It’s the December holidays! Toss the schoolbooks away, and you’ll see those next year; get your comfortable shorts and dresses out because it’s summer, and prepare for a few good weeks with no work (unless December means more house chores for you!)

I am humming a tune as I hang decorations all over the house and on the Christmas tree. I have red, green, and yellow lights shimmering all around. Did you know that an estimated 45% of the world celebrates Christmas? Imagine the billions of people around the world who observe this holiday! That is a pretty staggering percentage, but not all people celebrate Christmas because of our different religious and spiritual beliefs (Read all about it here).

That’s the beauty of South Africa; we are the Rainbow Nation and have a melting pot of diverse cultures.

So okay, I may love the Christmas holidays, but not everyone is jazzed about this time of the year. Take Wandile, for example, who has just completed his first year of university. Wandile says he “rarely looks forward to the holidays because they mean that I will have to sit and not do anything, so they get boring very fast; hence, I just want to get over them and go on with work and education.”

So, being the holiday enthusiast I am, I had to find out if there was anything that would get Wandi into a festive mood, and it turns out there was!

He told me, “To get into the holiday spirit, I do a little bit of clothes shopping; it gets me excited and ready for Christmas. I also make sure to throw in a few chocolate bars to excite myself and have something sweet to look forward to. To set the holiday mood, I also google some funny family Christmas movies to keep my spirit intact with the season.”

I set out to investigate what kind of other things you can do to get yourself into the festive feels.

1 – join in the festive vibe of the society around you
Have you noticed how a lot of people behave around the December holidays? If you haven’t, take a closer look. Watch how some folks are giddy, and it’s contagious; you can’t help but find yourself smiling too. If you happen to be around people who are not so happy around this period, that’s okay; just find one person who makes you smile and focus on them. Wandi takes pleasure in getting to spend time with his cousin, who brings life to their house and reminds him of how special family is. So he always looks forward to sleepovers with his cousin.

2 – get creative about exploring your city
There are many extraordinary places and things to do in South Africa around the holidays that are free of charge. I am currently out on a rural farm, enjoying long walks in the leafy green surroundings – this makes me cheerful. If you live in a coastal city, take a walk on the sandy beaches and throw yourself into the waves with everyone else. In Cape Town, the Festival of Lights illuminates Adderly Street, and they are a sight to behold. If you are into carols, join 20,000 people over four days who go to Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden for the 30-year-long tradition (Check it out here).

Are there little gems around your area that you could explore, do that! Feel the smile as you do basic things that bring joy in life. If you want to spend a little money, add ice cream to whatever you are doing.

3 – do your favourite things
No one really questions how much you eat around the holidays (this is why everyone floods the gyms in January!) So, take advantage of this and start cooking all your favourite food. Wandi shares that “It`s a universal tradition in South Africa to buy Choice Assorted biscuits and let them sit on top of the fridge until Christmas day. That is our tradition at home; we stock up on a lot of foods that we don’t normally have during the year and wait until Xmas to feast on them. Another tradition is to pray on the midnight of New Year’s Eve.”

If food is not your thing, or maybe you can’t afford to splurge this year, then watch re-runs of 90 Day Fiancé or whatever your favourite TV binge series is. What makes you smile? Books, hanging out with friends, playing games online? Do that 😊

4 – listen to your favourite beats
“As cliché as it may seem, the one song that is on repeat during the holiday season on my playlist is Maria Carey’s iconic All I Want for Christmas. However, it is in the mix of a splash, amapiano, and a lot of Joyous Celebration songs.” Wandi had a fantastic suggestion for his holiday music.

What songs make you want to dance? What song, when you hear it, gets you bobbing your head and feeling a rhythm course through your body? Could it be classics like Bony M to get you funky and dancing, or maybe more recent songs from Tyla?

5 – be mindful of your mental health
The holidays are a perfect time to reflect on all the positive things that are happening in your life, and practising gratitude is a surefire way to get you to embrace the holiday cheer. However, this period can also be a stressful time, and it’s important to be mindful of your mental health. Wandi admits, “My worst part about the holidays is Christmas day itself; it’s daunting because we usually do not know what to do on the day; we end up fighting and bored for the rest of the day. It`s daunting to even think about!” Mind State Psychology suggests that during this time, you need to be aware of challenges that can arise from difficult family dynamics, and you must “approach these situations with approach these situations with empathy and effective communication. Set boundaries, choose your battles wisely, and remember that Christmas is a time for celebration” ( more info here.)
Now, you have five easy tips to get you into the holiday spirit. Are you pumped to go out and spread the cheer? Ready, steady, let’s get festive!

QUESTION: what are you excited about for the December holidays?

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