Five Things to Do This December
Photo by Olivia Gündüz-Willemin.
“Days of clear brilliance. Evenings that were like cups of glamor — the purest vintage of winter’s wine. Nights with their fire of stars. Cold, exquisite winter sunrises. Lovely ferns of ice all over the windows […] Every hour brought a new revelation and wonder.”
And so December finally arrives, bringing with it proper weather, sparkling spirits, and almost shockingly, the end of an era. What will 2020, and the next decade hold? We can only wonder and hope, and meanwhile enjoy the next thirty-one days to their fullest. It is, after all, the most festive time of year, full of glitter and celebration, more time with loved ones and joy out there just waiting to be embraced. It can be a difficult time, as well, for many, and so our goal as always is to cling to the good things, all of that which keeps us calm and cozy, or bright and happy to get us through, and set us up for a prosperous new year. We wish all of the same for you, dear readers, and as we embark on the snowy season with our festive drinks and holiday reads in hand, here are five more things we’ll also be doing this month, and hope you will too.
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Get out your festive knits.
There’s nothing like knitwear for embracing the holidays, whether you turn to a traditional fair isle or something covered in sequins. Not only good for keeping warm and dressing up an otherwise casual look, a bright knit can also lift our spirits when the weather turns sad and grey.
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Break out the decorations.
Spread a little joy through your home to maximize the hours you might spend wanting to never leave the covers. Go simple with merely swapping out your autumnal candles for spruce and peppermint scents, or go all out with tinsel, lights, and ornaments aplenty. Or somewhere in between! Let your home reflect the season in whatever way makes you happy to celebrate it.
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Watch a terribly cheesy movie.
Yes, there are dozens of lovely holiday films and specials to watch and truly feel the wonder of it all when you least expect it, but there’s a special kind of happiness that comes from enjoying (and laughing your way through) at least one Hallmark-esque, small town-set production, the more unnecessarily complicated the plot the better. Think if You’ve Got Mail was set in a fairy book village, instead of booksellers they were bakers, and for some reason the entire town became involved. That cheesy.
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Enjoy a festive treat.
Whether you make it yourself or not, this is the time of year to let yourself embrace the joy that is food. We know this can be harder for some, and so we say, be gentle on yourself. You don’t need a specific occasion, and you don’t need to over-exert yourself, but winter is a wonderful season for so many delicious holiday foods and even easier things like produce; pomegranate, apples, cranberries and citrus (which come together beautifully in a bar, by the way). Christmas cookies, cakes, flavored warm drinks...take a moment for yourself and enjoy a snack over a good winter read.
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Ring in the new year.
There are parties aplenty, if you can find your way onto a list. If that’s your thing, go all out! Dance the night away until you’ve got so much glitter in your hair you’ll still find bits of it in your flat come February (no judgement — this comes from experience). For those of us in a (now) quieter mood, New Year’s Eve can be a fun opportunity to make a regular night just a little more special. Dress up, stay home, bask in the luxury or your own company (or the company of a select few) and ring 2020 in the old fashioned way: sparkly glass in hand, fireworks on a screen, and a whole new year waiting just for you.
Raquel Reyes is Creative Director at The Attic on Eighth. She enjoys styling photo shoots, dramatic hair accessories, and old fashioned cocktails.
The five things we’re doing to make the most of February 2021 to reconnect with both ourselves and our loved ones after a long winter.