According to social media, all we want for Christmas this year is the holidays of our childhood.

That’s right, #90sChristmas is trending, and who better to deliver it than us, the women who lived it as teens and tweens? Take a seat, Santa, we’re ready to bring the magic that locked in as core memories. 

What exactly is a ’90s Christmas?

It’s a vibe. Cozy, nostalgic, warm, homey, slightly cluttered comfort. 

After all, the ’90s were simpler times. The pre-internet holidays were certainly less performative, and unless Martha Stewart was coming to your house for dinner, no one was striving for anything resembling perfection.

Without the pressure for things to be Instagrammable, the mood was decidedly non-aesthetic. Pajamas didn’t match. Cookies looked like the kids actually decorated them. Gifts were wrapped in whatever paper the hockey team was selling door-to-door, and it was absolute mayhem under the tree. 

Documentation was limited to blurry action shots and grainy flash-photography family pics, plus the five minutes of shaky Christmas-day footage when Dad busted out the camcorder. 

So instead of crafting  beautifully curated memories, we got to just be present. 

Ready to Christmas like it’s 1995? Read on for how!

Deck the Halls for a 90s Christmas

When it comes to setting the scene for a ’90s Christmas, you get to decide how far — and literal — to go. 

To dive in, channel the Home Alone house in all its patterned-wallpaper, damask-curtains, brass-accents glory. Think lots of hunter green, burgundy red, poinsettias, warm woods, candles and holiday tchotchkes galore. Ride the line between elegant and tacky all the way to New Year’s day. 

Or simply add more handmade coziness to your typical holiday decor. A few small swaps make a big difference. Skip the LED lights and go for big-bulb string lights, either multicolored or warm white. Forgo a theme and recklessly heap tinsel, glass icicles, popcorn garland and all the crap treasures handed down or made in elementary school onto the tree. Your kids will love it. 

Keep textures and materials in mind too. Velvet bows, embroidered pillows, knit blankets, bristly evergreen garlands and shiny brass candlesticks bring a ton of warmth and dimension. 

Fortunately, there’s no need to spend a lot to achieve the look. Ask relatives for decor castoffs or hit up thrift stores for bows, wreaths, ornaments, candlesticks, nutcrackers and more. You’ll undoubtedly uncover some true ’90s gems.  

Oh, What Fun

Nostalgia and traditions go hand in hand, and part of the appeal of a ’90s Christmas is the sweet simplicity of the activities. 

• Decorate the tree together. Make cookies or decorate gingerbread houses. 
• Play a board game or read Christmas books by the fire. 
• Drive around or walk through your neighborhood to look at the lights.
• Window shop along a city street decked out for the holidays. 
• See a performance of The Nutcracker or a holiday concert at your local theater. 
• Visit a mall Santa and take lots of cringe-y photos.
• Dress up for Christmas dinner. 

But don’t consider this a to-do list and try to check everything off! The beauty is in choosing just a few activities, the ones that appeal to you most, and turning them into something to share as a family.

And don’t be alarmed if it’s hard to settle into a slower pace. We’ve gotten so accustomed to constant stimulation, but it can be wonderful to sink into less and slower and quieter. Our kids are craving it too. 

Comfort and Joy

A ’90s Christmas is also the chance to gather ’round and give your kids a lesson in a specific golden age of holiday culture. 

Cue up the Mariah Carey (obviously), Michael Bolton (don’t judge), NSYNC and other holiday albums from the era and play them constantly all season long. Bonus points if you opt for CDs and a boombox, but a Spotify playlist also works. 

And settle in for a ’90s Christmas movie marathon. Home Alone, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, All I Want for Christmas, Jingle All the Way, The Santa Clause, The Preacher’s Wife … there are so many to choose from! You can decide for yourselves if Die Hard is in fact a Christmas movie. 

For another fun blast from the past, set out old family photo albums from the ’90s. Your kids seeing your teenage hair and fashion choices might be the best gift they receive this year. 

Holly Jolly 

Speaking of gifts … why not lean into the theme here too? While your kids might not be begging for a Nintendo Power Pad or Charlotte Hornets Starter jacket the way we did back in the day, some gifts from the ’90s still hold up. 

Wrap up an American Girl doll or a few Baby-Sitters Club books, or drop a Game Boy or Koosh ball into a stocking. Or gift an old-school camera — and the delayed-gratification joy of getting film developed. 

And not to sound like an after-school special, but truly the biggest gift of a ’90s Christmas is the chance to slow down, to simplify and embrace imperfection, to be present and intentional, and to enjoy moments together. That feels like a tradition worth keeping.

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