12 simple ways to spread holiday cheer
Do you have more holiday cheer than you know what to do with? Share it! Or are you feeling a little Scrooge-y? Surprising someone with kindness will get you in the spirit of the season better than anything else. Even the smallest gesture of goodwill can spread holiday cheer, especially when the recipients aren’t expecting it. And who knows? A random act of Christmas kindness might become one of your favorite holiday memories or a family tradition to be repeated year after year.
Here are 12 easy ways to spread holiday cheer and bring more joy to the world—and our list may spark some other ideas. You can spread the goodwill on your own or with a partner or friends. Involving kids is a great way to teach them about the meaning of Christmas.
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @hallmarkstores.
Friends
Do you know a busy mom with young children? Offer to babysit for a few hours so she can get her Christmas shopping or other errands done. She will be forever grateful!
If you have older kids, cut paper snowflakes with them and string them into garlands with thread or fishing wire for friends of the family. They make fun decorations to hang in windows or anywhere else.
Give a friend unbaked cookies. Mix up the dough, roll it into balls, and freeze them in a container, separating layers with aluminum foil. That way, she can bake them at any time. Alternately, give her a dish of homemade lasagna for the freezer, with instructions for baking. Most people love having a homemade meal they can pop into the oven, especially during the busy holiday season.
Teachers
Kids can give teachers handwritten notes of appreciation at the holidays. If they’re too young to write, a parent can take dictation. Young ones can also draw or color a Christmas picture for their teacher or day care provider.
Teachers love gift cards! Even one for a small amount to a coffee shop, office supply store or place they can grab a quick breakfast or lunch is greatly appreciated.
Neighbors
If you’re the first one shoveling after a big snow, and you feel up to it, shovel your neighbor’s driveway or walkway, too. It’s extra exercise for you and a nice surprise for them.
Leave a tiny potted Christmas tree outside your neighbor’s door with an anonymous note wishing him or her a happy holiday.
People in homeless shelters
Some people think new socks are a boring gift. At many homeless and domestic violence shelters, however, they are some of the most needed and least often donated items! Shop for white cotton gym socks or the thick, cozy kind.
Seniors in nursing homes
Talk to the management at a nursing home to arrange a visit. They can tell you the best times to come and what the residents might appreciate. Or get inspired with our list of useful gift ideas for seniors.
Another idea is to ask the people there if you can put holiday decorations on the doors to their rooms. Many of them will appreciate the extra cheer. If you have young children, get them to color or paint Christmas pictures—the more colorful, the better!
Fellow shoppers
If you and another driver have your eyes on the same parking space, let her have it. And if a shopper seems frazzled or has impatient kids in tow, let him go ahead of you in line.
Workers on Christmas
Not everyone has the day off. Hospitals, some restaurants, many convenience stores and drugstores, and most movie theaters are up and running. For these instances, put together a few little gift bags with cookies or candy, or holiday cards with a $5 gift card to a coffee shop inside. Then, give them to unsuspecting people on the job. It’s especially fun for kids to participate in this activity. Regardless of whether the person celebrates Christmas, you’ll make her day.
Keep kindness going this holiday season with more ideas and inspiration:
Shop Christmas
See allYou may also like
See more-
Card Ideas Introducing new Paper Wonder Build-a-Bouquet cards!
A brand new card collection, just in time for spring! With new Paper Wonder Build-a-Bouquet cards, you can put togeth...
-
Christmas How to plan a Christmas scavenger hunt: 50+ ideas for clues, prizes, themes and more
What do scavenger hunts have to do with the holidays? More than you might think. A lot of the best things about the s...
-
Calendar Flip Spring Forward: March 2025 Holidays and Observances
Color us excited! From the wearin’ of the green and more sunny fun to colorful Holi festivals and celebrating crayons...
-
Calendar Flip Hello, Love: February 2025 Holidays and Observances
Let’s warm up this cold month with love and connections. From valentine cards to dressing up your pet, this month has...
-
Calendar Flip Welcome a New Year: January 2025 Holidays and Observances
HAPPY NEW YEAR! If that hurt your head, you might have celebrated a little too much. When you’re feeling better, we h...
-
Christmas The final 3 Keepsake Ornaments…only available at ‘Tis the Season!
Check out the final three Keepsake Ornament releases of the year! Available at the ‘Tis The Season event, happening f...
-
New Year's Happy New Year Messages: What to write in a New Year’s card
A new year brings us new hopes, dreams, plans and the always-aspirational New Year’s resolutions. But it also brings ...
-
Birthday Serve a slice of happy with these DIY birthday cake topppers
Have birthdays become ho-hum? Need to add some spice to your spice cake? Some dazzle to your devil’s food? We’ve g...
-
Anniversary Anniversary wishes: What to write in an anniversary card
Here’s to lasting love! From still-newlyweds toasting with wine glasses they opened on their wedding day a year ago t...
-
Christmas The merriest house in town!
Put your Disney love on display with this decked-out house featuring Mickey Mouse and Friends. It makes a perfect gif...
-
Gifting Our favorite new Peanuts gifts this Christmas
Searching for the perfect gift for that special Peanuts fan in your life? Hallmark Gold Crown stores and Hallmark.com...
-
Christmas A Peanuts Snoopy mug that will give you the giggles
Snoopy loves a hot holiday beverage...can you tell? Just lift the lid on this adorable mug to hear your favorite beag...
-
Valentine's Day Make little hearts light up with love
We don't know about you, but we think this singing, dancing Valentine's Day plush is bear-y sweet! If you're hoping t...
-
Christmas 50+ white elephant ideas: Party themes, gift ideas and more
If you're looking for new white elephant ideas, you've come to the right place. Whether you're hosting a party or loo...
-
Christmas Tune into these TV fandom ornaments
Epic stories. Iconic characters. All ready to share the spotlight on your tree this Christmas season! Whether you wan...
-
Christmas Mean Girls ornaments? So fetch!
Get in losers, we’re going shopping for iconic ornaments! They make the perfect gift for your girl gang, cool mom and...
-
Christmas A gift from across the galaxy
Bring Princess Leia’s iconic scene to your tree with this Funko POP! ornament. It’s the perfect Christmas gift for St...
-
Christmas Awesome gifts are zooming in!
Fans of Sonic the Hedgehog™ will love this epic ornament with lights, sound and motion. Speed over to your Hallmark.c...
-
Card Ideas What to say to a caregiver: Card message ideas and inspiration to support caregivers in your life
It can be hard to express how grateful you are to the caregivers in your life. Often, these are the people who quietl...
-
Christmas 5 essentials for becoming Mr. Christmas
Hallmark star Jonathan Bennett knows what it takes to become Mr. Christmas and his new show “Finding Mr. Christmas” p...