Last Christmas, we didn’t give anybody our hearts but rather we showed everyone a collection of The Ridge members’ fabulous outfits. This year, we’re doing something special (something special) again, but now we’ve expanded from ‘fits to everything under the sun! We asked The Ridge members to tell us their favourite Christmas things to do, movies to watch, or songs to sing.
So if you’re unsure of what to do on Christmas day, here is our present to you! We hope you get some inspiration and start your own Christmas tradition—if you don’t already have one—and indulge in the good cheer and fun!
Eat, Drink and Be Merry
Might be a bit shallow but I like to splurge on the Starbucks toffee nut latte in December. Back in secondary school and JC I’d buy a large cup and rush all the holiday homework every late December.
— Wei Mei
When Christmas rolls around, my family and I always try to cook something a little special to mark the occasion. It’s a lot of fun to try out a new recipe we wouldn’t otherwise commit to. Sometimes they turn out well…sometimes they don’t. This year we’ve decided to focus on beverages and are making eggnog and sangria to pair with Christmas dinner. Hopefully, it turns out better than last year’s pudding (too sweet!).
— Isha (I’ve been trying to get my family to make sangria for the last 3 years so this is a long time coming!)
My family does not celebrate Christmas, but boy, do I like the cosy vibes it evokes. On Christmas nights, I’ll dim the lights and put on some soft jazz as I sip on sparkling juice. I don’t usually drink sweet drinks but sparkling juice is just too good to pass up! This bottle of fizzy goodness (which only costs $2.95) feels like both a well-deserved treat and a toast to better things ahead in the new year.
— Wan Qin (Huge fan of Hygge and great deals)
Merry Chimes!
My favourite thing about Christmas is carolling! It’s a yearly affair for my school’s alumni choir to perform Christmas carols at Capitol Piazza and Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay, so I’ve been missing it these past 2 years. We would gather weekly in a rotation of people’s homes (indeed, back when there were no restrictions on house visits) in the lead-up before the actual day, reminiscent of our performance-filled school days. Since my family isn’t big on Christmas, it’s collectively making music in the lively atmosphere at the well-decorated locations that I associate most fondly with Christmas festivities!
— Nadya (Chorister since 2009; lover of the arts)
I don’t have favourites but some songs I enjoy:
- Christmas Memories by She & Him
- Come out and play by Billie Eilish
- Sleigh Ride by KT Tunstall
- Happy Xmas (War is Over) by Miley Cyrus, Mark Ronson OR John Lennon, the Harlem Community Choir (both are nice)
- Step Into Christmas by Elton John
- Christmas Tree Farm by Taylor Swift (for some reason, she sounds a little different here—perhaps because of the jazzy tune)
- Jingle Bells by Frank Sinatra (especially the first intro part, my sis would always sing only the first 25sec)
- 25th by Tori Kelly
— Kennice
I love listening to classic Christmas songs like Auld Lang Syne and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Any version works, but I always look forward to Pentatonix’s Christmas releases! Because it transcends religion, music is what makes Christmas for me. I also enjoy hanging out in malls and coffee shops, imagining I’m watching snow fall as festive songs play in the background.
— Shauna (Current favourite Christmas song: Sleigh Ride by The Ronettes)
Where Should I Go?
Every year I contemplate buying ugly Christmas sweaters for people but I never do. I don’t usually hold a legit Christmas celebration, like a formal party or dinner, but I’ve had the typical tradition of visiting Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay—I am an ardent fan of the lights and carollers and all things Christmassy. It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to visit a Christmas market in Switzerland, and experience a European Christmas Wonderland! Also, I’d like to recommend Leslie Odom Jr. for some glorious jazz melodies this festive season (you’re welcome).
— Ines (Contemplates buying ugly Christmas sweaters every year)
I think my favourite Christmas activity would be visiting Chijmes, known as a historic building complex that is located near City Hall MRT. The lights draped around the lawn area lights up during the night time, which gives off the Christmas-y and kinda- magical vibes, and it warms my heart <3 especially during the Xmas season. Not to mention, they do have light shows as well!
— Sinyee
A Time for Family and Friends
I always look forward to the Christmas gathering with my friends! We will have BBQ, steak, [and] wine to celebrate the season. It’s a tradition!
— Aiken (Enjoys when shopping malls start playing Christmas songs)
My annual Christmas tradition is a gathering with my extended family members! Our home will usually be filled with the sounds of carols from our Christmas tree and the smell of Christmas cookies. Although the pandemic has forced us to make it simple and more cosy this year, I still appreciate the occasion as a way to bond over food and memories.
— Daphne (Favourite Christmas treat: matcha-flavoured Christmas tree-shaped cookies)
What Should I Watch?
Christmas romcom movies!! Though the films are often terribly cliche or just downright bad, it’s always fun to just cuddle with your friends and/or loved ones and watch how these seemingly cynical characters get swept away by the spirit of Christmas (yes, I am aware of how cheesy this sentence is). My friend and I watched Dash and Lily last year and were pleasantly surprised by how much we actually ended up liking it! This year, I’m planning on watching Single All the Way 😀
— Amber (Romcom enthusiast & Christmas lover)
Without fail, I watch Home Alone with my family every single Christmas. Since I’ve been watching it since I was a child, viewing it often shutters me back to simpler and more nostalgic times. Though I typically watch it on a plane to a foreign paradise, with the pandemic striking us since 2020, I’ve been cosying it up on the sofa and watching it on TV with my family. It never fails to rouse a chuckle out of me. (Am I a sadist? Perhaps.)
— Yuki (I love films and spend way too much on them during festival seasons—but actually, X’mas films don’t cross my peripheries until the actual season of snowflakes and gingerbread cookies.)
I would watch all the Home Alone movies with my family on HBO and go to see the Christmas lights at Orchard road with them.
— Joyce (Normally, we would have a log cake while watching TV together on Christmas.)
My yearly Christmas tradition is a rewatch of all of The Office’s Christmas episodes. Although there are nine seasons of The Office, there are only seven Christmas episodes. Every episode however, is jam-packed with fun and festivity. It is always a treat to watch Michael Scott make a fool out of himself, and the resultant awkward tension in the office simply hits the sweet spot of hilarity and second-hand embarrassment. Throw in a ridiculous Christmas party theme (Moroccan Christmas, Season 5) or an unorthodox location to celebrate the holiday (A Benihana Christmas, Season 3), and there’s the perfect Christmas.
— Shannen (Favourite Office Christmas episode: Christmas Party, Season 2)