10 Christmas Activities We Did in the Past but No Longer Do in 2025

Christmas has always been more than just a date on the calendar. It is a season woven from memories, rituals, and little traditions that, for many of us, defined the rhythm of December. Yet like all things in life, Christmas activities evolve. Some beloved customs fade with time, replaced by new practices that reflect the world we live in today. Looking back, there is a sweet ache in remembering what once was—the smell of fresh pine mingling with handwritten letters, the soft crackle of a vinyl record spinning carols, the magic of simpler gatherings.

In this article, we’ll walk through some of the Christmas activities we used to do in the past but rarely see today, while also reflecting on what has taken their place. It’s a journey both nostalgic and revealing, one that shows how holiday culture adapts while still holding on to its essence: togetherness, warmth, and joy.

The Tradition of Handwritten Christmas Cards

There was a time when, by mid-December, kitchen tables were covered in stacks of holiday cards, envelopes, and stamps. Families sat down together to handwrite greetings, carefully addressing envelopes, and often tucking in a family photo or a short letter. These cards traveled across states, sometimes across oceans, to arrive in a friend’s mailbox as a tangible reminder of affection.

Today, this ritual has largely been replaced by digital alternatives. E-cards, festive emails, or even a cheerful Instagram story take the place of ink and paper. Instant messaging allows wishes to cross the world in seconds rather than days. The convenience is undeniable, and yet, many confess that the thrill of opening a mailbox stuffed with holiday cards has been lost. In its place, we scroll and tap, sending virtual snowflakes instead of those we once pressed onto embossed cardstock.

Caroling Door-to-Door

Few things were more enchanting than a group of neighbors or children walking from house to house on frosty evenings, singing carols beneath twinkling porch lights. Caroling wasn’t just about music; it was about community. You knew your neighbors, you stopped for hot cocoa, you created a small but powerful sense of belonging.

But neighborhoods have changed. Today, caroling is rare, replaced instead by organized concerts, choir performances, and streaming holiday playlists. People gather less spontaneously and more formally. While professional performances can be breathtaking, they don’t carry the same imperfect charm of voices blending together in the night, muffled by scarves and laughter. The intimacy of knocking on a neighbor’s door has given way to the global reach of Spotify and YouTube.

Homemade Ornaments and Décor

In many households of the past, Christmas decorations weren’t bought from stores—they were made by hand. Children cut paper snowflakes, strung popcorn garlands, and painted pinecones with glitter. Families collected ornaments year after year, each with its own story, many crafted from scraps of fabric or wood. The joy was not in perfection but in creation.

Nowadays, décor often comes from glossy shop windows and online catalogs. Pre-lit trees and themed ornaments have become the norm, replacing the quirky mismatched baubles of earlier times. Some families still make an effort to include homemade crafts, but the widespread tradition of DIY decorations has dimmed, replaced by curated aesthetics. The living room may look like a magazine spread, but sometimes it lacks the personal fingerprints of generations past.

The Midnight Church Service

For many families, attending a midnight mass or church service was the highlight of Christmas Eve. Bundled against the cold, people filled pews with candlelight in their hands, singing hymns that echoed against high arches. It was a moment of reverence, stillness, and sacred celebration.

Today, while many still attend services, it is far less universal. Some have replaced it with a family gathering at home, watching a holiday movie, or playing games together. Secular traditions have gained prominence, and the midnight ritual has shifted toward cozy evenings by the fireplace rather than church aisles lit with soft gold light.

Christmas Letters to Santa

Once, children poured their hearts into handwritten letters to Santa Claus. They listed their wishes, decorated the paper with drawings, and dropped the envelopes into mailboxes with hope brimming in their eyes. Parents saved these letters for keepsakes, treasuring their children’s innocent handwriting.

In the modern age, the ritual has taken on a digital form. Santa now has online portals, email addresses, and even apps where children can “chat” with him. Some families skip the letter altogether, choosing to whisper wishes directly to parents during shopping trips. While the magic of imagination still exists, the tactile ritual of sealing an envelope addressed to the North Pole has largely disappeared.

Toy Store Visits

For older generations, nothing captured the holiday spirit like walking into a toy store in December. Shelves lined with dolls, trains, and stuffed animals seemed to promise endless wonder. Children pressed their faces to glass displays, while parents made mental notes of what to buy.

Today, many of those grand toy stores are gone. Shopping has shifted online, with Amazon carts replacing store aisles. Virtual wish lists have taken the place of wandering wide-eyed through aisles of toys. The convenience is undeniable, but something about clicking “add to cart” lacks the excitement of hearing a toy’s music box play in your hands or seeing it shine under bright store lights.

Exchanging Homemade Treats

Christmas kitchens once bustled with activity: batches of cookies cooling on counters, tins of fudge wrapped in foil, gingerbread houses collapsing and being rebuilt. Families exchanged tins of homemade sweets with neighbors, teachers, and coworkers. Each treat carried a personal touch—a recipe passed down, a child’s imperfect frosting, a family’s secret spice.

Today, while holiday baking is still alive, store-bought options have largely taken its place. People exchange boxes of chocolates or branded gift baskets rather than hours of handmade labor. Gourmet bakeries and online dessert deliveries have replaced grandma’s kitchen. While delicious, these gifts don’t always hold the same emotional weight as a hand-rolled cookie tied with a ribbon.

Gathering Around the Fireplace for Stories

Before screens dominated our evenings, families often gathered by the fireplace to tell stories, read “A Christmas Carol,” or even share family anecdotes. The soft glow of firelight and the rhythm of storytelling created an intimacy that lingered far beyond the season.

In today’s households, televisions and streaming services have taken center stage. Families gather for Christmas movie marathons, watching classics like Home Alone or The Polar Express. While it’s still a form of togetherness, the art of storytelling by voice alone has faded, replaced by the polished narratives of Hollywood.

Handmade Gifts

There was a deep sincerity in the past tradition of handmade Christmas gifts. A knitted scarf, a carved wooden toy, or even a simple sketch wrapped in tissue paper carried immeasurable value. These gifts spoke of time, patience, and personal devotion.

Now, gift-giving often revolves around convenience and consumerism. Big-box stores and e-commerce giants have made it easy to find the “perfect” item with a few clicks. Handmade gifts still exist, often sold on platforms like Etsy, but the personal act of making something with one’s own hands has become rare.

Family Photo Albums

Once upon a time, Christmas gatherings meant pulling out family photo albums, flipping through pages filled with Polaroids and printed photographs. Stories unfolded with each picture, laughter mingling with nostalgia.

Today, our photos live in phones, often shared instantly but rarely printed. Instead of albums, we gather around a screen, scrolling through endless digital files. The act of physically passing a photo album from hand to hand has been replaced by curated Instagram grids and cloud storage.

What These Changes Mean

Looking back on these fading traditions, one might feel a twinge of sadness. Yet it is important to understand that while the activities themselves evolve, the heart of Christmas—the need to connect, to celebrate, to share—remains the same. Whether we are handwriting cards or sending emojis, baking cookies or ordering cakes online, what matters is the intention behind it.

Our modern Christmas may be less tactile but is more global. Where once we sang to neighbors, now we connect with friends across the world in real time. Where once we wrote letters by hand, now we create videos and digital memories that can last forever. Traditions don’t disappear; they transform, reshaping themselves to fit the tools and rhythms of our time.

A Gentle Call to Balance

Perhaps the lesson is not to mourn the past nor fully embrace the present, but to find balance. There is room for both old and new. Imagine sending a digital Christmas card but also keeping the ritual of writing one handwritten note to a loved one. Picture watching a movie marathon but also setting aside one evening to share stories by candlelight. These acts don’t need to be mutually exclusive. By weaving together fragments of old and new traditions, we preserve the richness of Christmas for generations to come.

Conclusion

Christmas has always been a living tradition, one that bends and shifts with time. While some activities—handwritten cards, door-to-door caroling, homemade ornaments—have largely slipped into memory, they are not truly gone. They live on in nostalgia, in family stories, and sometimes, in small revivals. And while they have been replaced by digital greetings, streaming playlists, and online shopping, the essence remains unchanged: the desire to connect, to give, and to celebrate together.

Looking back fills us with warmth, but looking forward offers its own kind of joy. The Christmas of today is different from the Christmas of yesterday, yet both are bound by the same thread of love. Perhaps the real tradition is change itself—a reminder that no matter how the activities evolve, the spirit of Christmas endures.