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Going Back To Simple Traditions, Cozy Rhythms, and Family Joy Without the Scrolling and Stress
A Flashback to Simpler Christmases
Some of my best childhood memories are from Christmas in the 90’s. No phones buzzing. No constant exposure to the the “must-have” trending toy on Instagram and gift guides. Just simpler evenings with snacks on the table, Christmas music in the background, and the glow of the Christmas lights filling the room.
We had rhythms that didn’t cost much but were still magical, especially as kids. Think about this. When’s the last time you saw Christmas carollers? Or took your kids for Santa pictures at the mall? Or piled into the car to look at Christmas lights?
One of my favorite memories is with my dad. He’d spot a brightly lit house across the valley, and we’d load into the car to go find it. We’d drive up and down mountain roads and winding neighborhood streets until we saw the house up close. The cost? Just an afternoon and some gas. But the memory has lasted decades.
Those were the moments that made Christmas magical. Simple, accessible, and filled with glow.
This post will show you how to have a 90s Christmas, even in the 2020s.
Why the 90s Christmas Still Matters Today
The holidays in Canada have only grown busier. Ads, social media, endless gift guides—it’s noisy. It’s overwhelming. And if we aren’t careful, we lose the magic under the weight of it all.
A 90s Christmas isn’t about going backwards, it’s about remembering what mattered:
- Snacks on the counter instead of stress in the kitchen
- Cheesy Christmas music, not endless scrolling
- Homemade cookies and decorating the tree together, not comparing your home to strangers online
- Car rides to look at lights instead of scrolling reels in silence
Simple Rhythms for a 90s-Style Christmas
Put Down the Phone
Last Christmas I caught myself scrolling Threads and Instagram, not because I cared what was on the screen, but because I didn’t know what else to do with myself. That realization hit hard. My goal this year is to never be in that place again.
Instead, I want to make tea and sit with my family or watch an afternoon Hallmark movie. To bake cookies even when my kitchen is already full. To choose presence over distraction.
If you need more encouragement on how to unplug, you’ll love my post on how and why I unplugged from social media.
Go for A Warmer 90’s Decorating Style
These days the decorations are so cold and sterile… white Christmas lights, silver decorations, all about simplicity. But if you want that nostalgic 90s Christmas feel, you need to go for warm and bold — colourful Christmas lights, or at least a warm white instead of a cold white; deep reds and greens and Santas and poinsettias in the corner. Those 90s red velvet bows and the flowery table cloths (you know the ones). Garland everywhere. Maybe a Christmas village or Nativity scene. I found the most nostalgic holiday bedding too from Macy’s (check it out here!) — it has pre-2000’s all over it!
The best place for this is of course thrift stores! You save money and give old items a second chance at life.
Bake Like Mom (Or Grandma) Did
Forget complicated recipes or Pinterest trends. 90s Christmas cookies were simple—sugar cookies, gingerbread, shortbread. Try this classic gingersnaps cookie recipe! Let your kids help, even if it means sticky fingers and flour on the floor. That’s the point.
Gather Around the Tree
Make decorating an event. Play Christmas albums (check out 5 Spotify holiday playlists here!), pour hot cocoa, and hang the ornaments together. Let the kids pick where they go, even if all the ornaments end up on one branch. No one is coming over to judge your tree like it’s in a mall decorating contest. If you feel your eye twitching, just look at how happy your kids are. It will probably melt away. Can you fix it after they’re in bed? Maybe. That one is up to you.
Drive to See the Lights
Load up the car, play Christmas music, and wander through neighborhoods to see the lights. Maybe even chase down that faraway glow like I did with my dad. It costs almost nothing, but it creates the richest memories.
Try a New Christmas Tradition
Are there any interesting Christmas traditions from your ancestors you’d like to try with your kids? My parents and grandparents are from the Netherlands, so we used to fill wooden shoes with carrots for the reindeer. Or we’d sprinkle oatmeal out in the front lawn for the reindeer. Or maybe it’s just leaving milk and cookies out for Santa. Or maybe you don’t do Santa at all, and you have ideas for your own Christmas traditions.
One of my favourite traditions is getting Christmas ornaments for every milestone in our lives. We have Baby’s 1st Christmas ones for each of our boys, First Christmas in our New Home for each new home we’ve been in, First Christmas Married, and decorations from all the places we’ve travelled like Disney World. I love looking at our tree and seeing our family’s story, in a way.
Send Letters to Santa At The North Pole
And how can we forget this one? Your local post office likely accepts letters to Santa, and here in Canada, Santa will write back! It really is magical, and I am so thankful for the volunteers that address the letters by name “from Santa’s elves”. My boys have some letters in their keepsake boxes and it is such a cherished memory.
To send letters to Santa in Canada, write to:
Santa Claus
North Pole
H0H 0H0
Canada
No stamps required! Place all your letters in the same envelope and send them before December 8, 2025 and you’ll get your letters from Santa before the holidays.
To send letters to Santa from the USA, read how to here.
Make Room for Christmas Calm
In the craziness of the holiday season, you have to be intentional about grounding yourself, or it just won’t happen. Read more about maintaining your mental health during the Christmas season here. In all the coziness, ground yourself with prayer, gratitude, or quiet reflection. A simple 5 minutes in front of the tree lights with your Bible or journal is enough to remind you that Christmas isn’t about consumerism.
A Glow-Filled 90’s Christmas
If you want this season to feel different, don’t wait for someone else to create the magic. Turn down the noise, put on the music, bake the cookies, and live your own 90s Christmas.
And if you’re craving more intentional motherhood tips, homemaking rhythms, and wellness encouragement, make sure to subscribe to Let’s Glow. You’ll get exclusive discount codes, blog updates, and simple ways to protect your glow in the busiest seasons of motherhood.
And, above all else, remember…. your kids don’t need more stuff. (You can read more about having a simpler, budget-friendly Christmas here.)
They need a Christmas that lasts.
Want to live your own 90s Christmas this year? Share this post with a friend, or leave a comment with your favourite nostalgic tradition, I’d love to hear it!
Bryana Venos is a Canadian writer, blogger, and content creator – but most of all, a stay at home mom of two boys and the main voice behind Let’s Glow. She writes about motherhood, wellness, and simple, nourishing recipes, sharing her real journey with faith, mental health and post-partum struggles. Her focus is on gut health, daily rhythms and intentional living. Her goal is to support other women and mothers in creating lives and homes that they “glow” in — from the inside out. This blog reflects her personal experiences and is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not to be taken as medical advice. The content on this site was created by Bryana Venos and was not written, reviewed or approved by any third party sellers or brands featured on this site.
