Ultimate Christmas 2024 guide: Last-minute gift ideas, dinner recipes, festive movies to watch and more
As you get ready to host family and friends, we've gathered a complete list of tips for making your Christmas as stress-free as possible.
Cue the lights and the carols because Christmas is only a few days away. With 2024 winding down, many of us are in holiday mode, finishing up the last of our shopping and getting ready to spend some much needed time with our nearest and dearest.
ThermoPro Waterproof Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Amison Turkey Baster
Bakeware Set
LIFVER Large Serving Platters (Set of 3)
Farberware Build-A-Board with Lid
Cheese Board and Stainless Steel Knife Set
TableTopics Family Conversation Pack
After Dinner Amusements: Family Time: 50 Conversation Starters
Off Topic Adult Party Game
Even though the holidays are meant to be a time of togetherness and merriment, the season comes more than its fair share of holiday stresses. According to a 2024 survey conducted by Yorkville University, almost half of Canadians consider December the most stressful month, particularly financially. Additionally, the Telus Mental Health Index reports that 40 per cent of women compared to 30 per cent of men consider the holidays — specifically the expectations of entertaining and shopping of the holidays — to be stressful.
To make the final days of your festiveprep as painless as possible, we've compiled a list of holiday-related resources. Keep reading to learn helpful tips for cooking Christmas dinner, fun games and traditions to incorporate into your family and everything in between.
👨🍳 Christmas dinner
Preparing your first turkey dinner can be daunting — it's the main character of the meal! Consider opting for a fresh turkey from your local butcher to avoid the headache of thawing your bird. [The Independent]
If you decide to go the frozen turkey route, remember to give yourself plenty of time to let it thaw. A good rule of thumb is to defrost the turkey in your fridge and allow one day of defrosting for every 4lbs of bird. For example, a 12 lb bird would take three days in the refrigerator to defrost. [Southern Living]
Don't forget to season your turkey. Choose a flavour profile and embrace it! [Good Housekeeping]
Follow this helpful guide to know how long to cook your turkey based on its weight. [Good Housekeeping]
Don't forget to invest in a handy meat thermometer to ensure your bird is completely cooked [Yahoo Canada Lifestyle]
ThermoPro Waterproof Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Amison Turkey Baster
🍲 Christmas dinner alternatives and side dishes
Good Housekeeping is a go-to for recipes. Ahead of the holidays, they've shared their best dishes to serve for the holiday season and quite frankly, all winter long! [Good Housekeeping]
Not a fan of turkey? Consider switching up the traditional Christmas menu for something different, like puff pastry wrapped pork or chicken parm lasagna. [The Pioneer Woman]
If you're hosting family that is vegan or vegetarian, there are plenty of meat-free alternatives that are sure to please a crowd like mushroom risotto with roasted cauliflower steaks. [The Grio]
If you're headed to a Christmas or holiday potluck this year, consider bringing a hearty casserole. [Eating Well]
Allrecipes calls these potatoes au gratin their "most saved" side dish recipe for the holidays. [Allrecipes]
Add some flair to your holiday menu with help from list massive list of 50 side dish ideas. [Delish]
Personally, holiday dinner hinges on the quality of the stuffing. This viral recipe from Bites with Bri on TikTok is a fan-favourite and one you can make ahead of time! [TikTok]
Bakeware Set
LIFVER Large Serving Platters (Set of 3)
🍰 Christmas and holiday desserts
Work smart, not hard this Christmas with dishes you can make-ahead of time, like White Christmas cheesecake and tiramisu. [Momtastic]
Speaking of dessert bars, this festive "gooey" cookie bar recipe has earned more than 9 million views on TikTok and seems fairly simple to make! [TikTok]
If you need to make a high volume of desserts but don't have the patience for cut-outs or cupcakes, these holiday bar recipes are the perfect alternative. Christmas blondies and gingerbread brownies? Yes please! [Delish]
From pavlova to candy cane whoopie pies, Delish has rounded up a list of more than 100 dessert recipes to sweeten up the holiday season. [Delish]
🥂 Hosting hacks
If you're hosting a large group for dinner, consider investing in some warming or chafing dishes to help ensure your food stays warm. [TikTok]
Hosting family and friends can be stressful. These helpful tips can help ease some of the hosting jitters. [The Telegraph]
Charcuterie boards or snack boards are an easy appetizer go-to. This festive board has earned millions of views on TikTok and is sure to be a showstopper. [TikTok]
Impress your guests with a hot cocoa bar using a crock pot, festive mugs, lots of marshmallows and colourful toppings. [TikTok]
Farberware Build-A-Board with Lid
Cheese Board and Stainless Steel Knife Set
🎁 Last-minute gift ideas
Our team of editors gathered some last-minute gift ideas hat you can shop before the holidays from retailers like Best Buy, Amazon and Canadian Tire. [Yahoo Canada Lifestyle]
Lululemon's Christmas shipping deadline is almost here. Be sure to snag these can't miss finds before it's too late! [Yahoo Canada Lifestyle]
Never show up empty-handed to a party — especially at Christmas! Consider this list from House Beautiful as inspiration for what to bring to your next gathering. [House Beautiful]
TikTok star Barbara "Babs" Costello shared some of her go-to hostess gift ideas, like a high quality olive oil or fresh baked goods. [Parade Home & Garden]
📺 What to do/watch/read this Christmas
Looking for some holiday-themed movies to enjoy? The Times Reporter has a list of more than 90 films you can stream, organized by streaming platform like Netflix, Amazon and more. [The Times Reporter]
It's never too late to make new traditions. Try incorporating one of these party games into your family during your next gathering. [TikTok]
Cozy up with some holiday-inspired books that are sure to get you in the Christmas spirit. [Good Housekeeping]
Apparently, not all holiday movies have to be family-friendly. Indiewire compiled a list of the steamiest Christmas movies, including Eyes Wide Shut and Hot Frosty. [Indiewire]
Get a head start on celebrating the festival of lights with these Hannukah movies. [Good Housekeeping]
If you're like me, you're looking to jazz up the dinner conversation and avoid sensitive topics like politics, religion and who still owes who money from 25 years ago. Games Table Topics are a fun and easy way to spark conversation with friends and family and steer clear of any awkward moments around the table. Trust me, I swear by them.
TableTopics Family Conversation Pack
After Dinner Amusements: Family Time: 50 Conversation Starters
Off Topic Adult Party Game
🩺 Christmas health and safety tips
The holidays present their own serious health risks. From potential fire and choking hazards to shovelling snow, see our guide to keeping your family safe this Christmas. [Yahoo Canada Lifestyle]
Trying to drink less? We asked some experts for guidance on how to navigate social gatherings this holiday season when you're trying to stay avoid alcohol. [Yahoo Canada Lifestyle]
Not everyone finds the holiday season enjoyable. Psychologist have offered helpful tips to prevent the holiday blues, like setting boundaries with family and reaching out for help. [Associated Press]
Experts, like Dr. Daniel Amen, are sharing helpful tips on how to navigate depression and anxiety around the holidays on TikTok. [TikTok]
Did you know some of the plants we have around the holidays can be poisonous? Check out this list to learn more. [House Beautiful]
Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
