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The Best Christmas Traditions

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Dana Gray

Dec 19, 2016

University of Maryland College Park

Having Christmas traditions with your friends and family helps to make the holidays season truly the most wonderful time of the year. There are so many different traditions that each family has, but here are some of the best universal Christmas traditions.

1. Decorating the Christmas tree

Putting your tree up is a tell-tale sign that Christmas is right around the corner. Once your tree is all decorated and lit up your whole house feels so festive. Also, your tree ALWAYS makes your house smell like Christmas and is there anything more magical than that?

2. Making cookies

Making Christmas cookies is one of the tastiest ways to spread the holiday cheer. Cookie cutouts shaped like candy canes, Christmas trees, and gingerbread men allow for people of all ages to enjoy the crafty Christmas project.

3.Ugly Sweaters

Most of these sweaters are so ugly that they’re cute and ugly sweater parties are always incredibly fun.

4. Christmas music

Every time Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You comes on you can be sure to hear multiple people belting out the catchy tune. Christmas music puts everybody in a happier mood as it is an essential part of getting into the Christmas spirit.

5. ABC/ Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas

No matter what your favorite Christmas movie is, chances are that it is a part of ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas movie schedule. You can be sure to find Christmas classics like Elf, The Santa Clause, and The Polar Express on the list multiple times.

6. Decorating gingerbread houses

Decorating gingerbread houses with friends and family is a fun way to show your creativity over the Christmas season. Also, they taste delightful when it’s time for you to eat it.

7. Christmas decorations

There’s nothing better than driving around at night during the holiday season and seeing all of the houses all lit up for the holidays. The more lights the merrier!

8. Wrapping and unwrapping presents

Wrapping presents up nice and decorating the top of each box is very satisfying, but not nearly as satisfying as ripping the paper off of your presents on Christmas morning.

9. Secret Santa

Secret Santa is a friend group must. It's always interesting to see who had who and what everyone got their person when its time for the gift exchange.

10. Making a Christmas list

Lastly, there is nothing quite like making a Christmas list as a kid and sending it off to Santa in the hopes that you've been good that year.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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The Best Christmas Traditions

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

1. Decorating the Christmas tree

2. Making cookies

3.Ugly Sweaters

4. Christmas music

5. ABC/ Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas

6. Decorating gingerbread houses

7. Christmas decorations

8. Wrapping and unwrapping presents

9. Secret Santa

10. Making a Christmas list

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I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1. Watch an R-rated Scary Movie in a Movie Theater

2. Buy a Lottery Ticket

3. Vote in an Election

4. Participate in a Run (or a Walk, Realistically) for Charity

5. Go on a Road Trip

6. Start a Savings Account

7. Get a Credit Card

8. Sign up for Spotify Premium

9. Go to a Club

10. Start a Meditation Routine

11. Go to a Yoga Class

12. Treat Myself to a Dinner for One

13. Volunteer for a Charity

14. Participate in a Research Study

15. Bake Something (That Ends Up Being Edible)

16. Go Skydiving

17. Be Called for Jury Duty

18. Figure Out What I Want to Do With my Life

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1."But what would happen if we all tried to be like Santa and learned to give as only he can give: of ourselves, our talents, our love and our hearts? Maybe we could all learn Santa's beautiful lesson and maybe there would finally be peace on Earth and good will toward men."

"Sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see."

"If you won't use your heart, who cares if it gets broken? If you just keep it to yourself, maybe it'll be like my rollerblades. When you do decide to try it, it won't be any good. You should take a chance. Got nothing to lose."

"Remember, no man is a failure who has friends."

"Life is made up of meetings and partings. That is the way of it."

"If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find a that love actually is all around."

"Sometimes things look good on paper, but lose their luster when you see how it affects real folks. I guess a healthy bottom line doesn't mean much if to get it, you have to hurt the ones you depend on."

"'Maybe Christmas,' he thought, 'doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.'"

"Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to."

"There's room for everyone on the nice list."

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1. Why are towels considered dirty when you get out of the shower clean?

2. Who closes the bus door once the bus driver gets off?

3. Why is there a "d" in "fridge" but not in "refrigerator"?

4. If you drop soap on the floor is the floor clean or the soap dirty?

5. Is the "S" or the "C" silent in the word "scent"?

6. Does expecting the unexpected make the unexpected the expected?

7. Would Lightning McQueen buy car insurance or life insurance?

8. Who put the alphabet in alphabetical order?

9. What color are mirrors?

10. If 2 mind readers read each other's minds whose mind are they really reading?

11. Is there a synonym for "synonym"?

12. If your shirt isn't tucked into your pants, are your pants tucked into your shirt?

13. Why is it called "quick sand" if you sink slowly in it?

14. If I try to fail, but succeed, which one did I do?

15. If Cinderella's shoe fit perfectly, why did it fall off?

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