What do Mariah Carey, brownie pudding, and a mysterious holiday elf have in common?
Once Mariah Carey defrosts, holiday trends both new and old abound online in the lead-up to the holiday season. Whether you do or don’t know what I meant by that sentence opener will determine how much you need to read on for more intel.
Today, we gathered our personal favorites for everyone’s amusement and a peek into the Internet culture you need to know before you head home and have to survive a conversation with any teenage-ish relatives:
- “It’s time!” for Mariah Carey
While the now viral “It’s time!” earworm is a relatively new addition to All I Want For Christmas lore–and another excuse for the singer to showcase her famed whistle notes–the now-classic holiday number was originally released on October 29, 1994, and quickly earned its place in worldwide radio play and holiday dance recitals everywhere.
Fast forward 30 (!) years, and the hit found new life among younger generations who weren’t born during its explosive debut, though this time in the form of yearly anticipation, jokes about said anticipation, and the savvy brands that jump on consumer interest early. Sephora, Waymo, social media platforms TikTok and Instagram, and more all joined in on the hype.
- 6-7 wrapping paper
If you don’t already know what 6-7 means, don’t look now. Trust that it’s a nonsense phrase meant to sound like an inside joke, when it isn’t. Even its origins are much-debated among Gen Z and Alpha circles. Think of it like the Millennials’ “Twenty-one?”, or Gen X-ers’ “Bueller?” The takeaway: when the funny numbers come up, laugh, and you’ll have done your job.
Savvy businesspeople saw the golden opportunity to feature 6-7 and its matching scale-like hand gestures on wrapping paper. They made a killing on Walmart, Etsy, TikTok shop, Amazon, and other retailers for parents who want to score with their under-15’s.
- Ralph Lauren Christmas
While teens embraced math, those with their own dwellings turned to the de facto holiday trend of the year (according to the Internet): a Ralph Lauren Christmas. Picture the fashion brand’s common trademarks, like polo blue and green, deep crimson, and gold; plaid motifs in the same; and the Polo Ralph Lauren trademark teddy bear. Throw those around the house and up on the tree, and you have yourself a themed holiday. Or…so you would think.
Like all trends, takes abound on the “authenticity” of the theme, who does and doesn’t do it “right”, and whether it’s a valid take on Christmas. If you find yourself with fewer meetings on your calendar next week, have a look and judge for yourself.
- Ina Garten’s Brownie Pudding
What consumers CAN agree on, however, is how amazing Ina Garten’s brownie pudding is this time of year. The recipe saw a revival online, with everyone from savvy “tradwife” influencers to the college dorm room-bound giving it a whirl.
We don’t gatekeep–here’s the official recipe. Before you ask, yes, the eggs included get cooked. The result looks like a baked brownie on top, until you break its delectable crust with a spoon and discover a decadent pudding-like center, much like a giant lava cake. Ina recommends serving à la mode, but many opt for just eating it straight from the casserole dish. Also valid.
- Homemade Holidays
Maybe nostalgia made its way to holiday decor. Maybe the pendulum is swinging back to frugality this season. Either way, homemade and hand-crafted holiday decorations are taking the driver’s seat in 2025 festive inspo.
Think: paper chains, dried fruit, real foliage, and the most adorable hand-stitched ornaments you’ll ever see. Also–they make a great excuse for a holiday craft get-together. For a truly wholesome and not at all snarky trend this year, look no further.
- Elf on the Shelf
Some of us (me) remember this as an innocuous picture book stuck in elementary school libraries. What the Elf has wrought on the households of Millennial parents, however, is something at times delightful, and other times, much more insidious.
“The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition” was published in 2005 and tells the story of a special Santa scout sent to watch over children through December to make sure they stay nice all month long. Each night, the elf flies back and forth from the North Pole to its assigned house, and appears in a new spot every morning.
Since then, parents–I mean, the elves–have become increasingly creative with the scenarios it finds itself in every morning. Now, sellers dispense “kits” for…elves…to dream up new scenes children can uncover. The biggest hangup every year tends to be one golden rule from the original storybook that has led to many tears and misunderstandings recorded for all of Instagram and TikTok to see: children must NOT touch the elf. And, apparently, must forgive any pet that thinks the elf is a toy and touches it for them.
Explore these trends on your much-deserved travels, or maybe just time away from your inbox, and we hope you have a safe holiday and a happy New Year!