christmas – Topical Fruit

The Top Things That Make Us Feel “Cozy” in Winter

When winter arrives, some people immediately declare, “Nope,” and begin emotionally shutting down until March.

A survey found that 67% of Americans wish they could straight-up hibernate like bears. And honestly, if someone opened a clinical trial for human hibernation, the waitlist would be miles long.

But since we cannot actually snooze our way through winter, 86% say they’re at least fully committed to getting “as cozy as possible,” which basically means transforming their home into a soft, warm nest and abandoning the concept of productivity.

People were given dozens of options, and these are the top 10 ways Americans say they achieve peak coziness:

Curling up on the couch
Layers of blankets, ideally enough to threaten mobility
Enjoying the quiet (because winter finally silences the lawnmowers)
Sleeping in
Making fresh tea, coffee, or hot chocolate (and maybe spiking it just a bit… right, grandma?)
Not leaving the home under any circumstances
Watching cold, rainy, or snowy weather from inside like a judgmental Victorian child
Lighting candles
Putting on relaxing music
Spending time with family

And because “spending time with family” can range from heartwarming to “why did I come here,” the next-most popular option is the far more universal: putting on thick socks.

Once people settle into maximum snuggle mode, it takes an average of 48 minutes before they feel fully relaxed. And 76% say they sleep better if they get cozy first, which is shocking information to absolutely no one.

There is no better way to spend winter than refusing to go outside, wearing socks that feel like tiny sheep, and pretending society does not exist until further notice.

Have You Considered Eating Your Christmas Tree?

You need to get that dried-out tree out of your living room before it bursts into flames! Why not make a meal of it?

If you dragged a real Christmas tree into your living room this holiday season, here’s a fun, weird, eco-friendly option for your post-holiday cleanup: you can eat it.

How to Eat Your Christmas Tree

A food writer in the UK named Julia Georgallis published a book with the straightforward, no-nonsense title, “How to Eat Your Christmas Tree.” The artisan baker and cook claims you can use nearly the entire thing to whip up some surprisingly classy recipes.

Don’t Just Grab a Fork and Knife

Of course, this isn’t a “just toss a log in your blender” situation. Before you dive face-first into a bowl of pine needles, there are a few culinary pro tips.

Most of her tips involve using your tree to season your meal. For example, the needles can be treated like rosemary or bay leaves, adding an earthy flavor to roasts, sauces, or even cocktails. (Apparently, crushed needles make a great flavor boost for gin or vinegar.) They also pack a decent punch of vitamin C.

Not All Xmas Trees Are Edible

You’ll want to make sure your tree hasn’t been treated with chemicals, pesticides, or fake snow. So if yours came from a big-box lot with a barcode tag and neon netting, you may want to skip the dining experiment and stick with curbside pickup.

Still, it’s a compelling idea: finding a second life for something that usually just sits in a landfill or gets mulched.

And if nothing else, it’s the kind of quirky fact that makes you sound like a weirdo at parties—“I finally got rid of my Christmas tree yesterday. It was delicious.”

Survey Says: People Are Secretly Over a Lot of Christmas Traditions

The holiday season may look magical on Instagram, but in real life, not every Christmas tradition feels like a warm mug of cocoa. A survey dug into which traditions people are still excited about, which ones they tolerate, and which ones they quietly wish would be banished to the North Pole. It gathered thousands of responses, giving us a surprisingly honest look at how people REALLY feel about holiday rituals. If you need proof that holiday burnout is a thing, well, here it is.

So, what are people still gung-ho about?

Secret Santa surprisingly takes the top spot, with 54% of respondents saying they’re still into it. Maybe it’s the thrill of trying to guess which coworker bought you a mug shaped like a reindeer. Or maybe it’s the $20 limit that keeps things from getting too awkward.

Snow came in at 42%, which makes sense. Snow is beautiful in movies and on postcards, and slightly less delightful when it’s blocking your driveway.

A solid 41% insist that all presents must be opened on Christmas Day, no exceptions. This rule is beloved by traditionalists and feared by anyone who travels between multiple households and ends up opening gifts in the back seat of a car.

Christmas entertainment holds steady. Christmas music, Christmas movies, and Christmas carols all hover in the low 40s and 30s. Apparently there are still plenty of people who will listen to Mariah Carey voluntarily and even leave the house to sing about figgy pudding.

Decorations also make the list, though only 29% are still truly enthusiastic about decking the halls. Hosting Christmas parties isn’t wildly popular either, with 27% saying they’re up for it. That number feels right, considering hosting means cleaning, cooking, and pretending not to notice when someone uses your good hand towels.

Then there’s the spicy category: 26% of respondents say they’re legitimately offended if someone doesn’t like Christmas. Not “bummed,” but offended. Good luck to the polite introverts trying to navigate that one.

Ugly Christmas sweaters still have fans at 25%, tied with baking cookies. Honestly, both traditions have the same vibe: fun, cute, and slightly messy.

Some traditions ranked much lower. Only 21% of people want the tree up before Thanksgiving. And Christmas family photos? Just 14% are really into those, which tracks considering how many of them end in tears, bribery, or matching plaid pajamas no one wanted.

Finally, only 11% of people make their own Christmas cards, which raises the question: Who ARE these people, and what kind of free time do they have?

If nothing else, this survey proves that even the most beloved holiday rituals can get a little . . . complicated. But whether you’re team “let’s do everything” or team “how about we just chill,” at least you can rest easy knowing you’re not the only one feeling that holiday fatigue creeping in.

From Killer Snowmen to Grumpy Cat, These Are the Worst Holiday Movies Ranked

If you need a little schadenfreude to go with your holiday cheer, buckle up.

“Paste“ magazine has officially crowned the worst Christmas movies ever made, and it is a spectacular parade of cinematic coal. If you love bad movies, cult classics, or anything involving killer snowmen, this is basically your Super Bowl.

This rundown has everything from campy horror to sequels literally no one asked for. At the top of the list is the beautifully awful “Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2”, the 1987 gem best known for the line “Garbage day!” If you’ve somehow never witnessed that scene, treat yourself.

What makes this ranking especially fun is the mix of styles. You get low-budget slashers, strange sequels, and those “How did this get made?” titles that only resurface during the holidays.

Here’s the Bottom 20:

“Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2” (1987)
“Elves” (1989)
“Santa Claus” (1959)
“Last Ounce of Courage” (2012)
“A Karate Christmas Miracle” (2019)
“Jingle All the Way 2” (2014)
“Santa with Muscles” (1996)
“Santa Claws” (1996)
“A Christmas Story 2” (2012)
“Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman” (2000)
“Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” (1964)
“Deck the Halls” (2006)
“Surviving Christmas” (2004)
“Saving Christmas” (2014)
“Christmas Evil” (1980)
“The Nutcracker in 3D” (2009)
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (1998)
“Santa’s Slay” (2005)
“Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever” (2014)
“Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July” (1979)

If you use the holidays as an excuse to binge both classics and catastrophes, this list is your new watch guide. Just maybe pace yourself, or risk having “Jack Frost 2” haunt your dreams.

The Most Popular Christmas Present Hiding Spot Is… the First Place Kids Look

If you’re a parent, it may seem like you could hide your kids’ presents INSIDE THE WALLS… and you’d still come home to see they’d sawed through the drywall to sneak a peek.

So maybe THIS is just admitting defeat:

According to a survey, the most popular place to hide Christmas gifts is: In a bedroom closet… the first place kids look is: In a bedroom closet… and the place where gifts are most commonly found is: Yep, a bedroom closet.

The second most-popular hiding spot is a spare room, followed by a coat closet… under the bed… the trunk of the car… a spare drawer or cabinet… the basement… the garage… and the attic.

Some tougher spots for them to investigate include: Another person’s house… “outside,” whatever that means… a shed… and a storage unit.

50% of people say they’ve had gifts they hid get found, while 50% claim they’ve been SUCCESSFUL at hiding gifts. Or maybe, they just haven’t found out that their hiding spot has been breached.

And now, just for fun, here’s a playful list of:

Failproof Ways to Keep Your Kids’ Christmas Present Hidden

Bury it under vegetables. Trust me, your kid won’t go near it.
Put it in a fancy vase and claim it’s Nana’s ashes. Hey, it works with your weed.
Make a deal with your neighbor that if he keeps it at his house, you won’t tell the rest of the street about that time you got his copy of “Amish Butter Churners Gone Wild” in the mail.
Don’t buy it until December 25th. As long as what your kid wants for Christmas is a gift card to 7/11.
Store it in the same apartment that keeps your boyfriend hidden from your husband.
Put it behind that fake rock for your house key… that everyone knows is a fake rock for your house key.
Continue hiding it in your bedroom closet. But lower your kid’s Ritalin dosage so he’s too unfocused to hunt for it.
Just give your kid the Christmas present she deserves: nothing. Problem solved.

Five Last-Minute Christmas Gifts That Aren’t Boring

If you just glanced at the calendar and felt your stomach drop, you’re not alone.

The stress-shopping sweats of the Christmas season are real. But before you default to another “Merry Christmas, here’s a $25 card to a place you might like,” there are some great last-minute gift ideas that feel way more personal and still require almost no prep work.

Here are five great options that don’t involve grabbing the plastic rectangle at the checkout counter:

1. Digital Products
Streaming subscriptions, online courses, or video games. These deliver instantly, feel personalized, and require zero shipping or wrapping panic.

2. Experiences
Concert tickets, football tickets, or even a future trip. Just print the confirmation and slide it into a card. It feels big and meaningful without needing to shop in person.

3. Cryptocurrency
Bitcoin or even trending meme coins like Dogecoin. It’s modern, unique, and definitely not something they’ll already have under the tree.

4. Homemade Coupons
Promises like cooking their favorite dinner, covering the first round at their favorite bar, or handling a chore they hate. Simple, personal, and surprisingly sentimental.

5. Printed Photos in a Frame
Grab your favorite photos from your phone, print them, and put them in a nice frame. It’s fast, thoughtful, and usually a home run emotionally.

So don’t panic. You still have time, and you don’t have to settle for gift cards unless you really want to. These ideas are fast, meaningful, and guaranteed to beat the classic last-minute scramble.

The Top Holiday Moments Kids Get Excited About

The holidays can be a rough gig for kids. (Yeah, you sensed some sarcasm in my voice.)

A new survey of 2,000 Millennial parents with young kids dug into what actually gets kids hyped during the holiday season, and the results are extremely on-brand for anyone under four feet tall.

Predictably, gifts take the crown. A full 81% of kids go absolutely feral for presents.

Holiday lights and decorations come next at 72%, probably because kids are basically moths with snack privileges. Then it’s holiday foods and treats at 67%, which feels a lot like parents saying, “Yes, my children love sugar. Thank you for the insight.”

Time off school during winter break clocks in at 66%, followed closely by “holiday entertainment” at 62%. That’s probably the classics, like movies, TV specials, and school plays where at least one kid knocks over a cardboard tree.

Family traditions hit 60%, snow comes in at 52%, and outdoor activities follow at 51%.

Then there’s the cherished rite of staying up past bedtime at 44%, which kids treat like a once-in-a-lifetime Vegas residency.

Rounding out the list is “seeing extended family” at 43%. Realistically, that number reflects excitement about cousins, not the great-uncle who wants to tell everyone about his foot surgery.

The survey circled back to gifts, because kids do too.

Parents say the average child asks about presents 51 times during the holiday season, which works out to about twice a day. That’s dedication.

And the top place parents hide those gifts is in closets. Next is their bedroom, then the car, the basement, and the garage.

So yes, kids may suffer through itchy sweaters, endless photos, and Uncle Rick talking about how much they’ve grown… but the holidays still offer plenty of magic in the form of sugar, lights, snow, and the eternal quest to locate hidden gifts.

Holiday Decorating Injuries Are Way More Common Than You Think

The holiday season is supposed to be full of joy, lights, food, and family. But according to a new survey, it is also prime time for unplanned trips to the emergency room. And no, it is not just from sneaking raw cookie dough out of the bowl.

The survey found that 30% of Americans have been injured during holiday-related activities at some point. Sometimes it was minor, sometimes it was serious enough to require medical attention. Either way, nearly one in three people has a holiday horror story that probably started with, “I thought this would only take a second.”

The most common injuries come from surprisingly everyday moments.

Thirteen percent of people say they have cut themselves while wrapping or opening presents, which means scissors and aggressive gift wrap are a bigger threat than we give them credit for. Eleven percent have slipped or tripped outdoors, likely thanks to icy sidewalks, wet leaves, or rushing to the car with armloads of stuff.

Holiday cooking is another danger zone. Ten percent of people say they were injured in the kitchen, which tracks for anyone who has tried to cook a full holiday meal while multitasking and answering questions. Candles are also a problem, with 6% reporting burns. Another 6% say they tripped over holiday-related objects, which is a polite way of saying décor was everywhere.

Then there are the decorating injuries that feel almost inevitable.

Four percent of people have fallen from a ladder, another 4% were hurt while standing on furniture to hang decorations, and 3% were injured while putting lights or decorations on the roof. Add in the 3% who were injured by “a new toy,” and suddenly the holidays start to sound like an obstacle course.

Alcohol plays a role too. Twelve percent of those who were injured admit they were intoxicated at the time, which may explain at least some of the ladder and furniture decisions.

Fire safety also comes into play when it comes to holiday lights.

Thirty-eight percent of people leave both indoor and outdoor holiday lights on overnight. Another 24% leave only outdoor lights on, while 16% leave indoor lights glowing, like a Christmas tree. Only 22% say they turn everything off before bed, which is the safest option.

That matters because many of us are using older decorations. Twenty-seven percent say their oldest holiday lights are at least five years old, and 13% say they are seven years old or more. Older lights plus overnight power is not a great combo.

The holidays are supposed to be festive, not dangerous. So maybe this year, step off the chair, double-check the ladder, blow out the candles, and turn the lights off before bed. The ER does not need any more holiday decorations.

Underrated Holiday Gifts That People Actually Love (Even Toilet Paper)

If you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping yet, you’re running out of time. And if you’re running out of ideas, too, maybe it’s time to think outside of the SACK. Because when gadgets, clothes, and novelty junk are off the table, people online say the real winners are not flashy at all. They are practical gifts that get used, appreciated, and quietly loved long after the wrapping paper is gone.

According to a popular online discussion, some of the most underrated holiday gifts are the ones that make everyday life easier. Not exciting, not glamorous, just genuinely useful. And honestly, that might be the dream.

Extra phone chargers and cable organizers top a lot of lists.

Nobody ever complains about having too many ways to charge their phone, especially when one can live in the car and another at work. Right up there with that are high quality sheets and towels. People may not buy them for themselves, but they absolutely notice when they suddenly have nicer ones.

Food also makes a strong showing. One popular idea is a reusable tote filled with non-perishable comfort items like soup, crackers, and cookies. It feels thoughtful without being complicated, and it is guaranteed to get used. The same goes for premium subscriptions. Spotify, HBO Max, or any streaming service someone already uses is basically a gift that keeps showing up every month.

Restaurant gift cards are another fan favorite, especially when they support local, non-chain spots. People specifically called out skipping places like Chili’s or Outback and going for neighborhood restaurants instead. Grocery and gas gift cards also got a lot of love. They used to feel impersonal. Now they feel like free money at exactly the right time.

Comfort items came up again and again. Cozy pajamas, quality coffee, socks, and yes, even underwear all made the list. Context matters with that last one, obviously. Coworkers might want to stick with socks.

Some of the most memorable gifts were downright practical.

One person said their grandparents paid their gas bill for Christmas. Another remembered getting random toiletries like deodorant, toothpaste, and Q-Tips from their grandma and realizing later how clutch that actually was.

And then there is the gift that started the whole conversation, toilet paper. In one case, someone received a 124-pack during a white elephant exchange. Everyone laughed, but the winner said it was hands down the best gift they got that year.

Other honorable mentions included a one-time car detailing, landscaping services, a bidet, and anything that saves time or money. The takeaway is pretty clear. When someone already has everything, giving them something useful might be the most thoughtful move of all.

Are We All Feeling the Pressure to Buy Presents for Our Coworkers?

If your workplace just sent out an email announcing Secret Santa and your first instinct was to fake your own disappearance, you are not alone. But before you start complaining, remember the alternative: buying gifts for half your office like you’re Santa with a corporate expense account.

A new report found that 64% of companies do some kind of employee gift exchange.

Sounds harmless enough, until you learn that more than half of employees feel pressured to buy multiple gifts for multiple coworkers.

That includes your teammates, your supervisor, your supervisor’s supervisor (because strategic gifting is absolutely a thing), and the people who report to you, who are probably also panicking about what to get you. It’s the holiday gift-giving ouroboros. (And honestly, *I* deserve a gift for that very clever reference.)

About one-third of employees say they feel “a lot” or “extreme” pressure to participate.

Gen Z and Millennials feel it the hardest, probably because they already spend most of December trying to find gifts for 57 cousins. And 46% say they feel expected to spend a specific amount on each gift, which is exactly how you end up panicking in a Target aisle asking yourself, “Does this candle smell like leadership potential?”

Of course, the problem isn’t just the financial strain. Office gift-giving can get messy fast. It can create favoritism, weird obligations, or that awkward moment when someone gives their boss an expensive gourmet gift box while you show up with… socks. Very nice socks, but still socks.

This is why structured gift exchanges like Secret Santa or White Elephant actually make sense, as long as they replace personal gift-giving instead of adding a second layer of festive chaos. One gift. One budget. No emotional landmines.

So if your office insists on holiday gifting, the best-case scenario is a fun little exchange where everybody laughs, someone ends up with a novelty mug that says “World’s Okayest Coworker,” and no one feels obligated to give their boss a $25 fruit basket to secure a Q1 performance review.