December 19, 2025 • 12 mins
On this episode of, “Tommy Talk,” Tommy discusses the return of the nostalgic Christmas trend! Are white lights, minimalism, and perfectly curated, catalog-ready Christmas homes becoming a thing of the past? Why are so many generations, including Gen Z, embracing a more nostalgic holiday aesthetic? From twinkling multicolored lights to “tacky” ornaments, to vintage décor, and cozy family traditions, nostalgic Christmas is everywhere. In a world that feels fast-changing and uncertain, more and more people are drawn to the comfort of how things used to be. This episode explores why those memories still matter, and why they’re shaping how we celebrate the holidays today. Grab a warm drink, get cozy, and join me as we dive into the magic of a nostalgic Christmas!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hey guys, welcome to Tommy Talk, and today's topic is
Nostalgic Christmas is Back. I am so excited about this
topic because I have to say, I'm kind of surprised
that I'm into nostalgia Christmas. So I was always a
die hard white lights on a Christmas tree person. For
(00:24):
a decade, that's kind of been the vibe, and I
don't know, I just always thought it looked so classy
and regal and beautiful and clean. But lately, lately I've
been kind of craving color lights. And my husband and
I looked at each other this year and we were like,
we want a tree that gives us that option. So
I got a tree from Balsam Hill. They're amazing because
their trees come pre lit and they give you the option,
(00:46):
depending on the tree, of having color lights, white lights,
or a combination of both. And there's something to be
said for nostalgia Christmas. Look, we're seeing that trend all
over TikTok and social media, and people are talking about it,
and I am fully immersed in the nostalgia Christmas trend.
I grew up having color lights on my tree. My
grandpa had color lights on his tree. And it makes
(01:08):
me think of him, and I just love the idea
of at least having the choice of having color lights
or white lights. Again. I was the person that was like, Nope, never,
I don't get it, I don't want it. And now
I suddenly want the color lights. I'm here for it.
I'm here for it. So nostalgia Christmas, baby is it
is back, and I am jumping on. I mean, people
are using tinsel on their trees. Do you guys remember tinsel?
(01:31):
It's you know, the shiny silver I don't know how
you describe. It's just like the shimmery, kind of stringy
thing you put on your tree. I know a lot
of people listening know what it is, but for those
that don't, it's a big thing that has come back
from the eighties and nineties, and you know, earlier than that,
of course. So Tinsel's back. And these kind of glass,
gorgeous blown out ornaments are back, These kind of campy,
(01:56):
very red and green, jolly Christmas mugs are back. There
so many things that are back that kind of fit
into the category of nostalgia Christmas, and I'm feeling it hard.
I even got a fireplace, so we live in a
New York City apartment. We don't have a fireplace, but
I found this fireplace through a friend off of Amazon.
That's like a space heater, but it gives you that
(02:16):
faux fireplace feeling with the flame and all of that,
and we ordered it didn't look great in our apartment.
We had a friend come over and they were like,
what is that? Like that looks so random, and we're like, yeah,
it kind of does. So maybe that had to go
back and get returned. But I'm clearly the point of
that story is I'm craving it, like I want things
that make me feel cozy and warm and good inside.
And it's not just me, it's a lot of people.
(02:38):
You know, they're not into this monochromatic kind of beige,
nude white vibe anymore. That was very hot for a while,
and I know some people still very much like it,
and that's cool, hey, to each their own. But now
it's kind of about the reds and the greens and
the bright colors and the campy colors and all of it,
all of it, which makes me wonder, why is nostalgic
(03:00):
Smiths back? Like why are people craving that nostalgia that
we had maybe as kids, or if you are gen
Z and didn't have that as a kid, why are
you suddenly wanting it? What is it about nostalgia Christmas
that makes us all say I feel like I need
to have that in my life this year. Well, I
think there's a few things that make people crave that.
I think, for one, it gives you emotional comfort and
(03:23):
the sense of everything being familiar. Again, we live in
a very fast paced world, right There's so much being
thrown at us, and life moves in a really, really
really fast direction, and I think there's something to be
said for feeling that emotional comfort of what feels familiar.
And as I get older, I like to feel that
more and more. I definitely do. I think it's something
(03:46):
that in uncertain times, to feel like how things once
were is a really beautiful thing. So that's definitely I
think a huge reason why people are jumping on board
a nostalgic trend. Also, I think there's a search for
being closer to something that feels more real. And what
I mean by that is in this world of social
(04:06):
media where everything's curated and we're definitely putting out images
of ourselves that we want to show and maybe not
showing all the other messiness or real world stuff. And
you know there's so much kind of on Pinterest and
on vision boards and on creative boards that show the
perfectly curated home which I mentioned neutrals earlier, or the
furniture laid out in just the right way. I think
(04:29):
people are getting a little tired of that. We want
to feel like we're living in our space. We want
to feel like it's lived in, uncomfortable and cozy, and
something that doesn't feel like a museum where you can't
touch anything. And you want those kind of cabin vibes,
even if you don't live in a cabin, if that
makes any sense at all. But I truly believe people
are leaning more towards that and wanting that, and I
(04:51):
certainly want that with my Christmas to core this year.
I used to be a little anal with things like
everything has to have its place and it can't look
too cluttered. And trust me, I still don't like clutter.
It's not my thing. But I think that putting things
out and having more and not being so particular about
color patterns and things matching, I think all of that
(05:11):
for me has gone out the window. I just want
to feel like I'm in a festive, fun, cozy home.
And I think a lot of people feel that way too.
It's it's the search for realness in a world of
smoke and mirrors, right. We want to really feel connected
to the spaces that we're in, and nostalgia Christmas makes
you feel that way. Even on your front lawn. There's
so many fun signs that are very campy and old
(05:32):
school that people are putting out where. Maybe back in
the day it used to be just like lit up
white reindeer and you know, one little sign for Christmas.
Now it's like the more is better, more is more,
So I think that's really really fun. I also like
that nostalgia Christmas brings back childhood memories. When I think
about Christmas as a kid, a few things come to mind.
(05:54):
I have a big Italian family. My aunt used to
throw an amazing Christmas party every year. It was like
the one night a year I would look forward to
all year because my cousins we would all get together
and we would play and just have the best time ever.
And I remember a few things. I remember what the
(06:14):
smell of the air was like getting out of my
car and walking into that house. You know, it was
suburban New Jersey. She lived in a little bit more
of a remote area, and it was that smell of like,
I don't know, firewood burning and crisp air and even
some pine trees in the woods. It's just this very
(06:35):
distinct smell that takes me right back to that time
as a child. And that's why I so very much
love pine scented candles now, because it does remind me
of that moment, that exact moment walking into my ant's
house on Christmas Eve, and I have so many wonderful
memories of the party she would the throw on Christmas Eve.
And for Italians, Christmas Eve is almost bigger than Christmas Day,
so that was a very very special day for me
(06:57):
growing up. I remember my mom brisket on Christmas Day.
She'd always make this delicious brisket and we'd put gravy
on it, and she'd have this very Christmasy tablecloth she
put out. So there are things that make me feel
warm and fuzzy inside from my childhood that I think
a lot of people also feel that way when they
reflect back and nostalgia. Christmas brings that all up. We
(07:19):
don't have a lot of time in our lives to
truly genuinely reflect on being a kid, and I think
at the core we all crave a little bit of
finding that inner child once again, because why not. Adulting
can be hard, it can be stressful, it can be
a lot. Sometimes it can be a lot. This year,
I had many things that were a lot for me.
But when I think about those memories, it just makes
(07:41):
me feel like, you know what, it's okay, it's okay,
it's not all that deep, and it makes you remember
what's important and family and friends and love and making
memories and being present. So I think nostalgia Christmas brings
up that inner search for that child again, which we're
all craving definitely more and more and more. And simply put,
(08:02):
nostalgia Christmas brings joy. It brings so much joy. I
love going to the little markets in New York City.
There's one in Bryant Park and going to these fun
little stores and getting Christmas ornaments. And I don't know,
I'm just I'm in this zone of more is more,
is more of this Christmas? I keep saying to Geo, like,
I really want to enjoy the holiday season. This year,
(08:23):
I've been traveling a lot for work this year. It's
been this hamster wheel of NonStop work, and I'm so
grateful for it. I love what I do, but I
also want to take a minute and enjoy the holidays.
I don't want to miss a movie I want to see.
I don't want to miss getting together with friends. I
just want to take a moment and focus on the
things that truly matter because it goes so quickly. The
holidays go so fast, and yes, sometimes it can be
(08:46):
overwhelming and stressful and you feel pulls in a million
different directions. But at the core, when you can be
sitting home with your Christmas tree lit and a cup
of something cozy in your mug, and maybe you have
a fire going, and maybe you have a great Christmas
place going. I love the Kenny g Christmas playlist if
you haven't heard that one. It's a great background playlist.
And when you can just kind of breathe and be
(09:08):
in peace, hmmm, that is one of my favorite feelings
of the entire year. It truly is. It truly is,
and I want to look around and feel that coziness
and joy all around to me. So I love that
when you strip down this nostalgia Christmas trend. It's not
just about decor. It's about emotion. It's about how it
(09:29):
makes you feel. Yes, I've been talking a lot about decor,
and you know the things that make me feel really
happy when I decorate my home. But it's about emotion.
Nostalgia Christmas is how it makes you feel. And we
all want to feel good. We all deserve to feel good.
So if this is a time of year where nostalgia
Christmas can make us feel those things, and we don't
(09:51):
always feel them throughout the course of the year, because
life is so crazy and so busy, then why not
lean into it? Why not lean into it? I fully
understand and that nostalgia Christmas it gives us something solid
and warm and human to hold on to. So I
(10:12):
am such a proponent. Like I said, I never thought
I'd be sitting here jumping on the nostalgia Christmas trend.
I was such a like pottery Barn, perfect catalog Christmas
kind of guy. And don't get me wrong, I still
do love my pottery Barn. I have a lot of
ornaments on my tree from there. But I like pulling
from different things and different companies and different inspirations in
(10:34):
different places now and making a really beautiful Christmas for
my husband and I, for Geo and I for our home,
and for friends who come over and visit. And it's
about the spirit and the emotion of the season. So
I hope that whether you are decorating a little later,
or you decorated already, or you've embraced the holiday season already,
(10:56):
or maybe you're still waiting for after Thanksgiving, whatever the
case may be, I hope that you are ready to
celebrate your cozy, nostalgic Christmas because we deserve it. We
deserve it, So get out your campy Christmas mugs, put
on your favorite old school Christmas movie, and embrace the
power of nostalgia. Christmas, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, everybody. Let's
(11:20):
make this an amazing holiday season. I've Never Said This
Before is hosted by Me Tommy Dedario. This podcast is
executive produced by Andrew Puglisi at iHeartRadio and by Me Tommy,
with editing by Joshua Colaudney. I've Never Said This Before
is part of the Elvis Duran podcast network on iHeart Podcasts.
(11:43):
For more, rate review and subscribe to our show and
if you liked this episode, Tell your friends until next time,
I'm Tommy de Dario
Hey guys, welcome to Tommy Talk, and today's topic is
Nostalgic Christmas is Back. I am so excited about this
topic because I have to say, I'm kind of surprised
that I'm into nostalgia Christmas. So I was always a
die hard white lights on a Christmas tree person. For
(00:24):
a decade, that's kind of been the vibe, and I
don't know, I just always thought it looked so classy
and regal and beautiful and clean. But lately, lately I've
been kind of craving color lights. And my husband and
I looked at each other this year and we were like,
we want a tree that gives us that option. So
I got a tree from Balsam Hill. They're amazing because
their trees come pre lit and they give you the option,
(00:46):
depending on the tree, of having color lights, white lights,
or a combination of both. And there's something to be
said for nostalgia Christmas. Look, we're seeing that trend all
over TikTok and social media, and people are talking about it,
and I am fully immersed in the nostalgia Christmas trend.
I grew up having color lights on my tree. My
grandpa had color lights on his tree. And it makes
(01:08):
me think of him, and I just love the idea
of at least having the choice of having color lights
or white lights. Again. I was the person that was like, Nope, never,
I don't get it, I don't want it. And now
I suddenly want the color lights. I'm here for it.
I'm here for it. So nostalgia Christmas, baby is it
is back, and I am jumping on. I mean, people
are using tinsel on their trees. Do you guys remember tinsel?
(01:31):
It's you know, the shiny silver I don't know how
you describe. It's just like the shimmery, kind of stringy
thing you put on your tree. I know a lot
of people listening know what it is, but for those
that don't, it's a big thing that has come back
from the eighties and nineties, and you know, earlier than that,
of course. So Tinsel's back. And these kind of glass,
gorgeous blown out ornaments are back, These kind of campy,
(01:56):
very red and green, jolly Christmas mugs are back. There
so many things that are back that kind of fit
into the category of nostalgia Christmas, and I'm feeling it hard.
I even got a fireplace, so we live in a
New York City apartment. We don't have a fireplace, but
I found this fireplace through a friend off of Amazon.
That's like a space heater, but it gives you that
(02:16):
faux fireplace feeling with the flame and all of that,
and we ordered it didn't look great in our apartment.
We had a friend come over and they were like,
what is that? Like that looks so random, and we're like, yeah,
it kind of does. So maybe that had to go
back and get returned. But I'm clearly the point of
that story is I'm craving it, like I want things
that make me feel cozy and warm and good inside.
And it's not just me, it's a lot of people.
(02:38):
You know, they're not into this monochromatic kind of beige,
nude white vibe anymore. That was very hot for a while,
and I know some people still very much like it,
and that's cool, hey, to each their own. But now
it's kind of about the reds and the greens and
the bright colors and the campy colors and all of it,
all of it, which makes me wonder, why is nostalgic
(03:00):
Smiths back? Like why are people craving that nostalgia that
we had maybe as kids, or if you are gen
Z and didn't have that as a kid, why are
you suddenly wanting it? What is it about nostalgia Christmas
that makes us all say I feel like I need
to have that in my life this year. Well, I
think there's a few things that make people crave that.
I think, for one, it gives you emotional comfort and
(03:23):
the sense of everything being familiar. Again, we live in
a very fast paced world, right There's so much being
thrown at us, and life moves in a really, really
really fast direction, and I think there's something to be
said for feeling that emotional comfort of what feels familiar.
And as I get older, I like to feel that
more and more. I definitely do. I think it's something
(03:46):
that in uncertain times, to feel like how things once
were is a really beautiful thing. So that's definitely I
think a huge reason why people are jumping on board
a nostalgic trend. Also, I think there's a search for
being closer to something that feels more real. And what
I mean by that is in this world of social
(04:06):
media where everything's curated and we're definitely putting out images
of ourselves that we want to show and maybe not
showing all the other messiness or real world stuff. And
you know there's so much kind of on Pinterest and
on vision boards and on creative boards that show the
perfectly curated home which I mentioned neutrals earlier, or the
furniture laid out in just the right way. I think
(04:29):
people are getting a little tired of that. We want
to feel like we're living in our space. We want
to feel like it's lived in, uncomfortable and cozy, and
something that doesn't feel like a museum where you can't
touch anything. And you want those kind of cabin vibes,
even if you don't live in a cabin, if that
makes any sense at all. But I truly believe people
are leaning more towards that and wanting that, and I
(04:51):
certainly want that with my Christmas to core this year.
I used to be a little anal with things like
everything has to have its place and it can't look
too cluttered. And trust me, I still don't like clutter.
It's not my thing. But I think that putting things
out and having more and not being so particular about
color patterns and things matching, I think all of that
(05:11):
for me has gone out the window. I just want
to feel like I'm in a festive, fun, cozy home.
And I think a lot of people feel that way too.
It's it's the search for realness in a world of
smoke and mirrors, right. We want to really feel connected
to the spaces that we're in, and nostalgia Christmas makes
you feel that way. Even on your front lawn. There's
so many fun signs that are very campy and old
(05:32):
school that people are putting out where. Maybe back in
the day it used to be just like lit up
white reindeer and you know, one little sign for Christmas.
Now it's like the more is better, more is more,
So I think that's really really fun. I also like
that nostalgia Christmas brings back childhood memories. When I think
about Christmas as a kid, a few things come to mind.
(05:54):
I have a big Italian family. My aunt used to
throw an amazing Christmas party every year. It was like
the one night a year I would look forward to
all year because my cousins we would all get together
and we would play and just have the best time ever.
And I remember a few things. I remember what the
(06:14):
smell of the air was like getting out of my
car and walking into that house. You know, it was
suburban New Jersey. She lived in a little bit more
of a remote area, and it was that smell of like,
I don't know, firewood burning and crisp air and even
some pine trees in the woods. It's just this very
(06:35):
distinct smell that takes me right back to that time
as a child. And that's why I so very much
love pine scented candles now, because it does remind me
of that moment, that exact moment walking into my ant's
house on Christmas Eve, and I have so many wonderful
memories of the party she would the throw on Christmas Eve.
And for Italians, Christmas Eve is almost bigger than Christmas Day,
so that was a very very special day for me
(06:57):
growing up. I remember my mom brisket on Christmas Day.
She'd always make this delicious brisket and we'd put gravy
on it, and she'd have this very Christmasy tablecloth she
put out. So there are things that make me feel
warm and fuzzy inside from my childhood that I think
a lot of people also feel that way when they
reflect back and nostalgia. Christmas brings that all up. We
(07:19):
don't have a lot of time in our lives to
truly genuinely reflect on being a kid, and I think
at the core we all crave a little bit of
finding that inner child once again, because why not. Adulting
can be hard, it can be stressful, it can be
a lot. Sometimes it can be a lot. This year,
I had many things that were a lot for me.
But when I think about those memories, it just makes
(07:41):
me feel like, you know what, it's okay, it's okay,
it's not all that deep, and it makes you remember
what's important and family and friends and love and making
memories and being present. So I think nostalgia Christmas brings
up that inner search for that child again, which we're
all craving definitely more and more and more. And simply put,
(08:02):
nostalgia Christmas brings joy. It brings so much joy. I
love going to the little markets in New York City.
There's one in Bryant Park and going to these fun
little stores and getting Christmas ornaments. And I don't know,
I'm just I'm in this zone of more is more,
is more of this Christmas? I keep saying to Geo, like,
I really want to enjoy the holiday season. This year,
(08:23):
I've been traveling a lot for work this year. It's
been this hamster wheel of NonStop work, and I'm so
grateful for it. I love what I do, but I
also want to take a minute and enjoy the holidays.
I don't want to miss a movie I want to see.
I don't want to miss getting together with friends. I
just want to take a moment and focus on the
things that truly matter because it goes so quickly. The
holidays go so fast, and yes, sometimes it can be
(08:46):
overwhelming and stressful and you feel pulls in a million
different directions. But at the core, when you can be
sitting home with your Christmas tree lit and a cup
of something cozy in your mug, and maybe you have
a fire going, and maybe you have a great Christmas
place going. I love the Kenny g Christmas playlist if
you haven't heard that one. It's a great background playlist.
And when you can just kind of breathe and be
(09:08):
in peace, hmmm, that is one of my favorite feelings
of the entire year. It truly is. It truly is,
and I want to look around and feel that coziness
and joy all around to me. So I love that
when you strip down this nostalgia Christmas trend. It's not
just about decor. It's about emotion. It's about how it
(09:29):
makes you feel. Yes, I've been talking a lot about decor,
and you know the things that make me feel really
happy when I decorate my home. But it's about emotion.
Nostalgia Christmas is how it makes you feel. And we
all want to feel good. We all deserve to feel good.
So if this is a time of year where nostalgia
Christmas can make us feel those things, and we don't
(09:51):
always feel them throughout the course of the year, because
life is so crazy and so busy, then why not
lean into it? Why not lean into it? I fully
understand and that nostalgia Christmas it gives us something solid
and warm and human to hold on to. So I
(10:12):
am such a proponent. Like I said, I never thought
I'd be sitting here jumping on the nostalgia Christmas trend.
I was such a like pottery Barn, perfect catalog Christmas
kind of guy. And don't get me wrong, I still
do love my pottery Barn. I have a lot of
ornaments on my tree from there. But I like pulling
from different things and different companies and different inspirations in
(10:34):
different places now and making a really beautiful Christmas for
my husband and I, for Geo and I for our home,
and for friends who come over and visit. And it's
about the spirit and the emotion of the season. So
I hope that whether you are decorating a little later,
or you decorated already, or you've embraced the holiday season already,
(10:56):
or maybe you're still waiting for after Thanksgiving, whatever the
case may be, I hope that you are ready to
celebrate your cozy, nostalgic Christmas because we deserve it. We
deserve it, So get out your campy Christmas mugs, put
on your favorite old school Christmas movie, and embrace the
power of nostalgia. Christmas, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, everybody. Let's
(11:20):
make this an amazing holiday season. I've Never Said This
Before is hosted by Me Tommy Dedario. This podcast is
executive produced by Andrew Puglisi at iHeartRadio and by Me Tommy,
with editing by Joshua Colaudney. I've Never Said This Before
is part of the Elvis Duran podcast network on iHeart Podcasts.
(11:43):
For more, rate review and subscribe to our show and
if you liked this episode, Tell your friends until next time,
I'm Tommy de Dario
Elvis Duran and the Morning Show ON DEMAND News
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