Things to Do

The Everygirl’s 2023 Holiday Calendar: 61 Days of Festive Activities to Close Out the Year

written by THE EVERYGIRL EDITORS

Here at The Everygirl, we take the holidays very seriously, but each of us has a different idea of the perfect holiday season. Some of us are celebrating the holidays with friends, others are planning to binge cheesy holiday movies until January, some are traveling back to their hometowns, and the rest are channeling Kevin McCallister and enjoying the coziness of solo nights in.

No matter what the season looks like for you this year, we’ve put together a holiday calendar to give you something to look forward to every single day from now until New Year’s Eve—because we could all use a little more holiday cheer in our lives. Check out these 61 holiday activities, add them to your personal calendar or planner, and get ready to soak up all the holiday spirit this season has to offer. 

November:

1. Hang a wreath—fall or holiday!
2. Find a wishlist for a children’s hospital or organization and donate a toy
3. Watch a seasonal movie you haven’t seen before (we love Love, Actually and The Holiday)
4. Clean your home to prepare for holiday decorating
5. Treat your barista to a hefty tip
6. Make a cozy comfort-food recipe
7. Wear your favorite holiday socks to get you in the mood

8. Treat yourself to a new pair of slippers
9. Make a list of intentions for how you want to make the most of the holidays this year
10. Watch your favorite childhood holiday movie
11. Make a favorite family recipe
12. DIY a holiday-inspired drink (Coffee? Booze? Both?)
13. Send a seasonal plant delivery to a relative
14. Send holiday cards, whether you order them online or make them yourself
15. DIY a holiday craft

Source: Half Baked Harvest

16. Catch up with an old friend you haven’t seen in a while
17. Watch a Nancy Meyers movie
18. Pop a bottle of bubbly and celebrate the weekend
19. Do a double feature of a holiday movie that’s been remade (Miracle on 34th Street, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Bishop’s Wife/The Preacher’s Wife, A Christmas Carol, etc.)
20. Cook or bake a meal with family or friends
21. Go ice skating
22. Schedule a holiday gift exchange with your friends

Source: @roomfortuesday

23. THANKSGIVING: Call (at least) three people to tell them how thankful you are for them
24. BLACK FRIDAY: Score an investment piece or item you’ve been wanting at a major discount
25. SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY: Do some gift shopping from your favorite small business (gifts for yourself count, too!)
26. Get a tree (small, fake, real—whatever works for you!) and decorate it
27. Donate a coat for families in need through organizations like One Warm Coat
28. Wear a tacky holiday sweater
29. Kiss under a mistletoe—whether it’s your partner, your pet, a relative, a stuffed animal, or yourself
30. Read a book with a holiday theme (a few favorites of ours are One Day in December, Royal Holiday, and Winter Stroll)

December:

1. Make kits for those in need: homeless, animal shelter, etc.
2. Call a loved one and virtually shop for gifts online together
3. Find the perfect Christmas PJs 
4. Try a festive manicure
5. Make homemade hot chocolate
6. Hang some twinkle lights
7. Hanukkah begins! Make potato latkes at home
8. Make DIY wrapping paper and mail or deliver a gift to a loved one
9. Make a playlist of your favorite holiday songs (or listen to ours!)

10. Challenge yourself to try a new holiday recipe
11. Go through your closet and set aside items in good condition to swap with friends or donate
12. Make your favorite meal—that you normally order out—from scratch (truffle pasta or pad thai, anyone?)
13. Share a favorite holiday recipe with a friend, then make their family fave, too!
14. Go through old photos of past holidays with your family
15. Send a family member or friend a special ornament that reminds you of them with a handwritten note

Source: @michellereadsbooks

16. Wrap gifts while watching a holiday movie and drinking hot cocoa
17. Host a pajama party with your friends, siblings, or cousins (holiday matching pajamas required)
18. Set out a dish of holiday candy
19. Find your go-to red lipstick for all your holiday party needs
20. Bake holiday cookies and share them with your neighbors
21. Buy some fresh greens and DIY a holiday planter or wreath
22. Wear a glittery dress or sparkly eyeshadow—just because
23. Have a karaoke session with friends (carols are a must)

24. CHRISTMAS EVE: Go on a drive or walk to look at lights and decorations
25. CHRISTMAS DAY: Make handwritten thank you cards to give to friends and family for their gifts
26. Take all of your scrap wrapping paper to a recycling plant
27.  Buy a 2024 planner and plan your year
28. Bundle up in your coziest clothes and drink your favorite warm beverage
29. DIY a mani/pedi
30. Make your New Year’s resolutions
31. NEW YEAR’S EVE: Reflect on your favorite moments from 2023, and then set goals and intentions for 2024