You’ve likely started seeing Christmas decorations creeping their way onto shelves since around Labor Day. But as the holidays inch closer, we can safely say the jolliest time of year is actually upon us! There’s truly nothing better than decorating, baking, gifting and cozying up during the holiday season with friends and family. However, it’s crucial to dive in prepared. That’s why we’ve made a guide that includes it all, from deals on artificial trees to recipes for peppermint pancakes.
To get things started, we’ve made a list of discounts on all festive must-haves like new ornaments and sale items from our gift guide for home cooks. And we’ve written out everything you need to know to enjoy the holiday season. That way, you can bask in pure merriment without a care in the world.
Your Ultimate Guide to the 2025 Holiday Season
Best deals on holiday gifts, decor and more
- Discounted Lights and Décor: Target is offering up to 50% off Christmas lights and discounts on all kinds of decorations. We personally love the look of this massive outdoor wreath. And if you’re in the market, they have a ton of artificial trees like this one from Costway, which has great reviews and is almost 70% off.
- Up to 75% Off Ornaments: Shop for all your holiday tree ornaments at Macy’s! You can find all the tree decorations of your dreams, like this red wine ornament, for 72% off. TBH, we’re obsessed.
- Stocking Stuffer Sale: Ulta Beauty is already running early holiday sales on wellness- and beauty-related stocking stuffers. For example, shoppers can take $150 off Dyson’s Airwrap i.d. and 40% off Estée Lauder’s Futurist Aqua Brilliance Watery Glow Primer.
- Tech Gifts Sale: Since the beginning of November, Walmart has been running Black Friday, Cyber Monday and holiday deals. While we can’t confirm what’s on the docket through the end of the month, this 11-inch Apple iPad is $75 off—and it’s likely only going to get cheaper.
- Bedroom Gifts Sale: Through Dec. 8, Avocado Mattress is offering shoppers up to 20% off items site-wide. Surprise your boo with a luxurious latex pillow, or even a new Eco Organic mattress. Sleep tight!
- Kitchen Gifts Sale: If you’re shopping for an amateur chef, check out our gift guide for home cooks. A variety of items on the list, like GreenLife’s Digital Rice Cooker are on sale right now. So get cookin’!
Where to watch holiday movies
- Hulu: The app, which recently combined with Disney+, runs an annual event called Huludays! This lets viewers access a wide range of holiday classics. In 2024, these included fan-favorites like Elf, Home Alone and Polar Express.
- Paramount+: Paramount+ has a wide range of original festive content, as well as Mean Girls (yes, it’s a Christmas movie!) and festive episodes of your favorite shows. More major movies will likely be added closer to the holiday season.
- Netflix: Every year, Netflix has so many Christmas movies. Currently, you can watch Lindsay Lohan’s Falling For Christmas (iconic) as well as a few other popular titles.
- HBO: Don’t even get us started with HBO’s Christmas lineup. Four Christmases? The Harry Potter movies? We’re sold.
Top holiday recipes
- Brunch: We simply can’t say no to Mini Peppermint Pancakes, and Aldi really slayed with this one. Just remember to get real maple syrup—the fake kind simply won’t cut it.
- Cozy Dinners: Cozy up to a bowl of AllRecipes‘ Chicken Cobbler… and just know you’ll want to make a few batches to have for leftovers after your family leaves.
- Greens: Even your little ones will be asking for seconds when it comes to Pinch of Yum’s House Favorite Roasted Brussels. They’re crispy, savory and simply to die for.
- Cookies: Amateur cooks know New York Times Cooking hardly misses. And the Ginger Cheesecake Cookies attest to the fact they’re always on point. With a hint of sour cream cheese and spicy ginger, they’re delicious to the last crumb.
- Boozy: Sunny’s Hot Chocolate Hazelnut Mudslide is a creation from Food Network’s Sunny Anderson. She puts a holiday twist on the classic sweet beverage, the mudslide.
FAQs
When is Christmas 2025?
Every year, Christmas falls on Dec. 25. In 2025, it falls on a Thursday. That means Wednesday, Dec. 24, will be Christmas Eve.
When is Hanukkah 2025?
Hanukkah, which is a Jewish holiday known as the Festival of Lights, lasts from Sunday, Dec. 14 through Monday, Dec. 22. The date changes annually due to the Hebrew calendar, which synchronizes the lunar cycles of the moon with the solar year of the sun.
When is Kwanzaa 2025?
Kwanzaa, which a holiday celebrating African American heritage, lasts from Friday, Dec. 26 through Thursday, Jan 1, 2026. These dates are fixed, and do not change from year to year.
When is New Year’s Eve 2025?
New Year’s Eve always falls on Dec. 31, 2025. This year, that will be a Wednesday, which means the first day of 2026 will be a Thursday.
What holiday recipes should I make this year?
We’ve listed a wide range of holiday recipes above, including Mini Peppermint Pancakes and Sunny’s Hot Chocolate Hazelnut Mudslides. We’ll definitely be making those, along with Ginger Cheesecake Cookies, for upcoming holiday movie marathons.
Where can I watch holiday movies?
Check out any of your favorite streaming services for holiday movies! Hulu always runs its annual Huludays event, which goes throughout the entire holiday season. You can also look into the Paramount+, Netflix and HBO’s Christmas lineups.
Where can I buy cheap holiday gifts and decorations?
As previously mentioned, there are so many sales on decorations and gifts, starting as early as October! Get 50% off Christmas lights at Target, up to 72% off ornaments at Macy’s, discount stocking stuffers at Ulta Beauty and more.
