This year has been tough, and the holiday season will likely be no different. Some of us are lonely, some of us haven’t had a moment to ourselves since March. Share this calendar with friends and family to keep morale high from afar from Thanksgiving until December 25th!
Wednesday November 25
Have a New Girl Thanksgiving Marathon and support a local restaurant. (There will be enough cooking tomorrow!)
- Season 1, Episode 6: Thanksgiving
- Season 2, Episode 8: Parents
- Season 3, Episode 10: Thanksgiving III
- Season 4, Episode 9: Thanksgiving IV
- Season 6, Episode 7: Last Thanksgiving
Thursday November 26 (Thanksgiving!)
If you can, have a safe outdoor visit with a small group of loved ones. These heat lamps will help!
Come nightfall, cozy up and watch Saturday Night Live Thanksgiving.
Friday November 27 (Black Friday)
Spend the morning getting cleaned up, then throw together some homemade turkey stock for your freezer. Moms everywhere swear by the Instant Pot.
More in the mood to shop? Check out our roundup of the Best Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals for Travelers.
In my opinion, Christmas Chronicles on Netflix is the best live-action Christmas movie since Elf. Its sequel is coming out this year, so you’ll need to prep.
Saturday November 28
I was disappointed I don’t have any holiday parties to dress up for this year until I realized I could throw a virtual one and not have to slip down an icy sidewalk in heels at 1 am. Christmas Chronicles 2 deserves a red carpet premiere, and you should give it one.
Sunday November 29
Order your holiday cards! For those of us with new pets or children, this may have involved a struggle-bus of a photoshoot at Thanksgiving but will definitely be worth it. It’ll be worth it. It’ll be worth it…right?
Monday November 30
Time to get suited up! On Cyber Monday, get some new pajamas to prepare for the winter months ahead. These Jingle Jammies from Old Navy are my absolute favorites.
Tuesday December 1
The first day of December means sticking cloves in oranges, that’s just a fact. While you’re buying oranges and cloves anyway, throw together some mulled wine and watch Noelle on Disney+. (I cried…a lot.)
Wednesday December 2
Start December off the right way: by watching all the Parks and Recreation Christmas episodes and a having a whiskey tasting Ron Swanson would approve of.
Thursday December 3
Who else felt a lack of creative energy on Halloween? Now is the time to make up for it! Host a virtual Nutcracker-themed makeup contest with your friends and get spooky with Nightmare Before Christmas. The more dramatic the better! (This Winter Magic Palette is on sale for $8 and might help!)
“Weekend Trip” to the UK
Friday December 4
Watch Love Actually, eat Cadbury chocolate, and cry. That’s the whole activity.
Saturday December 5
Wow, that got dark! Lighten the mood with a some bubbly and some shortbread and watch The Holiday.
Sunday December 6
Bridget Jones Diary isn’t exclusively a Christmas movie, but it feels festive! Treat yourself to all three movies and a wine tasting. Fill out a Bright Cellars survey and you’ll receive four bottles with description cards. Guess all the tasting notes and you get a prize! That prize is more holiday activities.
Monday December 7
Support a local restaurant by ordering delivery and watch Happiest Season on Hulu. (We are so excited for more Dan Levy goodness in the world!)
Tuesday December 8
If you haven’t already ordered gifts for your extended relatives, now is the time! You know the classic Harry & David Christmas Tower is what you’ll end up sending.
Wednesday December 9
While You Were Sleeping is an underrated Sandy Bullock classic. Definitely watch it, and definitely order some panettone to connect with her character.
Thursday December 10
Polar Express + Hot Chocolate = Quintessential Christmas. Adults, definitely throw some Kahlua in there.
Friday December 11
Its Hanukkah! Spend a cozy winter evening making some latkes and playing dreidels. Don’t forget the gelt!
Saturday December 12
Three movies, three (arguably overly) sweet but very enjoyable holiday activities:
Sunday December 13
The Office didn’t phone it in with its Christmas episodes, and neither should you. Get in the Benihana Christmas mood with this at-home Hibachi Grill.
Monday December 14
Build your holiday Spotify playlist for the month and address those holiday cards!
Tuesday December 15
Treat yourself to a new pair of slippers, eat some fancy cheese, and watch Last Holiday. It is a foodie Christmas movie I didn’t know existed until 2017 and it is flawless Christmas goodness.
Wednesday December 16
Are you ready to have your mind blown? Before Schitt’s Creek, Moira was the mom in Home Alone. Watch it and toast to the miracle that is Catherine O’Hara.
Thursday December 17
I will never stop being impressed that the Home Alone sequel was so darn good. The scene in the limo with the giant pizza will get you craving pizza, so go ahead and make an night of it. And by make a night of it I mean place an embarrassingly large pizza order and watch Home Alone 2.
Friday December 18
Watch Christmas With the Kranks and make a Honey Ham. If you know, you know.
Saturday December 19
The Santa Clause is an absolute classic. When the CD player in Santa’s sleigh is actually a cookie dispenser? 1990’s comedic gold. Saturday is a perfect day for gingerbread house decorating so you have plenty of time to clean up.
Sunday December 20
The Schitt’s Creek Christmas Special is a heartwarming sob-fest. Go ahead and have a spa night while you watch it. David and Alexis would want you to gift yourself this Rose Hydration Skincare Set for the occasion. I love that journey for you.
Monday December 21
Watch Klaus on Netflix and cut snowflakes for your windows!
Tuesday December 22
Fun fact: The Muppet Christmas Carol is the most accurate movie portrayal of Charles Dickens’ original novel. Watch it!
Wednesday December 23
Frozen and Frozen 2 (both available on Disney+)…need I say more? Warm up some soft pretzels to get in the zone and watch both. I know its not exclusively a Christmas movie. Let it gooooooo…
Thursday December 24
Everyone at SmarterTravel has agreed: Dash & Lily is the Netflix sleeper hit of 2020. So. Many. Tears.
You’ll be inspired to get journaling in the new year…and perhaps hide it in your local bookstore for your true love to find?
Friday December 25
Perhaps this is the year for some outdoor caroling? Throw candy cane scented hand sanitizer at your neighbors while you sing to them from afar!
Oh, and watch Elf. Duh.
More from SmarterTravel:
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Top Fares From
Comments
Today's Top Travel Deals
Brought to you by ShermansTravel
Cancun: 4 Nights at Luxe Riviera...
GlobalTravel.com
vacation
$299+
Nuevo Vallarta: 4-Nt Stay at Luxe...
GlobalTravel.com
hotel
$299+
Black Friday Sale: Luxe 7-Nt Italy...
Oceania Cruises
cruise
$2699+