Older Adults, Tell Us About The Holiday Traditions From Your Youth That Are Practically Non-Existent Now

Carley Suthers
·2-min read

The holiday season is finally here! Whether you're busy planning your Thanksgiving menu or picking out the perfect presents for loved ones, now would be the perfect time for you to take a little break and stroll down memory lane with me...

Family and friends gather around a dining table, sharing a toast with wine glasses over a meal. Smiles, laughter, and togetherness fill the scene
Westend61 / Getty Images/Westend61

This time of year often evokes a sense of nostalgia and a longing for the traditions and simplistic fun of childhood memories. There's just something about the holidays of your youth that seems so much more magical in comparison to the celebrations of today...

Two children look through a window with joyful expressions, surrounded by holiday decorations, gifts, and a Christmas tree
H. Armstrong Roberts / Getty Images

Maybe you remember dressing up in a homemade costume and trick-or-treating with friends in your neighborhood?

Two children dressed as ghosts with painted faces sit on a table with carved pumpkins nearby, holding Halloween treat bags
Susangaryphotography / Getty Images

Maybe you remember unique dishes — such as Jell-O salad or Hot Dr. Pepper — that are no longer a Thanksgiving staple but seemed to be on every table back in the day?

Family gathers around a table as a woman joyfully serves a roast turkey, creating a warm and celebratory atmosphere
Chuck Savage / Getty Images

Maybe you remember being excited to receive holiday catalogs (such as the Sears "Wish Book" or Toys R Us catalog) so you could begin working on your Christmas wishlist?

Magazine cover of Sears Christmas Book 1968 with a smiling child and Christmas tree. Text highlights Sears as "America's favorite WISH BOOK."

And now, that's all but a memory, thanks to online shopping.

Chicago Tribune / Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Maybe you remember walking or driving around your hometown and admiring the different stores' holiday window displays and neighborhood lights?

Child looking into a festive window display with toys, surrounded by blurred holiday lights
Cavan Images / Getty Images/Cavan Images RF

Maybe you remember bundling up with family and friends and Christmas caroling door to door?

Four people wearing festive sweaters and Santa hats sing while holding sheets of paper
Orbon Alija / Getty Images

Or perhaps you remember holiday traditions that were entirely unique to your family?

Two children making cookies at a kitchen table, using rolling pins and cookie cutters
Bertil Persson / Getty Images

No matter what your favorite holiday memories are, we want to hear about them! Which is why I'm asking older adults: What do you miss most about the holiday season from your youth? Let us know in the comments! (Or if you would prefer to stay anonymous, you can answer using this Google Form). Your response could be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community post.

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