1. Tinsel Overload on Christmas Trees
Boomers had a serious love affair with tinsel, and they weren’t shy about it. Back in the day, Christmas trees were practically drowning in the shiny silver stuff, with long strands draped over every branch. It was meant to make the tree look glamorous, but it also made an absolute mess. Stray tinsel ended up in carpets, on pets, and somehow even in food. Parents spent way too much time trying to keep kids from eating the metallic strands. Plus, it was a nightmare for vacuum cleaners, and pets occasionally got tangled in it says Southern Living.
Eventually, people started realizing that less was more, and tinsel slowly lost its appeal. The hassle of cleaning it up just wasn’t worth the temporary sparkle. Concerns about the environment also played a role, since most tinsel wasn’t biodegradable. These days, people opt for garlands, ribbons, or minimalist decor instead. Pre-lit trees and color-coordinated ornaments have taken over, and the chaotic, tinsel-covered trees of the past are mostly just a nostalgic memory.
2. Fruitcake Gifting (And Regifting)
Once upon a time, fruitcake was the ultimate holiday treat—or at least, that’s what boomers believed. Packed with nuts, dried fruit, and enough preservatives to survive the apocalypse, fruitcakes were given and regifted with reckless abandon. No one really ate them, but they somehow kept circulating year after year. Some families even joked about passing the same fruitcake around for decades. It became less of a beloved holiday treat and more of a running joke explains Christmas Central.
As younger generations started favoring fresh-baked goods, the tradition of giving fruitcakes fizzled out. People realized there were plenty of better dessert options that didn’t have the density of a brick. Bakeries started offering gourmet holiday treats that actually tasted good, and fruitcake slowly faded into obscurity. These days, it’s more of a holiday punchline than an actual dessert, though you can still find a few devoted fans keeping the tradition alive.
3. Carolers Knocking on Doors Unannounced
Boomers grew up in a time when it wasn’t weird for a group of strangers to show up at your house singing Christmas songs. Carolers would walk door to door, spreading holiday cheer whether people wanted it or not. Sometimes they were cute kids from the neighborhood, but other times, they were adults belting out off-key tunes in the freezing cold. It was all very charming in theory, but in practice, not everyone enjoyed being put on the spot explains HowStuffWorks.
While it was a sweet tradition, it eventually started feeling outdated, especially as people became more private. The idea of opening the door to a group of strangers singing at full volume doesn’t quite fit today’s world. Now, most holiday singing happens at organized events or concerts instead of random front porches. Caroling still exists, but it’s far less common—and most people are probably okay with that.
4. Christmas Cards with Family Newsletters
Boomers didn’t just send a simple “Happy Holidays” card—they went all out with multi-page newsletters about their entire year. These long-winded updates covered everything from family vacations to job promotions to their kid’s honor roll achievements. Sometimes, they included way too much detail, like Aunt Susan’s knee surgery or Cousin Jim’s new diet. It was a way to keep in touch before social media existed, but it also required a lot of effort to write, print, and mail.
While some families still send out holiday letters, social media has mostly taken their place. Now, people just scroll through updates instead of reading a printed play-by-play of someone’s year. The pressure to summarize an entire year in a letter has faded, and most people are fine with a quick “Merry Christmas” text or a festive Instagram post. That said, some nostalgic boomers are still holding onto the tradition, even if the audience has shrunk.
5. Decorating Every Surface with Cotton Snow
For boomers, holiday decorating wasn’t complete without fake cotton snow spread across every available surface. It covered mantels, tabletops, and sometimes even bathroom counters for that extra festive touch. The idea was to create a winter wonderland indoors, even in places where it never snowed. The problem? It got everywhere and wasn’t exactly environmentally friendly. It also didn’t look very realistic, especially after a few days of being moved around.
Eventually, people moved on to simpler, cleaner decorations, leaving cotton snow in the past. Now, most holiday setups lean toward elegant, modern styles with twinkling lights and natural greenery. People realized they could create a festive atmosphere without turning their homes into a cotton-filled mess. While a few traditionalists still use it for nostalgia, most have swapped it out for more practical and stylish decor.
6. Dressing Up for Holiday Meals at Home
Boomers had a thing about dressing to the nines for Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners, even if they weren’t leaving the house. Fancy dresses, ties, and even pantyhose were non-negotiable, making the whole meal feel more like a formal event. Kids were expected to sit up straight and mind their manners, even if they just wanted to eat mashed potatoes in peace. It wasn’t uncommon for families to take a full round of posed photos before anyone could start eating.
These days, comfort is the priority, and holiday meals are much more relaxed. Leggings and cozy sweaters have replaced stiff suits and uncomfortable shoes. The idea of getting fully dressed up just to sit around the dining room table feels outdated to most people. Now, the focus is more on enjoying the food and company rather than worrying about looking perfect for a dinner at home.
7. Watching Christmas Specials on a Strict TV Schedule
Before streaming, boomers had to plan their entire evening around holiday TV specials. If Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or A Charlie Brown Christmas was airing, the whole family had to be in front of the TV at the exact right time. There was no pause button or rewind option—miss it, and you had to wait another year. It made watching these specials feel like a big event, with families gathering around the TV together.
Now, with everything available on demand, there’s no urgency to watch at a specific time. People can stream holiday classics whenever they want, making the experience much more flexible. While some still enjoy the tradition of watching these specials on live TV, it’s not the same as it was when missing an episode was a real tragedy. The magic of the once-a-year TV event just doesn’t hit the same way anymore.
8. Hiding a Pickle Ornament in the Christmas Tree
Boomers had a quirky tradition of hiding a tiny glass pickle ornament in the Christmas tree. The first person to find it on Christmas morning would either get a prize or good luck for the year ahead. No one’s really sure where this custom came from—some say it’s German, but even Germans don’t seem to recognize it. Regardless, plenty of boomer households had that one weird pickle ornament tucked among the branches.
While some families still do it for fun, it’s definitely not as widespread as it used to be. The rise of personalized ornaments and themed Christmas trees has made the humble pickle less common. These days, most people have moved on to more universal traditions, like matching pajamas or opening one gift on Christmas Eve. The Christmas pickle is still around, but it’s more of a niche tradition than a holiday staple.
9. Lining the Roof with Oversized Colored Bulbs
Boomers took holiday lighting very seriously, and their rooftops were proof. The go-to decoration was a string of massive, colorful bulbs lining the edges of the house. These weren’t the small, dainty lights people use today—these were big, bright, and sometimes so hot they could burn your fingers. It was all about making the house as festive as possible, even if the electric bill doubled for the month. Some people went all out, covering every inch of their home in lights that could probably be seen from space.
Over time, these giant bulbs were replaced by energy-efficient LED lights that don’t overheat or cost a fortune to run. The trend shifted toward more subtle and elegant displays, with soft white lights becoming the norm. People also started using smart lights that can be controlled with an app instead of wrestling with tangled cords. While some nostalgic boomers still break out the oversized bulbs, most have embraced the convenience of modern holiday lighting.
10. Mailing Actual Christmas Cards to Everyone
Boomers loved sending physical Christmas cards, and not just to family—they sent them to friends, coworkers, neighbors, and even the mailman. The mailbox would be overflowing with envelopes featuring snow-covered cottages, glittery reindeer, and warm holiday wishes. Some even included wallet-sized family photos, making sure everyone knew how much the kids had grown. It was a whole production that involved choosing the perfect design, writing personalized notes, and mailing them out weeks in advance.
These days, most people have swapped out traditional cards for digital messages. Between texting, email, and social media, holiday greetings can be sent in seconds without the hassle of stamps and envelopes. While some still appreciate the charm of a handwritten card, the practice has definitely declined. Now, a heartfelt text or an Instagram story is often considered good enough. Boomers may miss the days of getting a stack of holiday cards in the mail, but for most, the convenience of digital messages wins out.
11. Standing in Line for the Hottest Holiday Toy
Before online shopping, boomers had to physically battle it out for the season’s most popular toy. Parents would camp out in front of toy stores, hoping to snag a Cabbage Patch Kid, Tickle Me Elmo, or Furby before they sold out. The chaos inside the stores was legendary, with people pushing, grabbing, and sometimes even fighting over the last toy on the shelf. If you weren’t lucky enough to get one, you either had to bribe a store employee or pay a ridiculous price from a reseller.
Thankfully, the internet changed everything, making it easier to find hot holiday items without risking a black eye. Now, people can preorder gifts online, sign up for restock alerts, or just browse resale sites if they’re desperate. The madness of in-store holiday shopping has mostly faded, replaced by the stress of refreshing a webpage at the right time. While there’s still competition for trending gifts, at least now it happens from the comfort of home.
12. Setting Up an Elaborate Holiday Train Set
For some reason, boomers had an obsession with model train sets during the holidays. It wasn’t enough to have a Christmas tree—there had to be a whole miniature train circling the base. Some families took it to the next level, building full villages with tiny houses, bridges, and even fake snow. It was a charming but time-consuming tradition that required careful setup and a lot of patience to keep the train from derailing.
These days, holiday train sets are more of a niche hobby than a mainstream tradition. Many younger people prefer simpler decorations that don’t take up floor space or require constant maintenance. While some families still break out the train set for nostalgia, it’s nowhere near as common as it was in boomer households. Now, holiday décor is more about convenience, and fewer people want to deal with an elaborate setup that might only get used for a few weeks.
13. Hanging Mistletoe (And Actually Using It)
Boomers took the mistletoe tradition pretty seriously, hanging sprigs of the plant in doorways and expecting people to follow the kissing rule. It was a staple at holiday parties, and if you found yourself under it with someone, you were pretty much required to pucker up. Whether it was cute or awkward depended entirely on who you were standing next to. While it was meant to be a fun, lighthearted tradition, not everyone was a fan of the unexpected smooch pressure.
Over time, mistletoe decorations became more of a joke than an actual kissing requirement. Many people found the tradition outdated or just plain uncomfortable, so it slowly faded from holiday gatherings. These days, mistletoe is mostly used as a decorative accent rather than a matchmaking tool. People still recognize it as a classic symbol of Christmas, but the days of enforced holiday kisses are mostly behind us.
14. Leaving Out Cigars and Booze for Santa
Boomers grew up in a time when leaving milk and cookies for Santa wasn’t the only option. Some families would set out cigars, whiskey, or even a full beer for Santa as a “thank you” for his hard work. The idea was that he deserved a break after a long night of delivering presents. Some parents even encouraged the tradition to add a little humor to the holiday. It’s safe to say Santa was living a lot differently back then.
As parenting norms changed, the idea of leaving tobacco and alcohol for a mythical figure lost its charm. Today’s kids are more likely to leave out a healthy snack for Santa—or at least some homemade cookies. The thought of explaining to a child why Santa needs a cigar doesn’t quite fit with modern holiday traditions. While the old-school version might still get a laugh, most families have moved on to a more wholesome approach.