Today, we crave a more natural look: gently snow-dusted branches, minimalist elegance, or even multiple trees throughout the home, each with its own theme. The evolution is striking—and so is the nostalgia.

📖 Remember the Sears Wish Book? We’d circle our favorite toys, dog-ear pages, and write heartfelt letters to Santa. Now, kids Google their wish lists, text them to parents, and track packages like mini logistics managers. Still, the magic isn’t lost—you can even have Santa send a personalized letter from the North Pole to keep the wonder alive.

🎶 Caroling used to be a community affair. Neighbors and churches would stroll through neighborhoods singing joyfully. These days, if the doorbell rings, people check their Ring cameras and dive behind the couch like it’s a surprise audit.

🚂 My dad used to set up a train around our tinsel-drenched tree. He’d pour oil into the smokestack, and real steam would puff out as it circled the base. Trains still exist, but they’re rarely part of the tree-scape anymore.

🛍️ Layaway plans were the norm. You’d pay a little at a time, and the store would hold your gift until it was paid in full. Now, we swipe the card, get the gift instantly, and worry about the bill later. Shopping used to mean visiting stores or flipping through catalogs. Now, brick-and-mortar shops are fading, and online shopping reigns supreme.

✨ Christmas lights have gone from neighborhood strolls to drive-thru spectacles. You can still cruise through neighborhoods, but now there are designated light parks—paid by the carload, synchronized to music, and Instagram-ready.

🎅 Santa’s visit has leveled up. We used to leave out milk and cookies. Now, the reindeer get carrots or glittery reindeer food. Kids wake up to sleigh tracks, boot prints, notes from Santa, maybe even a torn piece of red fabric snagged on the fireplace. TikTok has even shown homes where Santa “accidentally” left his wallet.

🍿 Garland used to be a family affair—popcorn and cranberries strung with care. These days, garland comes in every form imaginable, but rarely homemade and rarely edible (lest the pets launch a midnight tree raid).

So yes, it’s lovely to reflect on the Christmases of the past. But I also embrace the magic of modern traditions—and we’ve even created a few of our own. The beauty is: there’s no right or wrong. You can blend nostalgia with novelty and craft a Christmas that’s perfect for you and yours.

📺 When Christmas Specials Were a Family Event

Before streaming, before DVRs, before “watch it anytime”—there was the TV guide. And if you were a kid in the '70s, '80s, or even early '90s, you knew the thrill of flipping through those pages to find out exactly when “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “Frosty the Snowman” would air. Miss it? Too bad. There were no reruns, no replays, no second chances.

We’d gather around the television—rabbit ears adjusted just so, the turnable knob ready for action. I’d lay on the floor and twist that knob with my toes (don’t act like you didn’t do that too). It was a full-family affair. Pajamas, popcorn, and the glow of the screen. And the next day at school? Everyone was buzzing about the show. It was communal, magical, and fleeting.

Now, we’ve got more Christmas content than we can shake a stick at. And while it’s wonderful to have access to the classics on demand, something about that shared anticipation has faded. The tradition has shifted—but the memories remain.

Did you turn the channels with your toes? What shows did you watch, what memories of Christmases past do you have and what traditions do you miss or now have? Here at Kicking the Chaos, we want to know what rituals make your season sparkle?