Christina VarvisEvery month for Five Things For, one writer gives their personal recommendations for five curated items — books, movies, music, podcasts, games, and more — following a specific theme. This recurring feature is included in our printed magazine issues.
1. Butter Tarts
- Food
- Carbs
- Nomnom
Butter tarts are the most magical holiday dessert to ever be conceived. Forget about fruitcakes, sugar cookies and little gingerbread houses; butter tarts are where it’s at. Consisting of a tart shell and a brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter filling, these tarts aren’t just delicious: they’re easy and they’re fast. Also, they’re basically festive spirit wrapped in butter.
2. Jack Frost (1998)
- Film
- Snowman
- Alive AF
Jack Frost (1998) is an overlooked Christmas movie that should be considered the definitive Christmas movie. It tells the tale of a fatherless boy, a magical harmonica, and a living snowman. This film is both thoughtful and action-packed. Watch it to get that magical Christmas feeling or watch it for the sheer amount of inappropriate “snowball” jokes a snowman can make.
3. Advent Calendars
- Chocolate
- Eating Good
- Restraint
Advent calendars are quite simply the best way to count a month’s days. These little calendars are, very importantly, stuffed with chocolate. Every day marks a new piece of chocolate to be eaten, so every day is like unwrapping your own miniature Christmas present. Buy one or make your own, but definitely get an advent calendar to pump up your own Christmas festivities this year.
4. Blind Gift Exchanges
- Friends
- Giving
- Consumerism
A blind gift exchange is like having multiple secret Santas. It involves a group of people who each buy a present and don’t tell each other what that present is. Everybody then picks a present to keep or to trade with someone else. It’s a great way to both give and receive — just don’t make the mistake of trading your new kitchen set for a pair of socks.
5. Pentatonix Covers
- Music
- Harmony
- Not Glee
If you get tired of the same old songs and want to spice up your Christmas music this year while still getting in the holiday spirit, check out Pentatonix’s cover of “The Little Drummer Boy.” It may be an old Christmas favourite, but the a cappella take is unique and wonderful, and definitely should be added to your Christmas playlist. Goodbye, Mariah Carey’s Christmas album
If you missed it, check out November’s edition of “Five things for” here.
