Deck the Halls A Hilarious Survival Guide to Holiday Madness

Ah, the holidays. That magical time of year when we come together with loved ones, sip hot lattes (or guzzle wine straight from the bottle—no judgment), and bask in the glow of twinkling lights. (Or, if you’re like me, you’re tangled in those same twinkling lights, silently questioning every life choice that led to this moment.) When everything smells like cinnamon, your Spotify Wrapped is 90% Mariah Carey, and the Hallmark Channel tries to convince you that finding true love involves a flannel-wearing lumberjack and a small-town Christmas tree farm.

But let’s be real: the holidays are less ‘silent night’ and more ‘silent scream into your pillow.’ This guide is here to help you laugh, cry, and power through the chaos with your holiday spirit—and sanity—somewhat intact.

Act One: The Decorating Debacle

Putting up holiday decor seems fun—until you realize the last time you neatly organized the Christmas boxes was never. Decorating for the holidays sounds like a Hallmark montage set to jingle bells…until you open your storage bins and realize they look like a Christmas tornado hit Hobby Lobby. You know that tangled ball of lights you shoved into a box last year? Yeah, it’s back. And now it’s sentient.

You’ll start with grand ambitions of a Pinterest-worthy display and end up with a tree that looks like it’s auditioning for a role as an extra in a disaster movie. Bonus points if your pet knocks it over five minutes after you plug in the lights.

You’ll spend 20 minutes trying to unravel that knot of lights before giving up and googling, “Can I just throw lights at the tree and call it modern art?” Spoiler: you can, but your mom will passive-aggressively “fix it” when she visits.

And then there’s the inflatable lawn decor. Nothing says “Happy Holidays” like wrestling a 12-foot snowman in subzero temperatures while your neighbor stares from their window, sipping hot cocoa like you’re their personal entertainment.

Pro Tip: The secret to untangling lights is wine. Lots and lots of wine.

Act Two: The Gift-Getting Gauntlet

Holiday shopping starts with good intentions: a list, a budget, and a vision. Nothing says “holiday cheer” like braving the mall two days before Christmas because you procrastinated again. Fast forward three hours, and you’re wandering aimlessly in Target with a cart full of candles, socks, and a $300 robot vacuum you convinced yourself someone must need.

Shopping for kids? Good luck. They’ll want the hottest toy of the year, which is somehow sold out everywhere and being resold on eBay for the price of a used Honda. You’ll either go broke buying it or end up on TikTok crying while DIY-ing a knockoff version with duct tape and glitter.

Shopping for adults? Even worse. What do you get for the person who has everything? (Spoiler: candles. Everyone gets candles.) And let’s not forget that one friend who insists on doing a homemade gift exchange. You’ll spend six hours crafting Pinterest fails while they show up with a perfectly knitted scarf and a smug grin.

Pro Tip: For the truly impossible-to-shop-for, get them a gift card and slap a bow on it. Call it “minimalist chic.”

Act Three: Family Festivities (a.k.a. Emotional Endurance Training)

Holiday dinners are a test of patience, small talk, and the ability to dodge nosy questions. They are where joy goes to die. Aunt Carol will ask why you’re still single for the 50th time, Uncle Bob will argue with the cranberry sauce, and Cousin Linda will show up late with a casserole that looks like it escaped from a 1970s cookbook while everyone tries to avoid eye contact.

The kids’ table? Absolute chaos. It’s less “dinner” and more “feral Hunger Games” with mashed potatoes as the weapon of choice. And heaven forbid someone forgets to bring the mac and cheese—that’s a family feud waiting to happen.

Pro Tip: Strategically volunteer to “check on the pie” so you can hide in the kitchen for at least 10 minutes before anyone notices you’re gone. Bonus points if you sneak a slice for yourself before serving it.

Act Four: The Holiday Card Catastrophe

“We should send out holiday cards!” you say, thinking it’ll be a fun family bonding activity. Fast forward to you bribing your kids with candy canes to sit still for one photo where they’re not making faces.

Meanwhile, your partner is blinking in every shot, and the dog has decided now is the perfect time to aggressively groom itself. The result? A photo where everyone looks like they’ve been held hostage by Santa.

Pro Tip: Just go digital. Photoshop some Santa hats onto last year’s vacation pics and call it a day. No one will notice.

Act Five: Baking Blunders

Holiday baking sounds charming until you’re covered in flour, trying to remember if baking soda and baking powder are the same thing (they’re not, by the way…). The first batch of cookies will burn, the second batch will be raw, and the third batch? That’s the one you cry into while Googling, “Can I door-dash Christmas cookies?”

Pro Tip: Buy the premade dough and pretend you made it from scratch. If anyone asks, your secret ingredient is “love” (and Pillsbury).

Act Six: Surviving the Chaos

By the time New Year’s rolls around, you’ll be wondering if it’s socially acceptable to hibernate until March. (Spoiler: it is.) But despite the chaos, the stress, and the absolute nonsense, there’s something magical about the holidays. Maybe it’s the sparkle of the lights or the sheer audacity of surviving another year.

So here’s to you, holiday warrior. May your lights stay untangled, your shopping list stay short, and your wine glass stay full. Cheers to making it through with laughter, love, and only a mild case of seasonal insanity.

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