Skip to content
Scan a barcode
Scan
Added to your cart

Fixation Friday: Holiday Traditions

This week's trending topic of exploration

By Ashly Moore Sheldon • November 23, 2023

Fixation Friday is what has our customers ticking this week! In this new blog series, we explore a trending topic and the different paths it takes. This week, we're dissecting the topic of Holiday Traditions and shining a light on some of the ways this theme shapes our lives.

Culinary traditions

One of the first things that comes to mind when we think about the holidays is all the yummy foods we're going to enjoy. There are, of course, whole cookbooks dedicated to specific holidays, but year after year, holiday after holiday, we find ourselves reaching for The Joy of Cooking, which always seems to have what we need.

Of course, our culinary traditions are strongly impacted by our cultural backgrounds as well and there are tons of exciting cookbooks highlighting cuisines from across the cultural spectrum. Here are just a few we're enjoying:

Generosity

Receiving gifts is fun, but for many of us, the true joy of the holidays comes from seeing the delight on the faces of our loved ones when they open the gifts we give them. Revisiting stories like The Gift of the Magi and How the Grinch Stole Christmas are lovely ways to remind our young'uns (and ourselves) of the pleasure inherent in giving to others.

One of the stories we love about generosity is Pearl Buck's Christmas Day in the Morning about a young farm boy on Christmas Eve trying to think of the perfect Christmas gift for his father. The Elves and the Shoemaker is another fun tale demonstrating the deep satisfaction in both giving and receiving.

Second chances

For many of us the holiday cheer can belie a certain sense of melancholy. Perhaps we are missing someone from our past as in One Last Gift by Emily Stone. Like Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, we may be reflecting on mistakes or misdeeds from our past and wish for a shot at redemption. This could explain why we are seeing that stories about second chances are popular this time of year.

Some of these stories have a magical component, like the time-loop storyline found in Christina Lauren's In a Holidaze. In The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, this takes the form of an enchanted library that allows patrons to explore different paths their lives might have taken.

But many second-chance tales are realistic stories about people who have suffered loss or heartbreak, but get another chance at happiness like Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand or Never Again Good-Bye by Terri Blackstock.         

Cultural traditions

Christmas tends to dominate the season, but there are several beloved cultural traditions being recognized and celebrated this time of year. Whether you're wanting to learn more about them or add to your own celebrations, here are some lovely picture books about the many holidays of the season.

Entertainment

From The Nutcracker to Die Hard, holiday entertainment can take all forms. Many families are thrilled to return to their favorite holiday movies every year. They never get old! Classic choices include It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, Miracle on 34th Street, and Elf.

Some of the movies we choose don't even have anything to do with the holidays like The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter.

We can even pair our refreshments with our choice of entertainment with these pop culture-inspired cookbooks:

That's it for our first Fixation Friday. As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts. Any holiday traditions you'd like to share?

Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon

Books mentioned in this article
The Joy of Cooking
The Joy of Cooking
Irma S. Rombauer

from: $4.99

The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food: A Cookbook
The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food: A Cookbook
Marcus Samuelsson

from: $7.39

Shabbat: Recipes and Rituals from My Table to Yours
Shabbat: Recipes and Rituals from My Table to Yours
Adeena Sussman

from: $18.09

Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture from My Kitchen in México
Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture from My Kitchen in México
Rick Martinez

from: $26.31

Korean American: Food that Tastes Like Home
Korean American: Food that Tastes Like Home
Eric Kim

from: $13.19

The Gift of the Magi
The Gift of the Magi
O. Henry

from: $4.19

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Dr. Seuss

from: $3.99

Christmas Day in the Morning
Christmas Day in the Morning
Pearl S. Buck

from: $6.79

The Elves and the Shoemaker
The Elves and the Shoemaker
Jacob Grimm

from: $6.99

One Last Gift
One Last Gift
Emily Stone

from: $4.79

A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens

from: $3.89

In a Holidaze
In a Holidaze
Christina Lauren

from: $4.59

The Midnight Library
The Midnight Library
Matt Haig

from: $7.49

Winter in Paradise
Winter in Paradise
Elin Hilderbrand

from: $4.99

Never Again Good-bye
Never Again Good-bye
Terri Blackstock

from: $5.19

The Story of Hanukkah
The Story of Hanukkah
David A. Adler

from: $3.99

Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story
Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story
Angela Shelf Medearis

from: $4.29

Diwali
Diwali
Hannah Eliot

from: $4.69

Under the Bodhi Tree: A Story of the Buddha
Under the Bodhi Tree: A Story of the Buddha
Deborah Hopkinson

Out of Stock

The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice
The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice
Carolyn McVickar Edwards

from: $11.69

The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker

from: $8.19

Die Hard
Die Hard

from: $5.09

It's A Wonderful Life
It's A Wonderful Life

from: $4.49

A Christmas Story (1983)
A Christmas Story (1983)

from: $4.39

Miracle on 34th Street
Miracle on 34th Street

from: $4.59

Elf
Elf

from: $3.59

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

from: $5.29

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

from: $5.49

Harry Potter: The Official Christmas Cookbook
Harry Potter: The Official Christmas Cookbook

from: $20.39

The Official Downton Abbey Christmas Cookbook
The Official Downton Abbey Christmas Cookbook
Regula Ysewijn

from: $10.59

The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Baking Cookbook
The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Baking Cookbook
Sandy K. Snugly

from: $10.19

Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas: Celebrate the Movie Magic
Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas: Celebrate the Movie Magic
Caroline McKenzie

from: $4.99

The Unofficial Home Alone Cookbook: From a Lovely Cheese Pizza to a Highly Nutritious Mac and Cheese Dinner, Tasty Meals Inspired by a Holiday Classic
The Unofficial Home Alone Cookbook: From a Lovely Cheese Pizza to a Highly Nutritious Mac and Cheese Dinner, Tasty Meals Inspired by a Holiday Classic
Bryton Taylor

from: $8.19

Leave a Comment

Books Mentioned in this Post

The Joy of Cooking
The Joy of Cooking
Irma S. Rombauer

from: $4.99

The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food: A Cookbook
The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food: A Cookbook
Marcus Samuelsson

from: $7.39

Shabbat: Recipes and Rituals from My Table to Yours
Shabbat: Recipes and Rituals from My Table to Yours
Adeena Sussman

from: $18.09

Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture from My Kitchen in México
Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture from My Kitchen in México
Rick Martinez

from: $26.31

Korean American: Food that Tastes Like Home
Korean American: Food that Tastes Like Home
Eric Kim

from: $13.19

The Gift of the Magi
The Gift of the Magi
O. Henry

from: $4.19

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Dr. Seuss

from: $3.99

Christmas Day in the Morning
Christmas Day in the Morning
Pearl S. Buck

from: $6.79

The Elves and the Shoemaker
The Elves and the Shoemaker
Jacob Grimm

from: $6.99

One Last Gift
One Last Gift
Emily Stone

from: $4.79

A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens

from: $3.89

In a Holidaze
In a Holidaze
Christina Lauren

from: $4.59

The Midnight Library
The Midnight Library
Matt Haig

from: $7.49

Winter in Paradise
Winter in Paradise
Elin Hilderbrand

from: $4.99

Never Again Good-bye
Never Again Good-bye
Terri Blackstock

from: $5.19

The Story of Hanukkah
The Story of Hanukkah
David A. Adler

from: $3.99

Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story
Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story
Angela Shelf Medearis

from: $4.29

Diwali
Diwali
Hannah Eliot

from: $4.69

Under the Bodhi Tree: A Story of the Buddha
Under the Bodhi Tree: A Story of the Buddha
Deborah Hopkinson

Out of Stock

The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice
The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice
Carolyn McVickar Edwards

from: $11.69

The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker

from: $8.19

Die Hard
Die Hard

from: $5.09

It's A Wonderful Life
It's A Wonderful Life

from: $4.49

A Christmas Story (1983)
A Christmas Story (1983)

from: $4.39

Miracle on 34th Street
Miracle on 34th Street

from: $4.59

Elf
Elf

from: $3.59

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

from: $5.29

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

from: $5.49

Harry Potter: The Official Christmas Cookbook
Harry Potter: The Official Christmas Cookbook

from: $20.39

The Official Downton Abbey Christmas Cookbook
The Official Downton Abbey Christmas Cookbook
Regula Ysewijn

from: $10.59

The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Baking Cookbook
The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Baking Cookbook
Sandy K. Snugly

from: $10.19

Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas: Celebrate the Movie Magic
Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas: Celebrate the Movie Magic
Caroline McKenzie

from: $4.99

The Unofficial Home Alone Cookbook: From a Lovely Cheese Pizza to a Highly Nutritious Mac and Cheese Dinner, Tasty Meals Inspired by a Holiday Classic
The Unofficial Home Alone Cookbook: From a Lovely Cheese Pizza to a Highly Nutritious Mac and Cheese Dinner, Tasty Meals Inspired by a Holiday Classic
Bryton Taylor

from: $8.19

Related Subjects

fixation_friday
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
GoDaddy Verified and Secured