Nurturing Nostalgia: Celebrating Christmas Traditions and Togetherness

Nurturing Nostalgia: Celebrating Christmas Traditions and Togetherness

by Harriet Rothwell-Inch

Christmas is a time of cherished traditions and heart-warming togetherness. Nothing encapsulates this spirit quite like gathering with family to engage in friendly competition through games. Whether you’re a digital gaming aficionado who relishes crushing your siblings or cousins in a heated Mario Kart tournament, or you lean towards the more traditional board games such as Monopoly (often resulting in dramatic board-flipping moments), Scrabble, or Trivial Pursuit, Christmas is never truly complete without a dash of healthy rivalry. In this wistful piece, Impact’s Harriet Rothwell-Inch shares her fondest Christmas game night memories, exploring the profound value these activities hold in strengthening intergenerational bonds.

No matter how many times I’ve felt the urge to push my siblings down the stairs or discreetly express my frustrations to my parents when they scolded me, my family has always been remarkably closeknit. There’s something about the holiday season that amplifies this sense of closeness and togetherness, perhaps the cosy ambience fostered by the crackling log fire and the soft, twinkle of Christmas tree lights. Or maybe it’s the knowledge that this time of year grants us the luxury of uninterrupted, quality time spent with one another, whether it’s watching our beloved Christmas films, lazing about in our PJs, or diving into a plethora of games.

Playing games with my family and friends has evolved into an integral part of my life, spanning board games, card games, video games, and even mind games.

I’m always up for a challenge, particularly during the festive season. In my family, we have our beloved Christmas Eve traditions, such as leaving sherry and a mince pie for Santa (and a carrot for Rudolph, naturally), a tradition made even more exciting by tracking Santa’s journey on the NORAD Santa Tracker.

We then huddle on my parents’ bed to read my mother’s treasured childhood copy of ‘T’was the Night Before Christmas.’ But we also have our cherished games that bind us together. When we were younger, these games were the classics, like Scrabble or Yahtzee!. As we matured, our gaming tastes diversified, and I’ll never forget the year we introduced my parents to Cards Against Humanity; the outcome was unexpected, with my mother emerging as the victor! On the other hand, my father struggled mightily, always opting for the answer that “made the most logical sense” rather than the most outrageous. But it birthed a new tradition, and we’ve played at least one game of Cards Against Humanity every Christmas since.

I can vividly recall the one Christmas when our parents gifted us a Nintendo Wii. That was the game-changing Christmas, quite literally. Some might argue that video games have no place in the ‘Christmas Games’ category, deeming them “anti-social.” I beg to differ. There’s an array of collaborative and competitive video games that appeal to all family members, regardless of their technological prowess.

Games like Jackbox TV Games have gained immense popularity in recent years, even my GreatAunt and Uncle join in on the fun. Some of our family’s cherished video games for the holiday season include Wii Party, Wii Sports, Mario Bros, and, of course, Mario Kart. The memories of intense rivalry in Balance Board on Wii Fit and friendly trash talk in Mario Kart still bring a smile to my face.

The proliferation of video games during the holiday season has brought some challenges. Christmas is traditionally a time for large family gatherings, and there’s a certain expectation of constant socialising. The rise of personal gaming consoles has led to concerns about family members choosing video games over in-person interactions. During my teenage years, I occasionally withdrew from the bustling holiday atmosphere, immersing myself in my Nintendo DS and not speaking to anyone for hours.

For older generations, it can be difficult to navigate when younger family members opt for video games, feeling rejected and ignored, even if that’s not the intention. This scenario has sparked numerous disagreements between parents and their children.

However, video games, including Jackbox and other quiz-based games, can foster intergenerational communication and bonding, particularly when working together to achieve a common goal. An annual Christmas tradition in my family involved gathering at my grandparents’ house on Boxing Day. Without fail, the entire family would divide into two randomly assigned teams to engage in a spirited game of Trivial Pursuit.

My family is quite sizable, with as many as 23 people and one dog crammed into my grandparents’ house on one occasion. Our competitiveness was legendary, and the games inevitably descended into delightful chaos. Initially, we tried to maintain decorum, with each team huddling to discuss answers, and family members of all ages surprising each other with their knowledge on various topics.

However, it didn’t take long for the game to spiral into bedlam. Wrong answers led to playful teasing from all sides, sharpening our competitive edges, and anyone caught on their phone was accused of cheating and looking up the answers. The outcome was always a close race, and even if I wasn’t on the winning team, I felt a sense of accomplishment, especially when I answered a challenging question that left everyone else stumped.

This tradition began when I was around eight years old or even younger, collaborating with family members much older than I. It was exhilarating, and the adults always encouraged the children to join in the discussions, occasionally allowing us to act as the question master.

Now that I’ve grown up, moved out, and started creating Christmas traditions with my boyfriend, these memories flood me with nostalgia each holiday season. It’s this very nostalgia that transforms these moments into cherished traditions. As we age, we recall the happiness and unity we felt during those moments and strive to recreate them with our own families.

Whether your family leans toward video games or traditional board games, there’s one universal truth we can all agree on: Monopoly is always a perilous choice, but it’s not truly Christmas until someone flips the board.