Family Game Nights
Instead of watching TV, families would spend Christmas huddled around the dining room table playing their favorite board games. Whether it was Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, or Cluedo, board games would keep families busy for hours on end.
House Parties
In the 70s, families loved to party - especially around the holiday time. While this generally is still true today, 70s Christmas parties were something else. Families would invite neighbours, church members, and just about anyone who had been a part of their year. Nowadays, most people stick to their close inner circle.
Aluminum Christmas Trees
Back in the 70s, people got a lot more creative with their Christmas trees than they do today. Instead of fake trees from the store, many would spend hours building their very own homemade trees out of whatever they could find. Aluminum trees with neon lighting details were particularly popular.
Homemade Popcorn Garlands
Making at-home holiday garlands was a popular Christmas tradition in the 1970s. People would get incredibly creative, using random household items or even food like popcorn. In fact, for many, it wasn't Christmas without sitting around the fireplace and stringing together popcorn garlands as a family.
Tinsel-Covered Trees
If you want to see an extravagant Christmas tree, take a look back at some photos from the 1970s. Back then, nothing was done half-heartedly. Christmas trees were decorated with just about every shiny object that people could get their hands on. They would shimmer like disco balls, with endless stands of tinsel and brightly colored baubles.
Vinyl Christmas Records
If you've ever heard music from a record player, you would know that there is just something different about it. It feels nostalgic, even if you didn't actually grow up in the era of vinyl. In the 70s, however, it wasn't Christmas without having Bing Crosby or Elvis playing on the turntable.
Neighbourhood Caroling
Nowadays, most of us can't imagine going door-to-door, singing Christmas carols. However, in the 70s, it was a tradition that many families upheld with enthusiasm. It was their way of spreading cheer, and even the families who didn't do it themselves would look forward to the occasion.
Homemade Ornaments
Back in the day, most families would decorate their homes with ornaments made entirely from scratch, using household items. Not only did it bring the family closer together, but making homemade decorations also provided a fun tradition. After all, why would you want a plastic store-bought decoration when you could have one made with love?
Family Slide Shows
Believe it or not, many families would make slide shows to show at Christmas time, showcasing exactly what everyone got up to that year. In it, they included pictures from family trips, dinners, and birthdays - anything that they deemed a good memory and worth reminiscing about.
Classic TV Specials
Who can forget the classic Christmas TV specials? Every year, families would whip out must-watch shows, such as A Charlie Brown Christmas or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and settle in around the fireplace to enjoy the occasion. Throw in some delicious homemade cookies and you have yourself the perfect Christmas tradition.
Fruitcake Exchanges
There's no denying that fruit cake has an acquired taste. However, whether you love it or hate it, it used to form a major part of Christmas tradition in the 70s. In fact, it was a popular Christmas dessert and was even shared as a gift.
Holiday Window Displays
For many people in the 1970s, going Christmas shopping and viewing the different holiday window displays at various stores was just as exciting as Christmas day itself. Shops would go all out, creating magical scenes for both children and parents to enjoy. In fact, entire malls would turn into winter wonderland displays, with Christmas lights and decorations covering every inch.
Homemade Advent Calendars
While Advent calendars are still a popular Christmas tradition, most people simply purchase theirs from the grocery store. In the 70s, it was tradition for families to make their own and gift them to their loved ones. This way, the daily gifts were personalized, often including their favorite chocolates, love letters, or even Christmas decorations.
Big, Bold Christmas Lights
In the 70s, entire neighborhoods would have Christmas light competitions, with homeowners using the biggest and boldest lights they could get their hands on. It didn't even stop there. Decorations would be so elaborate that they would design and build entire barns to display in their front yard as their nativity scene.
Polaroid Holiday Photos
In the 70s, Polaroid cameras were all the rage. Instead of using smartphones to snap holiday family photos, polaroids were taken and printed immediately. Like many things in the 70s, there was something so nostalgic and comforting about Polaroid photos, making them somewhat of a Christmas tradition.
Holiday Variety Shows
Every year, families would look forward to their favorite holiday variety shows, such as Donny and Marie or The Osmonds. Nowadays, most people simply turn to Netflix or other streaming platforms for their Christmas entertainment. However, there was something so special about seeing variety shows in person, which is exactly why it became a 70s tradition.
Retro Toys
While they weren't retro back then, there's no denying that the toys in the '70s were special. Cabbage Patch Kids, Lite-Brite, and Atari consoles were on just about every Christmas list. Even today, people would pay a pretty penny to get their hands on these iconic toys.
Matching Christmas Pajamas
In the 70s, it was tradition for families to gift their loved ones matching pajamas on Christmas Eve. Usually, they were Christmas-themed, decorated with candy canes, gingerbread men, or holly. Who doesn't want a Christmas photo of everyone opening gifts and wearing matching PJs?
Holiday Catalog Shopping
Back in the day, families would go all out when it came to Christmas shopping. Instead of ordering everything online, they would spend hours flipping through holiday catalogs in order to find the perfect gifts.
Homemade Fudge and Cookies
Store-bought Christmas treats are always overpriced. In the 70s, hardly anybody bought Christmas cookies from the store. Instead, they would make everything at home and even gift some of their baked good to neighbours or loved ones. Not only do homemade cookies taste better, but they are also more thoughtful, making this the perfect Christmas tradition.
