18 Ways Families Celebrated Holidays in the '70s

Holidays in the 1970s were characterized by a distinct aesthetic that favored warm, earthy tones like harvest gold and avocado green, which found their way into everything from tablecloths to party platters. Without the internet to provide instant inspiration, families relied on local traditions, community gatherings, and the creative ideas found in the pages of monthly magazines. These celebrations were deeply communal, involving neighborhood caroling, massive potluck dinners, and the shared excitement of watching a singular television broadcast that everyone would talk about the next day. The decade bridged the gap between the formal traditions of the past and the more relaxed, casual style of the future. Whether it was the smell of a real pine tree or the sight of a shimmering aluminum centerpiece, the seventies offered a rich and colorful backdrop for making memories that prioritized face-to-face connection and simple, festive joy.

1. Real Pine Trees

In the 1970s, the centerpiece of the Christmas season was almost always a massive, fresh pine or fir tree that the family would choose together at a local lot. The scent of evergreen would fill the entire house for weeks, creating a natural, festive atmosphere that artificial trees couldn’t replicate. Families would spend an entire evening together untangling long strings of large, hot incandescent bulbs that came in bright colors like blue, red, and green. These old-fashioned lights were notorious for blowing out an entire string if just one bulb was loose, leading to a frustrating but traditional ritual of testing each one. Once the lights were in place, the tree was decorated with a mix of fragile glass baubles and handmade ornaments crafted by the children at school. The process of trimming the tree was a major family event that officially signaled the start of the holiday season and brought everyone into the living room for a night of shared work and laughter.

2. Tinsel Overload

No ’70s Christmas tree was considered finished until it was absolutely covered in shimmering silver tinsel, often applied with a very heavy hand by the youngest members of the family. These thin, metallic strips were designed to catch the light and give the tree a magical, icy appearance, but they usually ended up in clumps rather than neat rows. Kids would stand by the tree and throw handfuls of the stuff toward the branches, watching as it draped over the needles and the light bulbs. By the end of the night, the tinsel would be all over the carpet and stuck to the dog’s fur, remaining a fixture in the house long after the tree was gone. While it was messy and a bit of a chore to clean up, the sight of a tree sparkling under the glow of the living room lamps was quintessential to the decade’s holiday aesthetic. It was a cheap and easy way to add a lot of drama and sparkle to the home for very little money.

3. TV Holiday Specials

Because there were only a few television channels available, holiday specials were massive cultural events that the entire family would sit down to watch at the exact same time. Shows like “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and the various variety shows hosted by stars like Perry Como or the Osmonds were highly anticipated. These broadcasts were only shown once a year, so if you missed them, you had to wait an entire 12 months for the next opportunity. Families would coordinate their dinners around the television schedule, making sure the popcorn was ready before the opening credits rolled. The commercials were often just as festive as the shows themselves, featuring the latest toys and holiday treats. Watching these specials together in a darkened room created a sense of shared wonder and provided a common language for kids to talk about at school the next day. It was a unifying experience that made the holidays feel like a big, national celebration.

4. Handmade Gift Tags

In an era that valued the personal touch, many families spent their holiday evenings sitting at the kitchen table, crafting their own gift tags and cards. Using construction paper, glitter, glue, and markers, children and parents would create custom labels for every present under the tree. This was a time before peel-and-stick labels became the standard, so everything required a bit more effort and creativity. Some families would cut out pictures from old holiday cards from the previous year to repurpose them into something new and beautiful. It was a productive way to spend the cold winter nights, and it added a layer of thoughtfulness to the gift-giving process. These handmade tags often became keepsakes themselves, tucked away in scrapbooks or saved in boxes for years. The focus was on the act of creating something specifically for a loved one, reinforcing the idea that the best parts of the holidays were the things you made with your own two hands.

5. Massive Potluck Dinners

The 1970s was the golden age of the potluck dinner, where extended family and neighbors would all contribute a dish to create a giant, eclectic feast. The dining table would be overflowing with a mix of traditional roasted meats and the experimental, gelatin-based salads that were so popular during the decade. Everyone had a “signature” dish that they were expected to bring every year, whether it was a specific type of stuffing or a tray of deviled eggs. This style of celebration took the pressure off the host and ensured plenty of variety for everyone to enjoy. The conversation was loud and constant as people squeezed into mismatched chairs and balanced plates on their laps. These gatherings were often the only time during the year that certain relatives would see each other, making the meal feel like a significant and joyful reunion. It was a relaxed and inclusive way to celebrate that focused on the abundance of food and the warmth of good company.

6. Polaroid Holiday Photos

Capturing memories during a ’70s holiday meant the instant gratification of the Polaroid camera, which produced a physical photo just seconds after the shutter clicked. Family members would crowd together in front of the tree or the fireplace, waiting for the flash to pop so they could watch the white square of film slowly develop into a colorful image. There was a specific magic in shaking the photo and seeing the faces of your loved ones appear as if by magic. These photos often had a slightly blurry or warm-toned quality that perfectly captured the cozy atmosphere of the home. Because the film was expensive, every shot was carefully planned, and the resulting pictures were often displayed on the refrigerator or passed around the room immediately. These instant snapshots provided a visual record of the festivities that could be enjoyed right then and there, adding an extra layer of excitement to the day’s events as everyone laughed at their candid expressions.

7. Caroling in Groups

It was very common in the 1970s for families and church groups to bundle up in their heaviest coats and walk through the neighborhood singing Christmas carols. This was a purely social, community-focused activity that brought a sense of musical cheer to the dark winter streets. Groups would knock on doors and perform a song or two, often being invited in for a quick cup of hot cocoa or a festive cookie. It was a way to connect with neighbors you might not see very often and to spread a bit of selfless joy throughout the local area. Children would carry songbooks and flashlights, their breath visible in the cold air as they sang “Silent Night” or “Jingle Bells” at the top of their lungs. The sound of voices drifting through the neighborhood was a beautiful, traditional part of the season that fostered a sense of safety and belonging. It turned the entire community into a shared celebration space where everyone was welcome to join in the music.

8. Making Popcorn Garlands

A classic and time-consuming holiday tradition involved sitting in front of the television and threading long strings of plain popcorn and cranberries to hang on the Christmas tree. This was a task that required a lot of patience and a steady hand with a needle and thread, often resulting in a few pricked fingers along the way. Families would make several yards of these garlands, which added a rustic and natural look to the decorations. It was a great way to keep children busy for hours, and the popcorn aroma added to the festive atmosphere. Sometimes, the popcorn was even painted with gold or silver glitter to give it a bit more of a ’70s flair. The best part for many kids was sneaking a few pieces of popcorn to eat while they worked, though the plain, day-old kernels were usually pretty dry. These garlands represented the era’s commitment to simple, inexpensive, and homemade beauty, involving the whole family.

9. Punch Bowl Centerpieces

Every major ’70s holiday party featured a large, ornate glass punch bowl as the central focus of the refreshment table. The punch was usually a bright, neon-colored mixture of fruit juices, ginger ale, and sometimes a few scoops of sherbet floating on top for extra sweetness and texture. It was a festive and visually impressive way to serve drinks to a large crowd, and kids loved being allowed to use the plastic ladle to fill their own cups. Sometimes, a ring of ice with frozen fruit inside would be placed in the center to keep the drink cold without watering it down. The punch bowl was a sign that a real celebration was happening, and it often became the place where people gathered to chat while waiting for a refill. The sweet, fizzy concoctions were a staple of the era, and the colorful liquid inside the sparkling glass bowl added a touch of elegance and fun to even the simplest family gathering in the living room.

10. Advent Calendar Rituals

The lead-up to Christmas was marked by the daily ritual of opening a door on a cardboard Advent calendar, a tradition that built intense anticipation among children. These calendars were usually simple, featuring a festive scene and a small door for each day of December. Behind each door was a tiny picture or a short piece of scripture, though the most coveted versions were the ones that held a small, waxy piece of chocolate. Kids would argue over whose turn it was to open the door, and the excitement grew as the numbers got closer to twenty-five. It was a slow and steady countdown that made the month feel like a magical journey toward the big day. Unlike the elaborate and expensive advent calendars of today, the ’70s versions were humble and focused on the simple joy of discovery. It was a morning tradition that started the day with a bit of holiday spirit and reminded everyone that the celebration was just around the corner.

11. Heavy Fruitcake Tradition

While it is often the subject of jokes today, the dense and colorful fruitcake was a very serious and common holiday gift in the 1970s. These cakes were packed with candied fruits, nuts, and often soaked in a bit of brandy or rum to keep them moist for months. Families would receive them from relatives or bake them weeks in advance to allow the flavors to develop and mature. They were incredibly heavy and rich, meaning a small slice was usually more than enough for anyone. Despite their reputation, many people genuinely enjoyed the tradition of having a fruitcake on the sideboard throughout the season. They were often beautifully decorated with glacé cherries and whole pecans, making them a festive addition to the dessert table. The fruitcake represented the old-world traditions that many ’70s families still held onto, serving as a durable and reliable treat that could be shared with any guest who happened to drop by during the month.

12. Aluminum Tree Accents

While real trees were popular, many families in the ’70s also embraced the space-age look of the aluminum Christmas tree, often used as a second tree in the basement or den. These shimmering silver trees didn’t use traditional lights; instead, a rotating color wheel sat on the floor and projected shifting shades of red, blue, and orange onto the metallic needles. It created a hypnotic and very modern look that was a stark contrast to the traditional evergreen. For families who loved the bold and flashy side of seventies design, the aluminum tree was the height of fashion. It was easy to set up and required no water, making it a practical choice for a secondary decoration. Kids were fascinated by the way the colors changed and would spend hours watching the light move across the silver branches. It was a unique and slightly kitschy symbol of the decade’s love for new materials and the exciting, futuristic possibilities of home decor.

13. Homemade Cookie Swaps

A favorite tradition among neighborhood parents was the holiday cookie swap, where everyone would bake several dozen of their best cookies and then trade them with others. This meant that for the effort of making just one type of cookie, a family would end up with a huge variety of different treats to enjoy all season long. Tables would be covered in tins of gingerbread men, sugar cookies with colorful sprinkles, and the classic peanut butter blossoms with a chocolate kiss in the center. It was a great way to share recipes and save time during the busy weeks of December. Children loved helping to package the cookies and, of course, sampling the “rejects” that didn’t look quite perfect enough to trade. The house would smell like butter and vanilla for days, and the resulting surplus of sweets meant there was always something to offer guests. It was a delicious example of community cooperation and the shared joy of holiday baking.

14. Orange in the Stocking

A simple but deeply rooted tradition for many seventies families was the inclusion of a single, bright orange at the very bottom of the Christmas stocking. This practice dates back to the Great Depression, when fresh fruit was a rare and expensive luxury, and it remained a symbolic gesture of good fortune and health. For a child, reaching deep into the toe of the stocking and finding the heavy, cool fruit was a familiar and comforting part of the morning. It provided a fresh and healthy contrast to the piles of chocolate and candy that usually filled the rest of the sock. While some kids might have preferred another small toy, the orange was a reminder of the simpler times their parents and grandparents had lived through. It was a quiet moment of tradition in the midst of the morning’s excitement, connecting the family to the past and providing a bright, citrusy scent to the pile of opened gifts and torn wrapping paper.

15. New Year’s Noisemakers

Celebrating the arrival of the new year in the 1970s involved a lot of loud, mechanical noise thanks to the tin and plastic noisemakers that were handed out at every party. These gadgets included “clackers,” whistles, and the classic “ratchet” style that you would swing in a circle to create a deafening metallic sound. As the countdown reached zero, everyone would start blowing horns and shaking their noisemakers with all their might. It was a chaotic and joyful way to release the energy of the past year and welcome the new one with a bang. Children were allowed to stay up late for this one special night, feeling like grown-ups as they participated in the midnight ruckus. The living room would be filled with the sound of laughter and the clatter of tin, creating a memory of pure, unbridled celebration. It was a simple and effective way to make the transition into the new year feel like a truly momentous and exciting global event.

16. Visiting Santa at Malls

For every ’70s child, a trip to the local shopping mall to sit on Santa’s lap was a mandatory and often slightly terrifying holiday rite of passage. The “Santa Land” displays were elaborate, featuring fake snow, animatronic reindeer, and long lines of excited children dressed in their Sunday best. You would wait for what felt like hours for your thirty seconds of fame, where you would nervously whisper your wish list into a bearded man’s ear while a professional photographer snapped a picture. These photos, usually mounted in a cheap cardboard frame, became permanent fixtures on the family mantle. The mall was filled with festive music and the smell of roasted nuts, making the whole experience feel like a journey to a magical kingdom. Even if you were scared of the man in the red suit, the promise of a small candy cane at the end of the visit made the whole ordeal worthwhile for millions of kids.

17. Fondue Party Fun

For New Year’s Eve or adult holiday gatherings, the fondue set was the ultimate symbol of a sophisticated and trendy ’70s celebration. Families would gather around a bubbling pot of melted cheese or chocolate, using long, thin forks to dip pieces of bread, fruit, or meat into the mixture. It was a very social way to eat, as everyone was centered around a single heat source and shared from the same pot. The sets often came in the decade’s favorite colors, like burnt orange or mustard yellow, and were a point of pride for the host. For children, it was a thrilling and slightly dangerous way to have dinner, as they had to be careful with the hot liquid and the sharp forks. Fondue parties were all about taking your time, talking, and enjoying the process of the meal as much as the food itself. It was a communal dining experience that perfectly captured the decade’s focus on togetherness and the joy of trying new, slightly foreign culinary trends.

18. Neighborhood Open Houses

During the weeks leading up to the holidays, it was common for families to host “open houses” where friends and neighbors could drop by for a few minutes or a few hours. There was no formal sit-down meal; instead, the kitchen counters were filled with trays of cookies, bowls of nuts, and a large bowl of festive punch. This allowed people to circulate through the neighborhood, visiting multiple homes in a single afternoon and catching up with everyone in a low-pressure environment. The front door was often left unlocked, and people came and went as they pleased, fostering a sense of openness and trust in the community. These events were great for meeting new neighbors and strengthening the bonds of the local area. For kids, it meant an endless supply of treats and the chance to play with their friends from down the street while the adults talked. It made the entire season feel like one long, continuous party that involved the whole neighborhood.

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