It’s hard to think about Christmas in times of uncertainty. If you’re used to big family reunions, this year is likely to be somehow different. A lot of people are choosing to self-isolate ahead of the festive season. Ultimately, the pandemic fear is real.
Yet, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a fun celebration. If you can’t visit your relatives this year, you can use the spare time to throw a memorable themed Christmas party at home. And what better way to make Christmas memorable than to recreate your most cherished childhood memories? Take your family along memory lane with a 1970s, 1980s, or even 1990s – depending on your age – Christmas celebration.
Vintage accessories make great gifts
Memories are sensorial. The mind remembers a gesture, a sound, a touch, a taste, or even a smell. If you’re familiar with Proust’s iconic madeleine moment in Remembrance of Things Past, the narrator travels back in time at the taste of the French soft sponge cakes. According to that principle, the best way to bring back the Christmas of your past to life is to touch, smell, hear or taste something from your childhood. If you remember your grandfather’s old watch fondly, for instance, buying a used Rolex from the same era could bring images and sensations from those days vividly to your mind. Or perhaps, you’ve got your eyes set on a vintage jumpsuit with bold shoulder pads? Whatever it is, it’ll take you on an incredible journey at the heart of your memories.
Get that hair through a time machine
You can’t entirely throw a childhood memory party without dressing up for the part. 1980s children can have a tremendous amount of fun with their hairstyles. Do you remember those crimped ponytails? Yep, they were a thing back then, and it’s undoubtedly going to be a laugh. Admittedly, not everyone has got a crinkle-cut iron, so you can keep it low-key with a side high pony held together with a huge scrunchie. Bonus points for the permed fe-mullet, which was iconic of Purple Rain… but it can be tricky to pull off!
Stage the scene
You may not want to redecorate your home like it used to be 20, 30, or 40 years ago. But you can use smart touches to set the scene. A brief glance at the iconic celebrities and movie posters from the 1980s, for instance, can do the trick. Pac-Man and tStar Wars can be all the imagery you need to set the mood. 1990s children will love a rocky Nirvana background for added coolness. But, we can all agree that nothing quite beats the Flower Power and hippie elegance that made the 1970s so unique.
Get ready for the photos
If you haven’t prepared greeting cards already, why not make your themed party ahead of Christmas? You can immortalize the party and use the photos for your Christmas cards. It’s a fun way of reaching out to those who are self-isolating this season. And, let’s be honest, dressing up is plain fun anyway! But, this year, recreating the worry-less Christmases of your childhood could be all you need to recharge your batteries.
Bell-bottom denim or colorful tracksuits, you set the tone this Christmas. Turn the living room into your very own time machine to take your household on a trip they will not forget.
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