27 Free Ways To Get Into The Christmas Spirit

With all the pressures of daily life and the demands it puts on our time and energy, sometimes we all need a little help getting into the holiday spirit. Here are a number of free ways to get into the Christmas spirit fast!

Watch A Christmas Movie Every Day

There's nothing like watching "It's A Wonderful Life" or "White Christmas" to get you into the holiday spirit. There are so many Christmas movies you can watch on on cable TV ... or Christmas videos and DVDs you can check out from the library ... you can watch at least one movie a day from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

Remember Christmas' Past

Go through a family photo album or watch videos of past christmas mornings to jump start your holiday spirit. Remembering fond memories and reliving good times just makes you feel better all over.

Read "A Christmas Carol"

Reading Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is synonymous with Christmas and is sure to take any "Bah Humbugs" from your vocabulary.

Use An Advent Calendar

Make or buy an advent calendar and open one of its little windows or doors every day to reveal the message, icon or picture that's behind it. It's an easy way for even the busiest grown-up to bring back a fond memories of Christmas as a child.

Use An Advent Wreath

It's easy to create a simple advent wreath with some pine branches and 4 candles. Starting 4 weeks before Christmas, light the first candle each night while you say a prayer, read scripture or meditate on the meaning of Christmas. During the second week repeat the process nighty, only light two candles ... during the third week, light 3 candles and during the fourth week.light all four candles. This is a timeless Christmas tradition that everyone in the family will enjoy.

Create and Play A Custom Christmas Music Mix

Everybody has favorite Christmas songs that really get them in the mood. Take all your favorite songs by your favorite artists and create a custom play list for your MP3 device or burn them onto a CD so you can play them in the car or almost anywhere.

Enjoy Some Home-made Eggnog

There's nothing like a glass or two of homemade eggnog to set your Christmas spirits soaring. Make several bottles, so you can enjoy some Christmas spirits in a bottle all week long.

Bake Christmas Cookies

Baking Christmas butter cookies is a warm, tasty and memory-laden way of getting into the spirit of Christmas. It's also a great way to share the spirit with your spouse, or significant other and children.

Make a Gingerbread House

Designing, baking, assembling and decorating a gingerbread house has been a Christmas tradition with many families for generations. It's a great way to rekindle the Christmas spirit and continue the tradition.

Decorate The House For Christmas

Getting out the manger scene, the Christmas candles, the garland and treasured holiday heirlooms puts you in the holiday spirit quickly. There's nothing quite like having a festive touch in every room of the house to spark the Christmas spirit and keep it going throughout the holidays.

Sing Christmas Songs In The Shower

Many people like to sing in the shower each morning. Start singing Christmas carols in the shower each morning to start your day with a big shot of Christmas.

Go To A Holiday Fair

Many churches and civid organizations start holding Christmas craft fairs beginning at Thanksgiving. Plan on going to one or several just to put yourself in a holiday frame of mind. Who knows ... you may even find some interesting items while you're at it.

Drive and Look At The Christmas Lights

Driving around and looking at the Christmas lights at night is an easy and relaxing way to get into the spirit of the season. It's great for grown-ups and kids too.

Take Christmas Photos Around Town

There are seasonal photos to be taken almost everywhere in every town. So grab your digital camera and hit the malls, the town squares, the churches, the countryside and take some great shots. Don't forget to take photos of holiday decorations on homes ... especially your own. Upload the photos to your computer, download a little holiday music and you have your own holiday show.

Add A Christmas Screensaver or Wallpaper

Computers like Christmas too. Upload a favorite holiday photo of yours and turn it into wallpaper or a screensaver. If you don't have any, download a screensaver or wallpaper from the internet. You can find all sorts of free Christmas scenes ranging from Santa'a Workshop to a nativity scene ... to the yule log or a winter wonderland.

Volunteer To Play Santa or Mrs Claus At A Kids Hospital

Christmas is a time for giving. To brighten your Yuletide spirits and those of others, volunteer to be Santa or Mrs. Claus at a local children's hospital. It's a fantastic feeling.

Go Christmas Caroling At A Nursing Home

Church, schools and civic groups often get together and go caroling at nursing homes and hospitals. Join it the fun with them. It's a great way to enjoy some Yuletide fellowship, get into the spirit of the season and spread some holiday cheer.

Write A Letter To Santa Claus

Grown-ups can write letters from themselves to Santa too. Put on some Christmas music, grab a glass of wine or eggnog and write a letter to Santa. When you're done, seal it and slip it under your spouse's or significant other's pillow.

Spend An Hour In A Christmas Decoration Store.

Hold a Tree Trimming Party

Deck the halls and trim the tree while you celebrate with friends and family. You can make it a major event with a full meal ... or just drinks and appetizers ... or even just coffee and dessert.

Read "The Night Before Christmas" To Your Children

Each night after you tuck the kids in, read them "The Night Before Christmas" to bolster their holiday spirits and yours.

Wrap Christmas Presents

Get out the wrapping paper and bows, put on some Christmas carols, munch on some Christmas cookies that you wash down with wine or eggnog while you wrap holiday presents.

Go Window Shopping In Town Or At The Mall

Stroll through town or the mall and just window shop and enjoy the festive atmosphere. It lifts the spirits and gets your creative juices going for when you decide to start Christmas shopping for real.

Write Out Your Christmas Cards

Finalize your Christmas card list and start signing. Be sure to include a personal note in each card. This really lifts everyone's holiday spirt ... especially your own.

Make Your Own Christmas Cards

Whether you do it by hand or on the computer, creating your own Christmas cards from scratch can be fun ... and save you a considerable amount of money too!

Create Your Own Ornaments and Decorations

If you're into arts and crafts or like doing things with your hands, sit down and spend an evening making Christmas decorations and tree ornaments for your home or as gifts. It's a great family project the kids will love too!

Read About Christmas Traditions In Other Countries

Go online or to the library to learn how people celebrate Christmas in other parts of the world. It's interesting, fun, educational and really helps you get into the spirit of the season.

Discover the True Meaning of Christmas

Spend some time in a church or cathedral sitting near the manger scene, contemplating the true meaning of Christmas.