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Last year, I moved from New Jersey to Spain.
As much as I love my family, being in the US stresses me out. Instead of flying home, I wanted to experience something new this holiday season that would hopefully be a salve to the constant political disappointment I've been feeling as a Black woman living in the country.
Although Barcelona (my current city) comes alive during December with Christmas markets, festive lights, and a wave of tourists, I was craving greenery, the tranquility of nature, and maybe a sprinkle of luxury (at least for a few days). I knew I'd find that in Ireland, which I've loved every time I've visited.
Less than a month before Christmas, I did some last-minute planning to make my dream trip a reality.
Shayna Conde
I've been to Ireland a few times, and multiple people I've met abroad have encouraged me to visit West Cork.
The somewhat underrated foodie destination is covered in farmland and remnants of Ireland's once-abundant temperate rainforests.
My curiosity was fully piqued, so I booked an extended weekend at Liss Ard Estate in the town of Skibbereen.
The luxurious estate was a bit of a splurge for me — the cheapest suites start at 160 euros, or about $166, a night — but I considered it a Christmas gift to myself.
Shayna Conde
I hoped to spend time in nature during my trip, but I wasn't expecting to see greenery similar to "Jurassic Park" in the winter Irish countryside.
I spent most of my time in West Cork wandering the Irish Sky Garden, which James Turrell created in the 1990s.
I didn't even know about the internationally renowned masterpiece of interactive natural art when I booked my stay, but it's safe to say I was forever changed by the beautiful installation.
Shayna Conde
The Sky Garden is basically just a giant concave oval. When standing inside it, the sounds of nature are amplified, and the sky turns into a massive portrait.
As I lay on the rock slab, staring at the sky and hearing blades of grass shuffle in the breeze, I was reminded how wonderful it is to just be present in the moment.
Shayna Conde
I loved the solitude of West Cork, but I planned on spending Christmas Day in Dublin, more specifically, at Jacob's Inn.
I've stayed in this hostel every time I've visited Dublin. As an avid solo traveler, I rarely find accommodations that organically create the feeling of family among strangers, but this place does it for me every time.
Immediately after entering and putting my bags in storage, I met a travel buddy at the bar who mildly peer-pressured me into going to a reggaeton club (something I didn't even know existed in Dublin).
We had a blast.
Shayna Conde
Although Dublin was crowded with a wave of holiday tourists and locals gathering with friends and family, I was still able to carve out dedicated time to rest, regroup, and explore the city at my own pace.
Two of my favorite adventures were finding The Little Pig Speakeasy and visiting the city's museums.
The four properties of the National Museum of Ireland and the National Gallery are all free to the public, so I took my time wandering through as many exhibits as I could.
Shayna Conde
The speakeasy was the most authentic-feeling one I've been to in years.
To enter, my hostel buddy and I had to find a pay phone, type three numbers, say a code that we got from a local store owner, enter a trick wall, and then follow the neon pig. The tasty cocktails were worth the effort we spent getting into the bar.
Shayna Conde
Other than talking to my mom on Christmas Day, everything about this holiday was new for me.
At times, it was a bit overwhelming. However, not knowing what each day would bring during a season that's usually steeped in tradition was also exciting.
Whether I return to Ireland in December 2025 or set off to another country, I'm excited to make solo travel my new holiday tradition.
Courtesy of Jenny Powers/JCPenney Portrait Studios by Lifetouch
Inside the Ocean County Mall in Tom's River, New Jersey, marketing professional Brandon Van Houten, 26, and his girlfriend of three years, Cassandra DiFabio, 25, prepared for their 15-minute awkward holiday photo shoot at the JCPenney Portrait Studio.
"I remember thinking, who gets their pictures taken at JCPenney anymore? It turns out a whole lot of people do," Van Houten told Business Insider.
The couple had a two-hour wait, along with dozens of crying babies and a group of twenty-somethings clad in all denim waiting to get their awkward on.
When Van Houten posted his photos on TikTok and tagged JCPenneyPortraits, the company playfully replied, "Sooo how do we get on your Xmas card list? Asking for a friend."
Courtesy of Brandon Van Houten/JCPenney Portrait Studios by Lifetouch
"The fact that they responded was both unexpected and awesome, and it made me look at JCPenney in a whole new way," said Van Houten. "It's clear from their social media that the portraits team is made up of a younger generation that knows how to engage with their audience."
In other words, this isn't your mama's JCPenney. In fact, it isn't really JCPenney at all. The studios belong to Lifetouch and its parent company Shutterfly Inc. and they're using the awkward photo trend to grow their Gen Z customer base.
In 1983, Lifetouch, a national leader in school photography, acquired the JCPenney Portrait Studios from the retail giant. Then in 2018, Shutterfly Inc. acquired Lifetouch in an $825 million cash deal. So, in reality, the JCPenney Portrait Studios by Lifetouch are now under the Shutterfly umbrella, which becomes evident when customers are prompted to create or log into their Shutterfly account to receive their digital images through the cloud-photo management service.
Nevertheless, the awkward family photo trend has been a boon for both Lifetouch and the JCPenney brand. Not only do the JCPenney Portrait Studios maintain their original name, boosting the JCPenney brand recognition among younger generations, but since all 357 studios in the United States are located inside JCPenney stores, there's an increase in foot traffic.
Additionally, a Lifetouch representative told BI that their company leases the studio spaces from JCPenney, adding another benefit to the partnership.
Linda, a JCPenney Portrait Studio photographer who asked BI not to publish her last name for privacy reasons, has worked at a high-volume location in the Northeast for three years. She told BI that during the holidays, her studio regularly sees over 100 sessions a day, with wait times ranging from 45 minutes to up to two hours, as DiFabio and Van Houten experienced.
"The only reason we're having these awkward portrait sessions is because they went crazy viral on TikTok," she said.
The social media trend commonly referred to as "This is your sign to do an awkward photo session at JCPenney Portrait Studios" took off last year and has continued to soar to new heights during the holiday season.
On TikTok, where people showcase live content from their portrait sessions, #JCPenney has more than 25,000 posts, with some videos getting up to 10M views, and #JCPenneyPortraits has over 12,000 posts.
Courtesy of Samantha Colon/JCPenney Portrait Studios by Lifetouch
"We had so much fun posing and working with our photographer that now we want to do this for every holiday," said 27-year-old Samantha Colon, whose recorded session with her husband garnered nearly 64,000 views on Tiktok. "I'm already thinking about Valentine's Day."
In the '80s and '90s, parents dragged their reluctant kids to the local JCPenney for a portrait session. Now, the kids are coming in on their own in droves to intentionally replicate a nostalgic experience from an era they weren't even alive for.
Inspired by all the social media posts in my feed, I booked a holiday portrait session for my own family. My husband and our Gen Z daughter scoured the internet for awkward Hanukkah attire and turned to Pinterest for pose inspirations which we practiced at home.
A week later, we drove an hour to the nearest JCPenney in Brooklyn, New York. It was my first time in a JCPenney in decades.
Courtesy of Jenny Powers/JCPenney Portrait Studios by Lifetouch
The photographer was very familiar with the awkward trend and alternated between instructing us on how to pose and looking at the shot list we'd created, thanks to Pinterest. The session wound up taking 25 minutes versus the allotted 15 minutes, which is likely part of the reason there's a lot of waiting time involved in these sessions — we waited for an hour when we arrived.
Counting our roundtrip drive and studio waiting time, the experience took four hours and cost $145 — thanks to a $70 coupon — between the $15 per person sitting fee and the 38-photo digital album.
We all had a blast, and our fifteen-year-old daughter is already asking when we can return and do it again.
Getting Gen Z into the stores and through those studio doors is hopefully just the beginning. Emilee Feneis, director of marketing performance for Lifetouch (Shutterfly Inc.), told BI, "This has been a great new customer acquisition channel for us in terms of bringing in younger generations, and our goal is to be able to retain them as customers for all of the different stages of their lives and grow as a business."
Feiness said during November and December, the studios see 90% more sessions captured than during the rest of the year. While the core of its business remains traditional family photography, a staggering 30% of the photo sessions this holiday were of the awkward family variety.
Courtesy of Jenny Powers/JCPenney Portrait Studios by Lifetouch
"We wanted to engage more with our younger audience and meet them where they're at, so last November, we launched our own TikTok account," said Hayley Schroer, a marketing manager at Lifetouch.
One year later, the brand's TikTok account has 11,000 followers.
At the end of the day, Nikki Massimore, director of retail photography at JCPenney Portrait Studios, whose team is responsible for training studio photographers, says, "It's not just about a handful of pictures. It's the whole experience of bringing people together in a whole different way to do something fun and unconventional."
Between the flurry of social media posts, it seemed to have worked The awkward family portrait was one of the most unlikely comebacks and a big lure for Gen Z.
Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, takes place from December 25 through January 2 this year.
Hanukkah celebrates the victory of a small group of Jewish rebels over an enormous Greek army to defend their heritage, and a miraculously long-lasting flame that continues to serve as a symbol of hope and perseverance.
Here are 10 facts you may not have known about Hanukkah.
Rafiq Maqbool/AP
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the ancient Jewish Temple in Jerusalem after a small Jewish army called the Maccabees reclaimed it from the Greek leader Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 164 BC.
According to tradition, while the Jews were living under the Greek empire around 167 BC, King Antiochus IV outlawed Judaism and desecrated the Holy Temple that stood in Jerusalem. A small Jewish army called the Maccabees led a rebellion against the Greeks and won.
When they returned to the Temple to relight the ritual menorah or candelabra, they found only enough oil to last one day, but it miraculously lasted eight.
Jewish people commemorate the Maccabees' victory and the miracle of the oil by lighting a menorah for eight nights and eating fried foods.
Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
The Books of the Maccabees are not included in the Jewish biblical canon, and the Babylonian Talmud only briefly explains the holiday's origins, citing the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days.
Other lesser-known biblical Jewish holidays, such as Sukkot and Shavuot, carry much more religious significance than Hanukkah. Still, Hanukkah became absorbed into the widespread culture of gift-giving and holiday cheer because of its proximity to Christmas.
CTK, Michal Kamaryt/AP
Hanukkah begins on the 25th of the Hebrew lunar month of Kislev every year, but the date in the Gregorian calendar varies.
The lunar calendar is shorter than the solar one, so an extra month is added to the Jewish calendar every two to three years to keep the holidays within certain agricultural seasons and times of year.
This year, Hanukkah began on the evening of December 25.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
Because the dates for Jewish holidays vary on the Gregorian calendar, sometimes an early Hanukkah coincides with Thanksgiving.
When the two holidays overlapped in 2013, the phenomenon became known as "Thanksgivukkah" complete with turkey-shaped menorahs playfully dubbed "menurkeys." The next Thanksgivukkah will take place in 2070.
In 2024, Hanukkah began on Christmas Day, another unusual overlap that has only occurred five times since 1900.
Reza/Getty Images
The menorah lit by the Maccabees in the ancient Temple had seven branches — three on each side and one in the middle. The menorahs lit on Hanukkah today have nine branches, four candles on each side for all eight nights of the holiday, and one middle candle used to light the others.
The proper term for these nine-branched candelabras is "hanukkiot," but many people still call them "menorahs."
DOUG MILLS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Christmas celebrations at the White House date back to 1800, but Hanukkah wasn't acknowledged until much later.
President Jimmy Carter was the first president to recognize Hanukkah with a menorah lighting in 1979 on the Ellipse, a lawn south of the White House. President George W. Bush was the first to hold a menorah lighting inside the White House residence.
In 2022, carpenters created the first official White House menorah for the White House holiday decorations, using leftover wood from a Truman-era White House renovation circa 1950.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
The secretary of the interior under Carter initially refused to issue a permit for a menorah on the White House lawn, citing the First Amendment.
Stu Eizenstat, one of Carter's advisors, argued that the permit for the national Christmas tree should also be denied on the same grounds, and the event was allowed to proceed.
THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images
Jelly doughnuts called sufganiyot are a classic Hanukkah treat, but some chefs get creative with decadent toppings and fillings like chocolate or custard.
Sarah Aroeste
Fried foods are traditionally eaten on Hanukkah to commemorate the miracle of the long-lasting oil.
Jews of Sephardic ancestry make fried doughnut fritters called bimuelos on Hanukkah. A Ladino variation on the Spanish buneolos, they were a popular dish with Spanish Jews known as Marranos in the 15th to 17th centuries, according to My Jewish Learning.
Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty Images
"Dreidel" is Yiddish for "spinning top." It has four sides, each with a different Hebrew letter. Players start with a supply of coins, chocolate or otherwise, and take turns spinning. Depending on which letter the top lands on, they put a coin in the middle, skip their turn, win half of the coins, or take home the entire pot.
The four letters on a dreidel each stand for a Hebrew word. Outside Israel, the letters represent a sentence that means "a great miracle happened there." In Israel, the last letter is changed, altering the meaning to "a great miracle happened here."
Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
When people need advice for holiday hosting and menus, they turn to Ina Garten — and we agree that's a smart move.
Garten is the queen of easy comfort dishes, which we need during the busy winter season.
We've tested over a dozen Barefoot Contessa recipes. From delicious pastas to perfect chocolate-chip cookies, here are the dishes to include on your holiday menu.
Rachel Askinasi/Business Insider
Chipotle cheddar crackers are Garten's go-to homemade appetizer for any gathering, and we think they're perfect for a holiday party.
"I just like to make one thing and then buy the rest," Garten told Bon Appétit when discussing how she constructs a cocktail hour or appetizer spread. She said these crackers are typically the only thing she'll make.
We loved how the crackers tasted like a Cheez-It combined with the texture of a biscuit.
Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's chipotle cheddar crackers here.
Rachel Askinasi/Business Insider
If you're looking for an easy main dish or a last-minute protein, Garten's lemony and herby turkey breast recipe is here to save the day.
It was relatively easy to prepare, and it requires much less time and prep work than a full-size bird, making it a great option for day-of cooking.
Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's herb-roasted turkey breast here.
Rachel Askinasi/Business Insider
Our favorite part of the turkey breast recipe was the wet rub that seasons the poultry. We used it to flavor our green beans and boost the brightness of our potatoes, and we put the rest in a bowl for the perfect dipping sauce.
If you're looking for a citrusy, fresh, herby way to tie multiple dishes in your hosting spread together, it's worth pulling it out of the turkey recipe — even if you're not making the bird.
Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's lemony, herby turkey rub here.
Rachel Askinasi/Business Insider
This recipe is both flavorful and comforting. It would be perfect for a cold and rainy winter day but also ideal for a cozy holiday meal served on the floor or on the couch by the fireplace.
The only hangup is that this one takes a few hours to make — but we think it's worth it.
Plus, if you're cooking for less than five people, you'll have plenty of leftovers for days and weeks ahead.
Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's chicken in a pot with orzo here.
Rachel Askinasi/Business Insider
This recipe isn't simple, but it's delicious and would be a great way to show yourself some love this holiday season. Nothing says holiday decadence like putting in some work to create an indulgent, satisfying, soul-warming meal for yourself.
With three types of cheese and thick-cut bacon, it tastes like a sophisticated version of the lunch we ate as a kid.
While there are several steps, Garten's recipe is precise with measurements and easy to follow, which can help even a timid home cook successfully complete it.
Rachel Askinasi/Business Insider
The Barefoot Contessa's giant chocolate-chip cookies are a great way to close out any holiday meal. They're sweet and salty, with a texture that manages to be crispy, flaky, crunchy, and gooey all at once.
The characteristic that sets these cookies apart is that they ripple out from the center to the edges, thanks to the Barefoot Contessa's tip of banging the tray on your counter every few minutes while baking. This can feel like a hassle, but it's worth the extra effort.
Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's giant crinkled chocolate-chip cookies here.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Garten's delicious corn bread is the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Its salty and crunchy crust gives way to a moist and fluffy filling that everyone loves.
The recipe is also easy and foolproof, even for novice bakers. And with such a stunning golden color, it's a showstopper at the dinner table.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Garten has a plethora of potato recipes that are great for the holidays, including her rosemary roasted potatoes and Parmesan mashed potatoes. But the "Barefoot Contessa" star's potato-fennel gratin is our favorite.
The gratin is a creamy dream. The combination of Gruyère cheese and heavy cream is so comforting, and the potatoes come out perfectly cooked every single time. The sautéed fennel also adds a lovely mild sweetness that cuts through all the cheesiness.
Garten's potato-fennel gratin also pairs well with everything, making it the perfect side dish for any holiday protein. It can also be made ahead of time and reheated, giving you some much-needed oven space on a busy cooking day.
Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's potato-fennel gratin here.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Garten's recipe requires you to warm up the store-bought mashed potatoes, throw in sour cream, unsalted butter, and freshly grated Italian Parmesan cheese, then season with salt and pepper.
It might sound too good to be true, but these potatoes wowed us. The Parmesan cheese infused the dish with a delicious richness, and the sour cream added so much creaminess that no one even realized the mashed potatoes were store-bought!
Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's elevated store-bought mashed potatoes here.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
We've made nearly a dozen Ina Garten pastas, but one of our absolute favorites is the penne alla vodka.
Garten's trick is to roast the vodka sauce in the oven, which infuses the tomatoes with so much delicious flavor that it truly takes this dish to another level.
Plus, it's such a visually stunning pasta. There's no doubt you'll hear everyone say "wow" when you bring this to the dinner table.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Garten said her rigatoni with sausage and fennel pasta is one of her "all-time go-to dinners" — and it's perfect when you've got a big group.
The one-pot pasta is packed with delicious ingredients, including sweet Italian sausages, chopped fennel, freshly grated Italian Parmesan cheese, dry white wine, and heavy cream.
The dish is rich and creamy, and we loved how the sweetness of the sausage worked together with the saltiness of the Parmesan cheese. As we brace ourselves for a chilly holiday season, this one-pot pasta is sure to warm you up (without filling the sink with dishes).
Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's one-pot rigatoni with sausage and fennel here.
Anneta Konstantinides/Insider
Garten's garlic bread with a twist features a French baguette, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, butter, parsley, lemon zest, and plenty of garlic.
And the "outrageous" garlic bread lives up to its name in the best way. Each piece was delightfully crunchy, with a zingy brightness from the lemon zest and parsley. One of our friends declared that she "could have eaten an entire baguette's worth."
Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's "outrageous" garlic bread here.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
While pumpkin pie might dominate the Thanksgiving dessert table, we get to be a bit more creative in December. And who doesn't love some chocolate cake after dinner?
Garten said her Beatty's chocolate cake recipe is "the most fabulous chocolate cake that I've ever made." The delicious dessert features a secret ingredient — one cup of hot brewed coffee — which enhances the chocolate flavor.
We were blown away by how fluffy and moist the cake tasted. It's packed with chocolate, but the texture is still light as air — an incredible feat. The cake is huge, so there's plenty to go around if you've got a big guest list. And it still tastes fresh days later, so everyone gets to enjoy some leftovers.
Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's Beatty's chocolate cake here.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Garten's bourbon chocolate pecan pie features a store-bought crust, and she told The New York Times that it tasted even better than one made from scratch. Since the frozen crust is less buttery, it doesn't distract or compete with the rich bourbon-chocolate filling.
The recipe features diced pecans, semisweet chocolate chips, vanilla, and some good bourbon. And the pie couldn't be easier to assemble. After chopping some pecans and mixing everything together, it was ready to go in the oven — talk about a stress-free holiday dessert!
We loved all the texture and flavor in Garten's bourbon chocolate pecan pie. There's the crunchiness from the pecans, the creaminess from the chocolate chips, and those sweet notes of caramel from the bourbon. It also tastes fantastic with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's bourbon chocolate pecan pie here.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Sometimes, sharing your birthday with a holiday can be fun — think: Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, or July 4. But trying to celebrate your day of birth while many others are celebrating Christmas can be tricky.
Christmas babies: We see you, and now you have 14 more celebrity friends to commiserate with. These 14 celebrities, from Stephenie Meyer to Ricky Martin, were born on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Keep scrolling to see who's sharing their birthday with the reason for the season.
Steve Granitz / Contributor / Getty Images
On December 24, Ryan Seacrest will turn 50.
Two years ago, Seacrest celebrated his birthday with a family gathering and playing games with balloon animals, according to Instagram.
Brendon Thorne/Getty
Ricky Martin's 53rd birthday is on December 24, 2024.
To get into the Christmas spirit, Martin voiced a character in the Netflix holiday film "Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey."
Al Drago/Getty Images
The most famous expert on infectious diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, will turn 84 on Christmas Eve.
Fauci was born on December 24, 1940 — and while he might not have been a huge celebrity for the first seven decades of his life, Decade No. 8 is shaping up to be his busiest ever.
Vivien Killilea/GettyImages
Louis Tomlinson's 33rd birthday is on Christmas Eve.
Tomlinson is the oldest member of One Direction, and the oldest of seven siblings.
Getty
Jimmy Buffett would have celebrated his 78th birthday on December 25, 2024.
Buffett died in September 2023 at the age of 76.
Of the many, many, albums Buffett released over his decadeslong career, he put out two Christmas albums: 1996's "Christmas Island" and 2016's "'Tis the SeaSon."
Amanda Edwards/WireImage/Getty Images
"Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer will celebrate her 51st birthday on Christmas Eve.
In 2020, Meyer released the eighth installment in the "Twilight" saga, "Midnight Sun," a re-telling of the first "Twilight" book from Edward's perspective.
Noam Galai/Getty Images for TIME
Lee Daniels turns the big 6-5 on December 24 this year.
The Oscar-nominated director is celebrating his 65th birthday this year, 19 years after his directorial debut, "Shadowboxer."
Mark Humphery/ AP
Barbara Mandrell's 76th birthday is this Christmas Day.
The iconic country singer released a Christmas album in 1984, "Christmas at Our House."
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images
Jeremy Strong was born 46 years ago on Christmas Day, 1978.
The "Succession" star has a few things to celebrate this year. He's been receiving awards buzz for his performance as Roy Cohn in "The Apprentice" and won a Tony for his role in "An Enemy of the People."
AP
Sissy Spacek's 75th birthday is on Christmas Day.
The Oscar winner starred in the 2008 Christmas rom-com "Four Christmases."
Associated Press
On December 25, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau turns 53.
At 43 years old, Trudeau was the second-youngest prime minister in Canadian history when he was elected in November 2015.
Kieran Doherty/AP Images
Dido will also turn 53 on Christmas Day this year.
The British singer takes a page out of Paddington Bear's book to celebrate her birthday — since Christmas is already a holiday, she celebrates her birthday on June 25, according to The Guardian.
Vera Anderson/WireImage/Getty Images
Annie Lennox's 70th birthday is on Christmas Day.
The "Walking on Broken Glass" singer released her first and only Christmas album, "A Christmas Cornucopia," in 2010.
Jason Mendez/Invision/AP
Danish supermodel Helena Christensen will turn 56 on December 25, 2024.
Christensen first gained mainstream recognition 35 years ago when she starred in the music video for Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game."
Terri Peters
Lasagna is a favorite meal in my house.
As a busy mom with a picky eater, I find lasagna a straightforward dish with familiar ingredients that pleases my family.
I have a standard family recipe I always use, but I recently tested out lasagna recipes from the celebrity chefs Giada De Laurentiis, Ina Garten, and Ree Drummond.
Here's how the unique recipes stacked up.
Terri Peters
Garten's easy turkey lasagna is a simple take on the standard recipe with a few surprising ingredients — namely, goat cheese for the filling.
Her recipe calls for sweet Italian turkey sausage, but since I had trouble finding that at any grocery stores near me, I used regular ground turkey and seasoned it with Italian seasoning, red-pepper flakes, and a bit of sugar.
Terri Peters
After seasoning the ground turkey, making the sauce was pretty straightforward.
When I simmered onion, fresh herbs, canned crushed tomatoes, and tomato paste together, I had a pretty standard, meaty sauce to work with.
Terri Peters
I'd never made lasagna with goat cheese, but Garten's recipe meant I stirred 3 to 4 ounces of it into 15 ounces of ricotta.
The combination was tart and flavorful. The flavors of the goat cheese stood out in the dish, especially with the lightness of the ground turkey.
Terri Peters
I really liked that Garten's recipe included fresh mozzarella cheese.
So many lasagnas lean on grated or shredded mozzarella, so slicing up a fresh log was a nice touch.
Terri Peters
Garten's cheese-laden lasagna was a dairy lover's dream.
The goat cheese gave that layer some extra tang and flavor, and the fresh mozzarella provided layers of thick, cheesy goodness that made for a great cheese pull.
Terri Peters
De Laurentiis' classic Italian lasagna made me question the standard recipe I've been following for years.
I'm used to ground meat, cheeses, and tomato sauce. But De Laurentiis' recipe requires 20 ounces of frozen spinach and a mixture of white béchamel sauce and homemade tomato sauce.
Terri Peters
De Laurentiis' method puzzled me, but who am I to argue with a master of Italian cuisine?
I made a béchamel sauce and a standard tomato sauce to assemble the chef's lasagna and stirred the two together.
De Laurentiis also said to keep the ground beef separate, layering it into the dish on its own.
Terri Peters
Before assembling, I followed the instructions and stirred together three large eggs and 1 ½ pounds of ricotta cheese.
I'm not a fan of a lasagna that's heavy on the egg flavor, but her recipe wasn't overly eggy in the end.
Terri Peters
De Laurentiis' recipe had a lot of spinach, and there wasn't much seasoning to add flavor.
The spinach was my least favorite ingredient in any of the lasagna recipes, and I'm usually a big fan of the leafy green.
Terri Peters
De Laurentiis' lasagna disappointed me, mostly because it wasn't very flavorful.
I don't think the many steps of the complicated recipe paid off in the end.
Terri Peters
Drummond, better known as The Pioneer Woman, doesn't mess around with protein-filled meals.
Her simple lasagna recipe calls for 2 pounds of ground beef and a pound of hot breakfast sausage.
The chef also included cottage cheese instead of traditional ricotta and tons of fresh herbs, such as basil and parsley.
Terri Peters
I eat a high-protein diet, so I was immediately drawn to Drummond's meat-heavy lasagna sauce.
Like Garten, Drummond's recipe relies on canned tomatoes and tomato paste to make up the rest of the sauce, along with lots of chopped, fresh herbs.
Terri Peters
Cottage cheese is a staple for meeting my daily protein goals, but I'd never had it in lasagna.
Drummond completely did away with traditional ricotta, and in the end, I enjoyed the flavor the cottage cheese brought to the meal.
My son, the picky eater, didn't even notice the switch.
Terri Peters
Tossing 3 pounds of meat into a lasagna felt like overkill, but I ended up loving it.
Lasagna can be carb- and dairy-heavy, so I liked how protein-packed Drummond's version was.
Terri Peters
Drummond's meaty lasagna was my favorite.
I would make her recipe again — it just might replace the family recipe I always default to.
Drummond's lasagna was perfectly cheesy and flavorful, had the right ratio of sauce to noodles, and was incredibly simple to assemble.
Best of all, it was a hit with my entire family.
This story was originally published on December 21, 2023, and most recently updated on December 24, 2024.
Kseniya Ovchinnikova/Getty Images
Whether you're disagreeing over politics or dodging questions about why you've gained or lost weight, getting through a family gathering can feel like you're dealing with a powder keg of emotions. Then you wake up the next day with nausea or a pounding headache.
All signs point to a hangover — except you didn't drink alcohol. Instead, your unpleasant symptoms might be due to an "emotional hangover," which refers to the "feeling of physical and emotional exhaustion that follows an intense emotional situation," Charlynn Ruan, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and founder of Thrive Psychology Group, told Business Insider.
When you have a conflict or negative interaction with someone, "your nervous system is flooded with adrenaline and cortisol, and you may enter a state of fight, flight, or freeze, which helps you navigate threats and challenges," she added. Following an intense emotional experience, you may develop symptoms like exhaustion, headaches, and brain fog.
Although an emotional hangover isn't a clinical diagnosis, the nausea and fatigue can resemble the effects of consuming alcohol. Below, two psychologists explain what makes you vulnerable to an emotional hangover and how to recover after a tense family gathering.
Strong emotions like fear and anger can elicit the body's natural stress response. "Once the stress subsides, the body may experience a 'crash,' leading to fatigue, nausea, headaches, irritability, and muscle soreness," Harris Stratyner, Ph.D., a New York City-based psychologist, told Business Insider.
Ruan explained that any situation that triggers the fight, flight, or freeze response can lead to an emotional hangover. For instance, you might feel drained or disoriented after having a heated argument with your partner, mediating conflict between relatives, or returning to a home or town that reminds you of traumatic childhood events.
Accordingly, emotional hangover triggers may be connected to unresolved childhood traumas or present-day conflicts, Ruan said. "If you did something you regret, guilt can linger and create a sense of emotional depletion," Stratyner said.
Other reasons you might experience an emotional hangover include failing in front of others, receiving upsetting news, taking on too much responsibility at work or home, or ending a relationship, Stratyner said. The more you're invested in a relationship, the greater your emotional distress can be.
Besides uncomfortable family dynamics, noise, large crowds, and travel can heighten your distress. The holidays also carry additional pressures like overextending yourself financially or being around family members you might otherwise choose to avoid during the year.
Certain tendencies and personality traits can make you susceptible to an emotional hangover. "People who are high on the personality trait of agreeableness may have difficulty saying no to activities that are draining or experience cortisol spikes, even if a conflict is between other people and doesn't concern them," Ruan said.
Stratyner said that being high in neuroticism can make you more reactive to emotional stressors, which makes it more difficult to recover from stressful experiences. The same goes for low self-esteem since you're more likely to internalize criticism and struggle with feeling inadequate.
Stratyner said people who describe themselves as introverted or highly sensitive may also experience deeper emotional fatigue after taxing social interactions. They might also be more prone to ruminating about past events and dwelling on negative feelings.
"People-pleasers often suppress their emotions to avoid conflict and keep others happy," Stratyner said. When you can't please everyone or need to be assertive, you might feel conflicted and drained, leading to an emotional hangover.
Like people-pleasers, perfectionists may experience disappointment or shame if they fail to meet their high standards. Additionally, "those with an anxious attachment style are more likely to agonize over social interactions and perceive threats to your relationships even when there aren't any," Ruan said.
One way to prevent an emotional hangover is to engage in soothing activities. For example, you can write down what you're grateful for, spend time outdoors, or take a break from the news or social media, Stratyner said.
Before attending a family gathering that could be triggering or overwhelming, Ruan suggested making time to see friends, booking a session with your therapist, going for a run, or engaging in a relaxing hobby. She also recommended reaching out to supportive family members and discussing how you can help each other or intervene in case you get caught in a stressful conversation.
If you do get an emotional hangover, there are ways to speed up the recovery process. Since your nervous system is depleted, it's important to recharge by resting, catching up on sleep, having a bath, or listening to music.
"Be around friends and family who feel safe and loving, so your nervous system will stop releasing cortisol and adrenaline and start producing oxytocin and serotonin, which help regulate your mood," Ruan said. Additionally, Stratyner recommends small gestures like sending a thoughtful message or volunteering, which can make you feel a sense of purpose or positivity.
"If you feel antsy or agitated, you may need to engage in a high-energy activity to burn off built-up hormones and signal to your body that the threat is over," Ruan said. Activities like boxing, running, and weightlifting can provide a healthy outlet for releasing stress and help you recover from an emotional hangover.
Courtesy of Amy Halloran
We want holiday traditions to be static, each year repeating the last. In reality, kids grow, parents age, divorces happen, and jobs change, forcing us to adjust to suit new circumstances. We learned this when my father had strokes, and we fought to keep him involved in our annual tree fetch — a ritual that he'd started.
Decorating for Christmas was a task my dad adored, and finding the perfect tree was a contemplative task. At Nick's, the sheep farm with a few trees we went to every year, he studied spruce, fir, and balsam. When he found a promising one, he shook the snow off a branch, picturing how the lights would drape. Most trees were too fat, too full, and after what seemed like forever, my dad finally made his decision.
The older I got, the less I minded my father's measured pace. I didn't grow less impatient, just more appreciative. We kept coming to Nick's, and the trip unfolded sweetly and predictably. When my father asked our opinions, I knew that voting for a fuller Christmas tree was useless. The request for input was an opportunity for us to agree with his vision. Once he cut the tree down with his rusty handsaw, we dragged it to a clearing for a snapshot. The three of us beamed beside our scrawny tree, a scarf of impossibly soft hills behind us.
Dad took pictures using modest Kodaks and flimsy disposables, tracking time, and the expansion of our family. First, we added Jack, my husband-to-be, and then our first son. I valued the moment, a spot in the year that always happened.
So, when Dad had strokes, going from a spry and goofy 70-year-old to a stunned and humbled fellow, we had to keep him connected. The first year, we couldn't bring him because he was just regaining his strength. But when we brought the tree to my parents' house, we drank hot cocoa at the kitchen table and told him Nick said hello.
Courtesy of Amy Halloran
The next year, my husband was determined to get my dad back to Nick's. The idea terrified me. How could we get a wheelchair up the stony field? My mother wouldn't let it happen! Luckily, Jack ignored my resistance and made a plan with Nick to use a hay wagon, with a four-wheeler as backup, to get my father up to the trees.
When Jack proposed this, my parents said yes. They trusted him. He is a dancer and a tree surgeon, and when my dad was still able, he sometimes helped Jack at work. Wearing a hard hat, he dragged branches and helped lower limbs to the ground. Jack's use of trigonometry to get the branches away from a house really impressed him. "He's a wonder," my dad said. Yes, he was, but this was the first time he'd be assisting anyone in a wheelchair up a half-frozen field.
My mom sent us off to the farm. We were a caravan of minivans, holding my sister and her daughters, my brother, my family, and my dad. My sister and I helped our kids out of their car seats and fit their mittens into place. We helped Dad transfer from the car to his wheelchair and pulled on his gloves.
The event went without a hitch. Most of us climbed onto the hay wagon, but it was too high to hoist my dad. Jack and my brother helped him on the four-wheeler, and my brother sat in front of him and drove. I was in awe that Jack had imagined this day into a new shape.
At the top, Jack and my brother transferred Dad back to his wheelchair and took turns pushing him through the patch of trees. The rolling was rough, so he didn't survey every possible one, but he got a good sample. When he found what he wanted, Jack got him in place so he could saw it down himself.
Pictures of this day show a gray sky and patchy snow, all of us smiling. We were just a family fetching our Christmas trees, a normal and joyful thing. Did we lament that the day was different? We couldn't, because the tradition was still repeating, just altered.
Photo credit: Nate Halloran
For the next dozen years, we kept going to Nick's. Instead of using the four-wheeler, Jack — and later, our eldest son — towed my father uphill. They looked like beasts of burden, pulling the patriarch. Jack tied a length of rope to the chair, and stepped into the loop, pulling it up to his chest. We made our selections — ours was always sculptural, a twist of pine regrown from a stump. The one for my parents' house went on the deck, so it could be 15 or 20 feet tall. We arranged ourselves at the outdoor photo studio and posed.
The year my father died, I don't remember what happened.
We still get our tree at Nick's. A young family now shares the tradition, and this makes me miss my father a little less. The trees are so tall that they've lost most of their lower limbs, and made a bed of needles. When the little boys run through the small forest, they kick up a terrific perfume of pine.
Their father is a tree surgeon, too, and this year climbed 15 feet up to cut down the top of a tree, which was still 20 feet of pine, to use at a community square. My family chose a 20-footer too, and have it on the deck that my youngest, a 21-year-old, built this summer. All of this rhymes with the traditions Dad began.
Family rituals don't work because we repeat them by rote. They work because we thread a feeling through a moment, sewing up time. We work like tailors, making adjustments to keep everyone, living and remembered, inside.
Courtesy of Melissa Petro
From Elf on the Shelf to cookie swaps, matching pajama sets, ugly sweater office parties, and countless other traditions, the holidays can be the most wonderful — and exhausting — time of the year.
After I sold a book proposal in November 2022, I had no interest in putting up a tree or wasting money on toys my kids didn't need while battling a seemingly endless parade of wintertime illnesses.
Instead, I wanted to celebrate the win and spend meaningful time with my family before having to focus on writing. My husband and I decided to skip the seasonal stress of gifting and spend the money instead on a trip of our lifetime.
Courtesy of Melissa Petro
My husband is part Sri Lankan, and his brother owns a hotel on the island's southernmost tip. Planning an epic trip to Unawatuna, Sri Lanka, made a lot of sense. Because a flight to Sri Lanka from New York takes around 19 hours, we wanted to go for a significant amount of time. All four of our flights cost around $4,000 in total.
Whenever we travel, I prepare my kids by looking at pictures and discussing what we'll see and do. At three and five years old, they were too young to notice that we were skipping most kids' favorite holiday.
Courtesy of Melissa Petro
Taking a monthlong midwinter trip will probably require that you pull your kid out of school. Molly was still in day care, and Oscar's kindergarten attendance is always good, so missing two weeks of classes wasn't a problem. At this time both kids were too young to be seriously invested in participating in the typical end-of-season pageants and fairs.
For the flight, I packed a bag of snacks and another bag of activities like coloring, puzzle books, and playdough — anything that'll strike them as novel when boredom hits. I space out meals, movies, and activities.
We were unsure how our children would manage a long-haul flight, so we opted for an overnight layover in Abu Dhabi. It was the middle of the night when we arrived in the Middle East, but due to the time difference and having slept on the plane, everyone was wide awake.
The hotel we booked had a 24-hour waterpark, so we went for a moonlit swim. The next morning, everyone slept in, and we had enough time to shop at a nearby mall before the next six-hour flight.
Courtesy of Melissa Petro
We had the option to stay with family in a more remote area but chose to rent a two-bedroom Airbnb instead. We wanted to be closer to the beach and have space versus spending the entire trip with relatives. A monthlong stay cost just $1,650 — less than it would've cost to stay in a typical hotel. The property exceeded my expectations.
The house was traditional, with whitewashed cement walls, a thatched roof of woven palm fronds, and polished cement floors. It was surrounded by a walled-in garden with mango trees, coconut palms, colorful flowers, and cement urns holding rainwater occupied by tiny fish.
The property had a private butler who cleaned daily and cared for the garden. Breakfast every morning was included, and he cooked traditional Sri Lankan dinner whenever requested for an extra fee.
I worried that having an unfamiliar adult in our intimate space might feel awkward, but it didn't. He did our laundry by hand, and I appreciated that the house was clean when we returned from a day out. He was sensitive to our privacy and extremely patient with the children — and having his help meant that I actually got a vacation.
Courtesy of Melissa Petro
We spent the last weeks of the year together on the beach instead of visiting Santa and last-minute shopping. We swam in the ocean, made sandcastles, and ate authentic seafood curries poolside at various local resorts. We visited a local street dog rescue and a sea turtle sanctuary.
Courtesy of Melissa Petro
The temperature in Unawatuna in December is between 75 and 86 degrees, so there's no hope for snow — and no disappointment when it doesn't happen. There's no driving through inclement weather, no seasonal spirit days at your kid's day care, and no Secret Santa gifts to buy or toss.
There were occasional reminders of the holiday — twinkle lights on a palm tree or a Christmas carol playing in the background, mostly for tourists' sake — but there isn't the gross display of consumerism that's ubiquitous in the West.
My husband and I felt a little guilty skipping Christmas entirely, so on Christmas Eve, we cut down a branch from the rubber tree out back and ran to the dollar store to buy a few ornaments and some inexpensive trinkets for them to open in the morning.
Considering many families spend thousands of dollars each year on decorations, gifts, meals, and other holiday-related expenses, and then another couple thousand for an annual vacation, rolling it all into one expense made sense for us.
With a minuscule percentage of my typical effort, the kids were just as pleased. As they played with their new toys in the garden, they marveled at how Santa found us all the way in Sri Lanka.
Bryan Steffy/Contributor/Getty Images
The song goes, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go. " The best part is that Christmas can look a little different as you travel from coast to coast.
Sure, there are traditional symbols like Christmas trees, snowmen, and candy canes, but each state puts its own local twist on the festive celebrations.
Whether you're planning to spend your holiday on the sunny beaches of Hawaii with Shaka Santa and his wife Tutu Mele or ice skating at Rockefeller Center in New York, here's a peek at how each state makes the holidays special.
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It's been widely reported that Alabama became the first state to make Christmas a legal holiday in 1836.
These days, the state celebrates with a tree outside the state capitol in Montgomery, Alabama.
Kit Leong/Shutterstock
In 1952, Con and Nellie Miller set up a trading post outside Fairbanks, Alaska, and called the town North Pole. The Miller family built Santa Claus House, a general goods store there.
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In the Arizona desert, some people decorate cacti for the Christmas season.
In 2018, the Associated Press reported that a family in Phoenix built their Christmas tree from a cactus skeleton. They called it a "Phoenix Christmas tree."
Gunnar Rathbun/Shutterstock
Every year, Fayetteville, Arkansas, hosts the "Lights of the Ozarks" Christmas light display.
This year, the display will be up from November 22 to January 1, and according to ExperienceFayetteville.com, it's free to visit every night until 1 a.m.
AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/Contributor/GC Images/Getty Images
California is home to the original Disneyland, which hosts several Christmas-themed events during the holiday season.
This year, through January 6, the park will be transformed into a winter wonderland. Even Sleeping Beauty's Castle gets the holiday treatment with wreaths and lights of its own.
Sean Xu/Shutterstock
Every year, Denver turns into a holiday wonderland for an event known as "Mile High Holidays."
Throughout November and December, the city is decorated with a 110-foot-tall LED light tree, while the botanical garden and zoo are transformed with lights.
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In 2021, software company Porch conducted a study that found that people in Connecticut spend the most time decorating the exteriors of their homes, using an average of seven hours and 36 minutes to do so.
One of the most popular houses to visit was that of the Setti family in Norwalk, who decorated their home into a Christmas village for 26 years before retiring in 2014.
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Nemours Estate is typically decked with elaborate Christmas decorations in Wilmington, Delaware.
According to the estate's website, visitors can tour the 77-room 20th-century mansion, the Chauffeur's garage, and the gardens, complete with their holiday displays through December 29.
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Universal Studios in Orlando transforms for the holidays every year with holiday lights, Christmas trees, and other festive decor.
In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter section, guests can sip hot butterbeer while the Grinch hangs around Seuss Landing.
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Every year, Atlanta hosts "Skate the Station," where a large, temporary ice skating rink is installed at Atlantic Station.
This year's rink is in operation through January 15.
Yi-Chen Chiang/Shutterstock
Shaka Santa and his wife, Tutu Mele, are fixtures of the holiday season in Honolulu.
Every year, the pair of 21-foot statues are placed in front of city hall or Honolulu Hale. The city is also known for the "Honolulu City Lights" celebration.
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Every year, Idaho's state Christmas tree is lit in front of the statehouse in Boise.
According to a local news station, this year's tree is a 36-foot-tall blue spruce that weighs about 3,750 pounds.
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Chicago and Aurora, Illinois, will host the Christkindlmarket this year.
It's the 28th year the market has been held in Chicago, and over those years, it's become a popular attraction for residents looking to buy gifts, ornaments, and food from around the world.
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Indianapolis decorates the Soldiers and Sailors Monument with 4,784 Christmas lights to make it look like a giant Christmas tree in an event known as the "Circle of Lights."
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Keokuk, Iowa, hosts the "City of Christmas Display of Lights", a light display in Rand Park that visitors can drive through.
About 20,000 cars drive through the park annually to see more than 150 light displays, including the nativity scene, Santa's workshop, reindeer, and elves.
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Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, is a public garden that hosts the holiday light show "Illuminations."
"Illuminations" features up to two million lights and has music, carousel rides, treats, and an opportunity to see Santa Claus. This year's display will be available through January 4.
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Visitors of Lexington, Kentucky's Triangle Park, can enjoy an ice skating rink through January 20, 2025.
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"Celebration in the Oaks" is an annual tradition where the city of New Orleans covers 25 acres of New Orleans City Park in Christmas lights.
The display spans the Park, Botanical Garden, Storyland, and the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park.
Robert F. Bukaty/AP
Since Maine is known for its lobster, it's fitting that residents build special Christmas trees focused on the sea creature.
In 2018, Rockland, Maine, residents built the world's largest tree out of lobster traps, reaching 40.5 feet. The tree included 155 lobster traps, 180 lobster buoys, and 2,500 lights, News Center Maine reported.
Patrick Semansky/AP
The Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore attracts visitors every year thanks to its elaborate Christmas decorations, which are displayed in a display called "Miracle on 34th Street."
Almost all the homes on the block are covered in Christmas lights, candy canes, Santa dolls, and other holiday displays.
Charles Krupa/AP
Boston transforms during the holiday season, with hundreds of Christmas lights covering the trees in the Public Garden, Copley Square, the Prudential Center, and the Common.
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Millions of lights become the focal point at the Detroit Zoo's "Wild Lights" event. According to its website, the zoo features more than 500 immersive displays. Some of the massive light displays include a lion, whale, fox, and snake.
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Decorated in various Christmas lights, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train stops in more than 20 towns throughout Minnesota to raise money, awareness, and food donations for local food banks and pantries.
Though visitors can't actually ride the train, they're treated to a concert of holiday songs and popular originals. Some of this year's performers include Alana Springsteen, American Authors, Clerel, and Tiera Kennedy.
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While most of the country decorates houses for Christmas, some residents in Mississippi decorate their boats with Christmas lights and other holiday decor.
The boaters show off their festive vessels at the Biloxi Beach Water Boat Parade, culminating in a fireworks show over the water.
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Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, is decorated with Christmas lights, falling snowflakes, a Christmas tree, and toy trains for the holiday season.
People also come to the station to take in the holiday-themed shows, which include piano recitals, pageants, and caroling.
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Volunteers in Bigfork, Montana, called the Bigfork Elves, are known for decorating the town yearly.
According to Bigfork.com, the volunteers "deck the town with over 10,000 feet of garland and lights" and have been active in the area for over 40 years.
Residents also gather for a tree-lighting ceremony and host other festive events.
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"Christmas at the Cody's" is an annual celebration at the mansion of "Buffalo Bill" and Louisa Cody in North Platte, Nebraska.
The property is part of the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park, and guests can enjoy Christmas lights, carols, and horse-drawn carriage rides.
Bryan Steffy/Contributor/Getty Images
In 2019, Business Insider named Las Vegas one of the most festive places to spend the holidays, and the annual Las Vegas Great Santa Run might be part of the reason.
The event draws thousands of people dressed in Old Saint Nick costumes to the city's downtown area to run or walk the course.
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Though residents in Connecticut win for most time spent on exterior decorations, New Hampshire residents spend the most time decorating overall, with an average of 17 hours dedicated to the activity, according to Porch.
Loudon, New Hampshire, is also home to the Gift of Lights, a 2.5-mile drive with hundreds of light displays.
Mel Evans/AP
Christmas Day looks a bit different for some in New Jersey because they re-enact George Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware River.
The event starts at the Washington Crossing Historic Park in Pennsylvania and ends in Trenton, New Jersey, just as the former president did in 1776.
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Every Christmas Eve, the streets leading to the Mesilla town square are lined with paper lanterns.
The square is also decorated in lights, as local choirs sing Christmas tunes, visitors enjoy holiday treats, and a vigil is held for fallen service members of the local fire department.
Selcuk Acar/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
Rockefeller Center was completed in 1939 and has since become one of New York City's most popular tourist destinations. Millions of people visit the Christmas tree every year.
According to NBC, the tree is completed with a 900-pound Swarovski star with 70 spikes, 3 million crystals, and plenty of lights.
Chuck Burton/AP
According to a 2022 report by the USDA, North Carolina produces the second-most Christmas trees of any state in the US, with more than 3 million trees.
Eric Gay/AP
This year, Williston, North Dakota, celebrated its 10th annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony with a 41-foot-tall Colorado Blue Spruce.
In addition to the tree lighting, guests enjoyed a bonfire, music, and fireworks.
Jason Miller/AP
"A Christmas Story" was released in 1983 and quickly became a cult classic during the holidays.
The house seen in the movie is still standing in Cleveland, and across the street, there's a museum that houses props, costumes, and other artifacts from the film.
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Every year, the Heart of Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce hosts the Purcell Christmas Parade in Purcell, Oklahoma.
One key detail for parade participants: No one can dress up as Santa Claus — that responsibility belongs to the Heart of Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce.
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Beating out North Carolina for Christmas tree production is Oregon.
According to the USDA, the "Beaver State" produced more than 4.5 million Christmas trees in 2022 to earn the top spot in the country.
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In Philadelphia's Love Park, you'll find the Christmas Village, an open-air market with small business owners' booths, a Ferris wheel, treats, and the second-annual Festival of Trees fundraiser for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
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Newport is known for its famous mansions like The Breakers, The Elms, and Marble House.
The Preservation Society of Newport County welcomes visitors every year inside these homes to tour the Christmas decorations. You will find wreaths, poinsettias, white candles, and elaborate Christmas trees inside.
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The Poinsettia Christmas Parade has been a Greenville, South Carolina, tradition for over 75 years.
This year, the best walking group award was given to the Bike Walk Greenville "Poinsettia Pedalers and Pedestrians."
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According to Travel South Dakota, the state's "Christmas at the Capitol" tradition started in 1981 with 12 Christmas trees and now features almost 100 trees decorated by different organizations, cities, and businesses.
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Business Insider's Priyanka Rajput reported that the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville has hosted "A Country Christmas" for 41 years.
To celebrate the holidays, the hotel prepares for six weeks to decorate the space with everything from life-size ice sculptures and hand-tied ribbons to elaborate Christmas trees.
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The AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas hosted the "Reliant Lights Your Holiday" festival earlier this month. The free event included live music, local vendors, a drone show, fireworks, cookie decorating, and more.
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Founded in 1847, the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (previously known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir) tours the world for most of the year but returns to Salt Lake City for its annual Christmas concert.
This year's guest artist is Tony Award winner Ruthie Ann Miles.
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House Beautiful named Woodstock, Vermont, one of 2024's "most charming Christmas towns" in the US.
One of its attractions is Wassail Weekend, a festival with a parade, Christmas tree lighting, caroling, ice skating, and more.
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Williamsburg, Virginia, is known for having a variety of festive activities, including markets, fireworks shows, performances, and Busch Gardens Christmas Town.
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Like other major cities, Seattle hosts an annual Christmas market with artisans, food, drinks, and more. The city also participates in SantaCon, a bar crawl where people dress up as Santa.
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The "Oglebay Winter Festival of Lights" dates back to 1985 and takes place in Wheeling, West Virginia. Today, it includes more than 100 light displays across 300 acres, WBOY-TV reported, and this year's display also features lights choreographed to music.
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At the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, Wisconsin, visitors can ride two holiday-themed trains: the Santa Express and the Holiday Flyer.
According to the museum's website, passengers aboard the Santa Express will take a 55-minute ride and receive a visit from Santa and a small gift, while passengers on the Holiday Flyer will receive hot chocolate and treats.
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The Jackson Hole Town Square is famous for its arch made of antlers.
After Thanksgiving, the city holds an event — with Santa, cookies, candies, and carols — to watch the antlers light up with Christmas lights for the first time in the season.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
There's one "Barefoot Contessa" recipe I make for my family every Christmas, and I think it deserves a spot on everyone's holiday menu.
I originally found Ina Garten's recipe for potato-fennel gratin on the Barefoot Contessa website, but it also appears in her first cookbook, "The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook."
"I love to make potato gratin and fennel gratin, so I decided to combine the two," Garten writes in the description. "If you make this in an old French gratin dish, it looks wonderful and can go from the oven to the table with style."
I started making Garten's potato-fennel gratin when I had almost zero cooking skills, so I can attest that it's 100% foolproof. More importantly, it's incredibly comforting — and goes well with nearly everything.
Here's how to make it.
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To make Garten's gratin for four, you'll need:
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I will admit that the first time I made this dish, I had to watch a Martha Stewart YouTube video on how to cut fennel.
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First, cut off the stalks as close to the bulb as possible. Then, cut the bulb in half lengthwise.
Remove the cores at the bottom. For Garten's recipe, you'll then thinly slice the bulb halves crosswise — which should make about two cups of fennel.
Pro tip: Don't throw out your stalks and fronds! Stewart recommends using the fronds in salads and saving the stalk to flavor stockpot dishes.
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You should thinly slice your yellow onion for this dish.
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Garten recommends thinly slicing them by hand or with a mandoline.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Preparing Garten's gratin takes under 10 minutes, which is great when you're juggling multiple dishes for a holiday feast.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
If you're making the gratin for four, Garten recommends using a 9-by-9-by-2-inch baking dish.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Per Garten's recipe, you'll want to add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and ½ tablespoon of unsalted butter to a pan.
Then, sauté the fennel and onions on medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until they're tender.
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You'll use 1 ½ cups of heavy cream for this step.
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Garten recommends adding ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper to the mix.
I really love pepper, so, as you can see, I may have added a touch more.
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It's almost time to bake!
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Gently press down to smooth the potatoes out.
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Remember, you'll want to use 1 tablespoon of cream and ½ cup of Gruyère for this quick step.
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Garten recommends letting the gratin sit for 10 minutes before serving it hot.
She also notes that the gratin can be cooked a day ahead and reheated at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, a helpful tip if you want to save some time during the holidays.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Few things in this world are more comforting than potatoes mixed with heavy cream and cheese. Garten's gratin is creamy and satisfying, thanks to the Gruyère, and the potatoes are perfectly cooked. Since the fennel is sautéed, its flavor is mild and sweet rather than overpowering.
But one of the best things about the gratin is how well it goes with everything, making it a great sidekick for any meat or holiday side dish.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
It's so simple to make that you could easily delegate the task to a young budding chef in your family or at least let the kids help you with it in the kitchen. Plus, the gratin is easy to make ahead and reheat before dinner, giving you some much-needed space in the oven for a big holiday menu.
And you can't go wrong with creamy potatoes and cheese, especially during the winter season.
Believe me, you'll all be fighting for seconds.
Netflix
At this point, Netflix is known for the (sometimes cringey) holiday movies it releases every year, and this Christmas was no different.
From "A Christmas Prince" to "Hot Frosty," here are all the Netflix original Christmas movies, ranked from worst to best.
Netflix
Critic score: 33%
Synopsis: "The Holiday Calendar" follows Abby Sutton (Kat Graham), a photographer who doesn't quite know what she wants out of life and is afraid to go after her dreams.
However, when her grandfather (Ron Cephas Jones) gives her a magical advent calendar, it helps her gain the confidence she needs to be herself.
"Kat Graham (of 'The Vampire Diaries') brings almost too many acting chops for a good holiday rom-com, but the film is still cheerily nonsensical," Lea Palmieri wrote for Decider.
Netflix
Critic score: 36%
Synopsis: The third installment in the "Christmas Prince" series returns to Aldovia as the kingdom prepares for the holiday season, and Amber (Rose McIver) and Richard (Ben Lamb) prepare to welcome a royal baby.
However, before they can relax for their parental leave, they must restore a 600-year-old treaty between Aldovia and Penglia.
"The weakest entry in the series feels like it's running on autopilot and introduces some problematic new elements of the mythos," Evan Dossey wrote for The Midwest Film Journal.
Bob Mahoney/Netflix
Critic score: 38%
Synopsis: Ten years after an ill-timed proposal ended in heartbreak, exes Avery (Lohan) and Logan (Harding) unexpectedly reconnect when they discover their respective partners are siblings.
In an effort to impress her new boyfriend's mother (Kristin Chenoweth) over the holidays, Avery begs Logan to keep their past relationship a secret.
"A typically formulaic seasonal sugar rush that's only blandly mediocre, rather than so-bad-it's-good," John Nugent wrote for Empire magazine. "But Lindsay Lohan's romcom-dominance cannot be denied."
Scott Everett White/Netflix
Critic score: 40%
Synopsis: In "Best. Christmas. Ever!" Charlotte (Heather Graham) sets out to prove that her old college friend Jackie (Brandy Norwood) doesn't actually have the perfect life she brags about in her annual Christmas newsletter.
"'Best. Christmas. Ever!' is not the most splendiferous Christmas movie ever, but it will satisfy those hungry for new sentimental holiday movies," Ferdosa Abdi wrote for Screen Rant.
Netflix
Critic score: 40%
Synopsis: In the animated, musical retelling of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," Ebenezer Scrooge (voiced by Luke Evans) is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who help he see the error of his ways.
The star-studded cast also features the voices of Olivia Colman, Jonathan Pryce, and Johnny Flynn.
"'Scrooge: A Christmas Carol' isn't the best addition to the collection of adaptations, not by a long shot. But it's surely the glitziest," Bill Goodykoontz wrote for the Arizona Republic.
Ilze Kitshoff/Netflix
Critic score: 43%
Synopsis: "Holiday in the Wild," previously called "Christmas in the Wild," follows Kate Conrad (Kristin Davis) as she goes on her "second honeymoon" alone after her husband suddenly ends their relationship.
Throughout the African safari, Kate rediscovers herself and falls for Derek Holliston (Rob Lowe).
"It's cheesy, it's stupid, but it's also really quite charming," wrote Stuart Heritage for The Guardian.
Netflix
Critic score: 43%
Synopsis: In "Christmas Inheritance," Ellen Langford (Eliza Taylor) has to travel to her father's hometown and hand-deliver an important Christmas letter in order to become the CEO of her family's gift business.
Along the way, she's surprisingly charmed by the small town's friendliness and the handsome, down-to-earth inn manager (Jake Lacy).
Dana Schwartz wrote for Entertainment Weekly, "Unlike 'A Christmas Prince,' my favorite movie of 2017, it seems to have a self-satisfied earnestness that makes you want to sit it down and go, 'Hey 'Christmas Inheritance.' What exactly do you think you're doing here?'"
Netflix
Critic score: 44%
Synopsis: To save her parent's small-town performance venue, Broadway dancer Ashley (Robertson) produces an all-male dance revue to bring money in.
As the Christmas-themed show comes together, Ashley finds herself falling for local handyman-turned-dancer Luke (Murray).
"There's nothing distractingly bad about this one and there are perhaps enough boxes ticked for undemanding Christmas movie completists but because of the overcrowded space, there's also nothing here that's worth a click," Benjamin Lee wrote for The Guardian.
Steve Dietl/Netflix
Critic score: 46%
Synopsis: In "Holidate," strangers Sloane (Emma Roberts) and Jackson (Luke Bracey) agree to be each other's plus-ones for every gathering in the coming year to avoid the constant judgment of their families.
But things get more complicated when it starts to become more than just a platonic agreement.
Lisa Kennedy wrote for Variety, "'Holidate' won't change your mind about the tread-worn challenges of romantic comedies, but its leads leverage their charms nicely."
Ricardo Hubbs/NETFLIX
Critic score: 50%
Synopsis: "Operation Christmas Drop" follows Erica (Graham), a congressional aid who gets sent to an Air Force base with a festive pet-project to assess whether it should remain open.
She's set on crunching numbers and cutting budgets until the base's self-proclaimed Christmas expert, Captain Andrew Jantz (Alexander Ludwig), helps her find a little holiday cheer.
Kyle Turner wrote for The New York Times, "Everything in 'Operation Christmas Drop' falls predictably into place like children nestled all snug in their beds. Each plot point and character dynamic appears predetermined, and not in a seasonally charming way."
Netflix
Critic score: 50%
Synopsis: In the sequel to "A Christmas Prince," Prince Richard (Lamb) and Amber (McIver) prepare for their royal wedding. But scandal rocks the kingdom when money disappears and the citizens of Aldovia grow increasingly angry with their royals.
"It's cheesy, it's cringey, but most importantly, it's harmless — and worth a watch if you're in the mood for some mindless holiday cheer," Libby Torres wrote for The Daily Beast.
Bettina Strauss/Netflix
Critic score: 53%
Synopsis: At the beginning of "Love Hard," Josh (Jimmy O. Yang) catfishes Natalie (Nina Dobrev) from across the country. But when she surprises him for Christmas everything blows up in his face.
In order to try to right his wrong, Josh helps Natalie get together with Tag (Darren Barnet) while keeping up the ruse of their relationship for his family.
Courtney Howard wrote for Variety, "The ensuing shenanigans not only do our heroine a massive disservice by letting men manipulate her agency — they also cause us to question what exactly we're rooting for."
Netflix
Critic score: 56%
Synopsis: In the sequel to "The Princess Switch," Duchess Margaret (Vanessa Hudgens) and Kevin (Nick Sagar) are going through a rough patch, so Stacy (also Hudgens) swoops in to help. But things take a turn when another look-alike, party girl Fiona (also Hudgens), screws with their plans.
Dennis Harvey wrote for Variety, "Though inevitably the formula wears a little thinner in spots this time, it's a frothy fantasy that should satisfy viewers' itch for confectionary-looking Christmas fluff."
Mark Mainz/Netflix
Critic score: 57%
Synopsis: In the third installment of the "Princess Switch" franchise, Queen Margaret (Hudgens) and Princess Stacy (also Hudgens) have to team up with Margaret's scheming cousin Fiona (also Hudgens) to save the stolen Christmas star on loan from the Vatican.
"Anyone who has seen one of these movies can just take over for the characters and guess their lines as easily as the three cousins can swap clothes and accents to impersonate one another," Helen T. Verongos wrote for The New York Times.
Netflix
Critic score: 62%
Synopsis: In "Falling for Christmas," heiress Sierra (Lohan) gets in a skiing accident after her influencer boyfriend (George Young) proposes to her, and it leaves her with no memory of her life — not even her name.
Luckily, local inn owner Jake (Chord Overstreet) nurses her back to health throughout the week before Christmas.
Noel Murray wrote for the Los Angeles Times, "The overall mood is warm and cheery, and Lohan brings a spontaneous sincerity to even the corniest scenes. The movie's wrapping is shiny and plastic, but its star quality is genuine."
Netflix
Critic score: 63%
Synopsis: In "The Princess Switch," Chicago-based baker Stacy (Hudgens) travels to Belgravia for the Royal Christmas Baking Contest.
But when she meets Duchess Margaret (also Hudgens), who could be her twin, Stacy agrees to switch places with her so the princess can see what "normal" life is like before she takes the throne.
"'The Princess Switch' is a delight. If you told me last year that I would thoroughly enjoy — nay, crave — another 'Parent Trap'–like movie but starring Vanessa Hudgens ... I would have told you exactly what to do with your Christmas pastries," Emily Tannenbaum wrote for Cosmopolitan.
Netflix
Critic score: 64%
Synopsis: "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square" centers on a small town on the brink of extinction.
Scrooge-like town owner Regina (Christine Baranski) is planning on selling the town without a spare thought for its residents — until an angel (Dolly Parton) steps in to try and change her mind.
"'Christmas on the Square' lets the viewer kick back and indulge in all things Parton," Sarah Boesveld wrote for The Globe and Mail.
Jessica Kourkounis/Netflix
Critic score: 65%
Synopsis: In "Christmas With You," pop star Angelina (Aimee Garcia) feels like she's getting pushed out by younger singers at her record label. In order to get her name trending again and connect with her fans, she decides to grant Cristina's (Deja Monique Cruz) Christmas wish to meet her in person.
After spending time with Cristina and her family, Angelina gets wrapped up in writing a new song with Cristina's father, Miguel (Freddie Prinze Jr.).
Courtney Howard wrote for Variety, "It's a holiday trifle for sure, but there's enough to feel satiated — if just temporarily — by the festivities on display."
Netflix
Critic score: 66%
Synopsis: Narrated by Santa (Brian Cox) and based on a trio of children's books by "Love Actually" director Richard Curtis, the animated holiday film centers on residents of a small seaside town as a blizzard hits on Christmas Eve.
"'That Christmas' may not be the most revolutionary holiday film, but there's enough heart, silliness, and prime messaging in this animated film to give it its wings," Sarah Musnicky wrote for But Why Tho? A Geek Community.
Joseph Lederer/Netflix
Critic score: 66%
Synopsis: In the second installment of the "Christmas Chronicles" series, Kate (Darby Camp) is reunited with Santa (Kurt Russell) as a cynical teenager. But she ends up helping to save Christmas (again) when a mysterious troublemaker threatens to steal it.
Owen Gleiberman wrote for Variety, "At a harmless piece of hokum like this one, you giggle and grin a few times, you see the ruptures healed by Christmas, and you get to hang out with a Santa who's traditional but nearly cool."
Michael Gibson/Netflix
Critic score: 67%
Synopsis: In "The Christmas Chronicles," after two kids try to trap Santa (Russell) and end up losing his precious bag of gifts, the hunt is on to save Christmas — and Santa is charmingly sarcastic all along the way.
Melanie McFarland wrote for Salon, "The film's no great shakes, but Russell's star power in 'The Christmas Chronicles' is a gift anyone should be happy to claim."
Netflix
Critic score: 68%
Synopsis: In "A Very Murray Christmas," Bill Murray's (playing himself) Christmas special gets canceled because of a snowstorm. Instead, he seeks shelter in a bar where the fellow patrons are more than willing to sing a few holiday songs with him.
Jeff Jensen wrote for Entertainment Weekly, "Murray has surprising resonance. It may not be the yuletide cheer you want in a season darkened by terrorism and fear, but it does have a message that meets the moment."
Sophie Giraud/Netflix
Critic score: 69%
Synopsis: When Layla (Christina Milian) has a meet-cute at the airport with James (Kofi Siriboe), they promise to attend next year's Pentatonix Christmas concert together if they're both single.
A year later, Layla rushes to find tickets to the concert with the help of Teddy (Devale Ellis) — who soon develops feelings for her.
"This movie was a fun ride, with countless jokes, great characters, a compelling story, and overall, a feel-good time," Brandon Avery wrote for Just My Opinion Reviews. "Don't sleep on this one because you'll be missing out on something good."
Philippe Bosse/Netflix
Critic score: 70%
Synopsis: In "Single All the Way," Peter (Michael Urie) convinces his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) to come home with him for Christmas to trick his family into thinking he's in a relationship.
But thanks to his family's constant meddling, before long, Peter is stuck in a real and unexpected love triangle with Nick and townie James (Luke MacFarlane).
"Veteran TV writer Chad Hodge's self-aware script acknowledges all the tropes — gay and holiday — while continuing to employ them effectively," Carla Meyer wrote for the San Francisco Chronicle.
Brooke Palmer/Netflix
Critic score: 71%
Synopsis: In "The Knight Before Christmas," small-town teacher Brooke (Hudgens) helps a time-traveling, medieval knight (Josh Whitehouse) fulfill his quest.
But the more time they spend together, the more Sir Cole wonders if he really wants to succeed and return home.
Ian Sandwell wrote for Digital Spy, "'The Knight Before Christmas' has every possible festive ingredient you could want, even a puppy in a stocking. Cynics need not apply, there's nothing here for you."
KC Bailey/Netflix
Critic score: 73%
Synopsis: Based on the novel by Richard Paul Evans, "The Noel Diary" follows successful author Jake Turner (Justin Hartley) as he returns to his hometown for the holidays to settle his mother's estate.
But after finding an intriguing diary, he teams up with Rachel (Barrett Doss), who's on her own investigative journey to uncover her family's past.
Noel Murray wrote for the Los Angeles Times, "Ditch the mistletoe and holly and it would still be a well-crafted, well-balanced character sketch, following two lost souls as they discover what they've been missing."
Netflix
Critic score: 73%
Synopsis: "A Christmas Prince" centers on Amber (McIver), a journalist gunning for her big break, as she goes undercover to write about the royal family of Aldovia.
Along the way, she ends up discovering a huge secret that could throw a wrench in the whole Aldovian line of succession, while also falling for the prince (Lamb).
"It's everything you want a holiday film to be: cheesy, hopeful, a little bit ridiculous, and overall as warm and toasty as the fireplace you're watching it next to," Lea Palmieri wrote for Decider.
Mark Mainz/Netflix
Critic score: 75%
Synopsis: In "A Castle for Christmas," an American writer named Sophie (Brooke Shields) sets off on a holiday vacation to Scotland in search of the castle her grandfather told her stories about as a child.
After falling in love with the property and putting an offer in on it, the only thing standing in her way is the grumpy duke (Cary Elwes) who owns it.
"Its sincere, aspirational sentiments about it never being too late to write your own second chapter feel genuinely meaningful," Courtney Howard wrote for Variety.
Netflix
Critic score: 76%
Synopsis: Kathy Barrett (Lacey Chabert), a recently widowed café owner, is shocked when she magically brings a snowman (Dustin Milligan) to life with a simple scarf.
As they evade questions from small-town cops, Kathy and Jack (the snowman) begin to bond as she opens herself up to the magic of the holiday season.
"There's a sincere pleasure in slipping down the ludicrous slide that is 'Hot Frosty''s premise, in which a hot, naive, but very sweet man is the perfect Christmas wish — for Kathy and for any of us who may need a bit of comfort from a cold, cold world," Kristy Puchko wrote for Mashable.
Netflix
Critic score: 83%
Synopsis: In "A Boy Called Christmas," Nikolas (Henry Lawfull) sets off on an adventure to try to find his father — who's on his own journey searching for a mystical village of elves.
But along the way, Nikolas discovers much more than what he set out for.
Natalia Winkleman wrote for The New York Times, "Magic abounds in 'A Boy Called Christmas,' Netflix's first prestige holiday movie of the season, but pulsing through this winning adventure tale is something even stronger: the immersive power of storytelling."
Netflix
Critic score: 85%
Synopsis: Based on the short stories by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson, "Let It Snow" follows a group of teenagers living in a small, Midwestern town during the holiday season. All of their stories lead to a Christmas Eve party at the local Waffle Town.
Molly Freeman wrote for Screen Rant, "In 'Let It Snow,' Netflix delivers a cute young adult holiday romance that's comforting in its cheesiness, even if it doesn't break new ground."
Gareth Gatrell/NETFLIX
Critic score: 91%
Synopsis: The musical holiday film centers on inventor/toymaker Jeronicus Jangle (Forest Whitaker) decades after his apprentice (Keegan-Michael Key) betrayed him by stealing his prized creation.
It's up to his granddaughter Journey (Madalen Mills) to reignite the magic in his shop and heal the wounds of his past.
"The many pleasures of this overflowing Christmas stocking of a film are sure to make it a family favorite, and most likely a family tradition," Nell Minow wrote for RogerEbert.com.
Netflix
Critic score: 95%
Synopsis: In "Klaus," after struggling mail carrier Jesper (voiced by Jason Schwartzman) gets reassigned to an island above the Arctic Circle, he meets mysterious carpenter Klaus (voiced by J.K. Simmons).
Their unlikely friendship melts a years-old feud in their cold town of Smeerensberg and sparks a new holiday tradition.
"It's awkward and weird, and yet all that awkwardness and weirdness give it personality and charm and a freewheeling, nonsensical quality that feels refreshing," Bilge Ebiri wrote for Vulture.
Netflix
Critic score: 100%
Synopsis: In "Alien Xmas," when a group of extraterrestrials comes to Earth to try and steal its gravity — and then everything else on the planet — the only things that can save the world are the gift-giving spirit of Christmas and a small alien named X.
"It's a bit of a sloppy plot, but also kind of endearing in its loosey-gooseyness," John Serba wrote for Decider.
Note: All scores were current on the date of publication and are subject to change. Films without critical ratings were not included. Netflix's originals generally consist of both content created by the streaming service and content exclusive to the platform.
This story was originally published in December 2018, and most recently updated on December 23, 2024.
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Serhii Sobolevskyi /Getty Images
I love Christmas, especially the run-up to the big day. I enjoy putting up the holiday tree and decorating my home with ribbons and garlands.
However, there's an hour or so on December 25 itself when I have to excuse myself from the living room. I find it difficult to deal with the exchange of gifts.
It feels so excessive, especially since there are so many less privileged people in the world.
I was raised in the UK in the 1970s and 80s, in a frugal household. My older sister, Alison, and I received a "main gift" — which we opened last — and around four or five others.
We never felt deprived. Our gifts were often handmade, such as the cool snow sled that my granddad crafted from metal and wood. It made us feel special that he'd gone to all that effort.
My own teens want gifts featuring famous labels such as Lululemon and Aritzia — to which my husband struggles to say no — and pricey video games.
Back in the day, the highlight of Christmas morning was digging into our stockings and finding random, inexpensive tchotchkes. My kids can't believe that Alison and I weren't allowed to open gifts other than Santa's until after lunch.
My parents were sticklers for tradition. As a child growing up in the UK in late 1940s and 50s, my dad said he wasn't allowed to unwrap his gifts until the end of the annual Christmas broadcast by the reigning monarch shortly after 3 pm. Thankfully, we were spared that particular challenge after a few years of complaining.
Other examples of thriftiness in our house make me laugh out loud. We didn't have chocolate advent calendars when we were young. Alison and I would take turns opening the doors of an advent calendar made of thin paper that we reused every year.
I cherish the memory of finding the same picture of a white dove with a red bow in its beak on, lets say, December 15. It was thrilling. After Christmas, Mom would help us stick back the doors with bits of clear tape.
Our grandmother, whom we affectionately called "nanny," took things to extremes. She'd tell us to open our presents carefully so the festive wrap could be recycled. She'd iron the wrapping paper afterwards before folding it and stashing it in a cupboard for the following year.
Nanny even recycled the holiday gift tags.
As for the volume of gifts these days, it's partly a result of many things being cheaper than when I was a girl. More stuff is imported from overseas. It helps explain the dozens of Amazon boxes delivered to our door.
I'm proud that, without prompting, my kids are donating a few weeks' allowance to a local shelter during the holidays. Still, I'll be hiding upstairs next Wednesday when they rip into their own piles of gifts.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Baklava has always been an important part of my family's history.
My pappou — Greek for grandfather — was a phyllo maker, and my dad grew up watching him make baklava and kataifi at his store, Φύλλο κρούστα ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΙΔΗΣ, in Thessaloniki.
According to family lore, my pappou actually helped invent frozen phyllo. Why I'm not a frozen phyllo heiress partying with Paris Hilton on a yacht in Mykonos, I do not know, but I'm still proud!
Our family makes my pappou's baklava every Christmas, so I asked my dad to finally share its history and recipe with the world.
Here's how to make it.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
My dad told me that my pappou started giving people the flyers — which also included recipes for Greek treats like trigona and galaktoboureko — because they were constantly asking how he made them.
His baklava recipe is less than 70 words and basically translates to: "We add breadcrumbs and a bit of sugar in the mix. We lay the phyllo in layers of two. We add the mix in multiple layers, not just the middle."
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
During the holiday season, my dad would always help my pappou at the store. But he didn't start making the dessert himself until he moved to the US, wanting to continue the tradition while more than 6,000 miles away from his entire family.
Like my dad, every Christmas memory I have includes baklava. It doesn't feel like the holidays without it. And since my dad taught me how to make his famous pastitio and avgolomeno soup, it was only natural that baklava would be next on the list.
And, lucky for you, he was more than happy to share the family recipe — and prove that baklava is a lot easier to make than it looks.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
To make my dad's baklava, you'll need:
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
"As Paul Hollywood would say, you need good lamination," my dad told me sagely as he watched to ensure the butter didn't burn.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
"You don't want them to be a powder," he told me.
No food processor? No problem. My dad said it's also perfectly fine to roughly chop your walnuts with a knife or buy pre-chopped walnuts from the supermarket.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
We added the walnuts to a large bowl with 2 tablespoons of sugar, as well as the cinnamon and breadcrumbs.
My dad told me that breadcrumbs help the baklava absorb the syrup better, a helpful trick that was actually discovered by accident.
"Walnuts in Greece used to be very expensive, and people would cheat with breadcrumbs," he said. "But they found that the breadcrumbs actually really help with absorption."
Just make sure the breadcrumbs are plain — no Italian seasoning!
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
As the scents of cinnamon and walnuts twisted together, I felt like I could already smell the baklava.
It brought me back to being a kid, where I'd walk by the kitchen every Christmas break and watch my dad dutifully prepare this mix.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
No one expects you to make your own phyllo — this isn't "The Great British Bake-Off." But make sure to leave your phyllo in the fridge for a day or two before you make the baklava. It can't be used frozen.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
My dad's pro tip is to take your pan (he recommends using one that's medium-sized and has a rectangular shape) and place it over the sheets. Then, using a sharp knife, cut the phyllo to almost match the size of the pan.
"It's OK to fold a little phyllo on the side, so give yourself some extra dough," my dad said. "But you don't want a huge amount."
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Make sure you save some of your best sheets for the bottom of the baklava (you need a strong base) and the top (so it looks extra impressive).
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
You don't need much; just a thin layer will do.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
As you build the baklava, you always add two phyllo sheets at a time and brush the second layer with a little butter.
"Not too much," my dad said. "It doesn't have to be soaked, or else the baklava will be very oily."
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
"Sprinkle the whole pan with a thin layer of your mix," my dad said. "And put a bit more of the mix around the middle of your phyllo."
"But you don't want areas where there's no filling," he added. "You want some in every bite."
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Remember, the breakdown is:
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Place the strips next to each other, as we did above, to mimic a full sheet and get the most out of your box of phyllo. Just make sure you're still doing two layers at a time.
"It's not an arts and crafts project; it's food!" my dad said. "You're not going to see any of this when you cut the baklava, just multiple layers of phyllo."
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
And if you end up missing the count and accidentally put three layers of phyllo instead of two or the walnuts on top of layer seven instead of six, my dad said it's "not the end of the world."
"The key is you just want to make laminated layers with the filling," he added. "Don't panic, and do the best you can."
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
For this pan of baklava, we actually did four final layers instead of six since we ran out of phyllo.
If you want, you can always make more mix. And if you have extra phyllo, you can use it to make tiropitakia (cheese pies) or spanakopita (spinach pies) and really turn this into a Greek feast.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
This is why you want to use full sheets of phyllo on top — it's very hard to butter broken layers.
And don't forget to butter the edges. My dad says this will help protect the phyllo from burning.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Before baking, use a sharp knife to cut the baklava into small triangles or squares.
"If you don't cut it, the baklava will not cook," my dad told me. "Raw baklava is not good. Plus, it's very hard to cut after you cook it because the baklava is very flaky."
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
It helps the cooking process, and it's the traditional shape. First, cut the baklava into squares, then slice them diagonally.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
My dad said the baking time will take 45 to 55 minutes. Every oven is different, so check on yours until you get that beautiful color.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
To begin the syrup, mix the 2 cups of sugar with 1 cup of water.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
My dad told me that lemon juice helps prevent the syrup from crystallizing, which makes the baklava last longer.
Then mix the syrup as you wait for the first boil.
"Wait a few seconds after it starts boiling, then take it off of the heat," my dad said. "Don't let it boil for more than a minute."
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
My dad recommends using a ladle for this step and says it's important to pour the syrup evenly over the baklava.
It's also important to note that your baklava needs to cool completely before adding the syrup. My dad usually lets the baklava sit overnight, but he said you can just wait a couple of hours if you're in a crunch for time.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
This helps the baklava absorb all that delicious syrup.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
To make sure the syrup doesn't crystallize, my dad says it's important to always use a clean knife when you're cutting new pieces and always avoid using a wet knife or wet utensils.
Also, there's no need to refrigerate. You can let your pan sit out in the kitchen for days (if it's not eaten before then!).
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
There are so many incredible textures and flavors that dance together as you bite into a piece of baklava. You've got the flakiness from the phyllo, combined with that sweet, sticky syrup. And then there's that satisfying crunch of the walnuts in the middle, bringing everything together as it melts in your mouth.
I brought some of my dad's baklava on a road trip with friends years ago, and they still talk about it to this day. My boyfriend and his roommates said it was so good it gave them goosebumps.
This recipe has won my dad baking contests at his office and has been the talk of every Greek holiday party we've ever attended.
I'm telling you, this is the real deal.
Anneta Konstantinides/Insider
The most special thing about food to me has always been the stories it can bring. My pappou passed when I was 4 years old, but I've been able to keep a connection with his spirit through the baklava that my dad has made every Christmas. And now that I can make it as well, it's a tradition I know I'll always honor.
While I know it can seem intimidating, my dad's recipe proves that you don't have to be a Greek phyllo maker (or the descendant of one) to make some amazing baklava for your family and friends.
So, whether you only make this baklava once or it earns a permanent spot on your family's holiday menu, I hope you feel the love in this recipe.
H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images
From the Yule Lads of Iceland to the traditionally green-clad Father Christmas of the UK, the Santa Claus Americans are accustomed to looks a little different throughout the rest of the world, and so do certain Christmas traditions.
While it's common for people around the world to leave their gift-giver a treat for their arrival, the choice of snacks and drinks vary.
Many American children, for example, are known to leave milk, cookies, and the occasional reindeer-friendly snack, such as a carrot, but it's common for kids to leave Santa Claus a stronger drink — like beer or wine — in European countries such as France and Ireland. And for children in Germany, snacks are skipped altogether in favor of handwritten letters.
Whether you're looking to mix up your Santa's snacks or just learn something new this holiday season, here's a peek at how Christmas is celebrated around the world through 12 treats families leave for the man with the bag.
rangizzz/Shutterstock
In the US, many children leave out a glass of milk and a plate of cookies for Santa.
Some families also leave carrots and celery for Santa's reindeer.
Reshetnikov_art/Shutterstock
Although Australians leave cookies for Santa to snack on, they replace the glass of milk with a cold glass of beer. December is actually summer for Australia, so the beer might be just what Santa needs in the hot weather.
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Some families in Ireland leave a pint of Guinness for Santa on Christmas Eve.
According to Culture Trip, children usually place the cold beer near the tree to offer Saint Nick a quick pick-me-up for the long night ahead.
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Like in Australia and Ireland, children in the UK also leave Santa alcohol.
Families believe Father Christmas needs some sherry to warm up on Christmas night. It's also tradition to pair the sherry with a mince pie.
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In the Netherlands, children often leave carrots and hay to help energize Sinterklaas's horses — yes, horses — on their trip around the world.
In some parts of Europe, like Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands, children don't believe Santa's sleigh is pulled by reindeer. Instead, they think he is being pulled by horses, so children leave food for them on Christmas Eve, and sometimes this food is left in their shoes.
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Rather than leave snacks for Santa, children in Argentina leave out hay and water for the Three Kings' horses. They also leave out their shoes, so their gifts can be placed in them, Ecela Spanish reported.
Children in Argentina usually receive their presents on January 6, Three Kings Day, which honors the day the Three Kings delivered their presents to baby Jesus.
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Kids in Denmark don't leave anything for Julemanden — the Danish term for Santa — to eat, but they do leave out treats for their nisse, or house elf.
According to Atlas Obscura, the Danish tradition calls for families to leave a bowl of risengrød (rice pudding or sweet porridge) out on Christmas Eve for the house elf.
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In 2017, then-press officer of the Swedish Embassy in Washington, DC, Kate Reuterswärd told NPR that her family would leave a bowl of risgrynsgröt (rice porridge) outside their door.
"The rice porridge is thickened with milk and flavored with cinnamon and a little salt. Some families add almonds, butter, jam, or molasses, but the traditional version doesn't have to be sweetend," she said.
Some families in Sweden may also leave Jultomte a cup of coffee.
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Rather than Santa Claus, children in Iceland await the arrival of the 13 Yule Lads, who, beginning on December 12, each bring them a small present, Nordic Visitor reported. In return, families leave out laufabrauð, which translates to leaf bread and tastes like a crispy wafer.
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In France, children leave Père Noël wine and leave Gui, his donkey, treats like carrots or hay, which is left in their shoes, History.com reported.
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Germans have a Christmas angel, the "Christkind," instead of Santa Claus, and they don't leave any snacks.
Instead, they write the angel letters. Some families mail the letters ahead of the holiday, while others leave them out on Christmas Eve, History.com reported.
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In Chile, children leave pan de pascua, a traditional fruitcake, for Viejito Pascuero, "Old Man Christmas." Some of the fruitcake's key ingredients are dulce de leche, rum, candided fruits, and nuts.
