The holidays are here — cue the carols, chaos, and candy canes. For many, this season brings sugar highs, travel stress, and the annual debate over whether Die Hard counts as a Christmas movie (it does). But at The Sober Curator, our contributors are proving you don’t need spiked eggnog or blurry memories to make the season sparkle.

We asked our crew to spill their favorite holiday movies, songs, foods, and traditions — plus the one word they hope defines their sober selves this season. The results? A joyful mash-up of humor, heart, and enough personality to fill Santa’s sleigh twice over.

Because a sober holiday isn’t about what’s missing — it’s about what’s meaningful.

???? Movies, Music & Merry Chaos

Tamar kicked things off with The Holiday (because who doesn’t love a cottage swap and a Cameron Diaz cry?), pairing it with the classic “Jingle Bells” and a scoop of apple pie and ice cream. If joy had a flavor, that might be it.

Jason went off-script in the best way: The Jazz Singer tops his must-watch list — “the closest thing to a Jewish holiday movie” — and his soundtrack of choice? “Dreidel Dreidel.”

Lane keeps it iconic with A Charlie Brown Christmas — “Snoopy forever!” — and swears by candy canes as her essential seasonal food group. Her word for the season? “JOY!” (All caps required.) Dr. Sarah lives for Christmas Vacation.

Tony, Alex, and Stephen are Team Die Hard and will fight you if you disagree that it’s NOT a legitimate holiday flick.

Meanwhile, Carolyn and Anne Marie both agree the Elf is where it’s at. Anne Marie also backs Tamar’s choice of The Holiday and feels strongly that Little Women also counts as a holiday film.

Patti is watching Home for the Holidays with Holly Hunter and dreams about chestnuts roasting on an open fire while Jack Frost nips at her nose.

Analisa is watching a Christmas story while munching on cinnamon rolls and tamales.

✨Forget Hallmark movies — we’re all starring in our own sober rom-coms, complete with snacks, sanity, and better lighting. Curious what we snack on? Check out Snackin’ Sober with The Sober Curator: A Guide to Cozy Crunches & Sweet Fixes.

???? Festive Feasts & Sober Treats ????

Every contributor has their comfort craving. Jason loves a good ham with potato latkes (“a house of Jewish people that still cooks ham — ironic, but delicious”), while Tamar is all about homemade eggnog (sans booze) with ice cream.

Lane keeps it sweet with candy canes and travel snacks (“because holidays are better when they come with a boarding pass”). Dr. Sarah’s holiday table includes enough cozy carbs to feed a village — and we fully support it. She also considers non-alcoholic eggnog the sober persons crack.

Meanwhile, Carolyn is pumpkin everything and started celebrating back in August when Pumpkin Spice hit the shelves.

Teresa is also team pumpkin, but make it vegan, while she rocks out to Elvis Blue Christmas.

Anne Marie advocates for gingerbread, hot chocolate, and Linzer cookies.

If you’re taking notes, the trend is clear: sugar, salt, and sentimentality — the three main food groups of the sober season.

????️ The Candle Chronicles

When asked to name their dream holiday candle, our team delivered gold — and ham.

Tamar went classic with Vanilla. Jason’s dream holiday scented candle? “Hamwick.” Yes, as in ham-scented. We’re calling Yankee Candle now. Dr. Sarah’s “Smoke-Drunk Sleep in Front of Fire” feels like the title of a moody acoustic album we’d absolutely buy. Tony’s candle pitch? “Bah-Humbug — smells like the death of commercialism.” Punk rock Santa approved.

Megan’s candle of choice? Mountain Pine. Ashley is lighting up Sleigh All Day. Kate is coming in hot with her candle “Fake Pine Tree.” Alex dreams up “Cat Sleeping by the Fire” — a candle that smells like s’mores, pumpkin, and caramel.

Anne Marie is advocating Midnight Mass & Candy Canes. Minty fresh with a hint of stale church. While Analisa suggests Krampus comes to Town, and it smells like campfire.

Stephen is plain old Unscented, which pairs nicely with his black coffee and Die Hard re-runs.

There’s something poetic about these names — equal parts cozy and chaotic, like recovery itself. After all, what better scent for a season of self-reflection than one that smells like comfort, chaos, and a little bit of caramelized hope?

✨Someone trademark Hamwick before Bath & Body Works gets ideas.

???? Words to Live By

We also asked our contributors for one word they hope will define their sober selves this holiday season.

The results? A chorus of optimism: Joy. Balance. Hope. Magic. Gratitude. Acceptance. Persistence. Service. Ease. Chill.Equanimity.

Simple, powerful, and exactly what we all need this time of year — a reminder that peace isn’t found in a perfect table setting or a flawless family gathering. It’s found in presence. In laughter. In being the calm in a room full of tinsel and tension.

???? Traditions We Love (and Some We Tolerate)

Every family has “that” tradition — the one you love, dread, or just show up for snacks.

Lane’s favorite ritual is simple: travel. Her mantra: less wrapping paper, more passport stamps.

Dr. Sarah’s brutally honest take? “Fighting during dinner.” Because nothing says family quite like passive-aggressive cranberry sauce.

The tradition at Carolyn’s house? Shrimp gumbo on Christmas—even if last year’s crockpot mishap became lore.

????My family always puts an orange or a tangerine in the toe of the stocking – anyone else? ????

✨ Holiday truth bomb: The beauty of sobriety is not escaping chaos — it’s handling it with humor, grace, and maybe an extra cookie.

✨ More from the Crew

Not everyone can make a Hallmark moment — but everyone’s got their sober sparkle:

Tony sings “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” and brings deviled eggs to the party.
Carolyn is blasting Mariah’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” and lighting Every Christmas Cookie Candle Ever Made (yes, that’s also her candle name).
Megan loves Love Actually, spins Sia + Boney M on repeat, and goes full cozy with gingerbread, hot apple cider, and shortbread.
Ashley cues up Serendipity, croons “Please Come Home for Christmas” (The Eagles), and hunts down Tillamook peppermint ice cream (tragically rare in Minnesota).
Teresa keeps the adrenaline alive with a haunted house tradition — holiday thrills, sober chills.
Patti is all about Italian family recipes, passing down love one platter at a time.
Kate puts on The Family Stone and nibbles Mom’s Russian tea cakes. British crackers at dinner (paper crowns and corny jokes included) are non-negotiable.
Alexandra loves to order Chestnut Praline Latte from Starbucks, and yes, she knows she’s basic.
April double-features Rent and The Nightmare Before Christmas, snacks on apples and cider.
Stephen is sipping his coffee and listening to Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas on repeat. NOTE: It’s the Phoebe Bridgers version.

???? Closing the Season with Intention

Between the ham jokes, peppermint obsessions, and eggnog nostalgia, one thing shines brighter than the lights on a twelve-foot tree: this community’s gratitude.

Sobriety doesn’t shrink your holidays — it deepens them. You remember the laughter. The details. The inside jokes about ham candles and cracked-out eggnog. And maybe, just maybe, you end the night with your heart a little fuller (and your hands free for dessert).

So, here’s to staying merry, bright, and entirely upright. ????

???? Join the Holiday Fun!

We want to hear from you — what’s your favorite sober holiday tradition?
Tag @TheSoberCurator on Instagram and share your stories using #SoberForTheHolidaze.
Extra points if your answer involves an original candle name. ????

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