The Holiday Memories We Keep, and Why They Matter

Every year, as the holidays roll in, so does the holiday nostalgia. And I’m reminded that the memories that stay with us aren’t usually the big, glittering moments. They’re the small ones no one else would think to notice: The smell of something sweet baking in a warm kitchen. The cold burst of air when the front door opens and family tumbles in. The glow of tree lights against a dark window. The song that instantly drops you into another time.

They’re tiny, almost unremarkable moments… yet somehow they’re the ones that root themselves in us. They become the memories we return to again and again, even decades later. For me, it’s the memory of decorating the tree the night before Christmas, while listening to Christmas music on the radio or the recording of A Christmas Carol on the turntable.

Why do those small moments stick with us? Because they weren’t just happening around us, they were happening to us. They shaped us, held us, and sometimes, they saved us.

Why the Small Memories Stick

There’s a reason certain holiday memories cling to us long after we’ve forgotten the gifts or the carefully curated photos. Our bodies and brains are wired to remember what is sensory, emotional, and repeated: smell, sound, texture, light, even a feeling in our chest we couldn’t name at the time.

The holidays are full of sensory details, rituals, and emotion, which means even the simplest moments leave deep imprints. Maybe it’s the clatter of dishes at your grandmother’s house. Or the scratchy texture of a beloved (and slightly ugly) holiday sweater. Or the sound of someone humming in the kitchen. These moments stay because they were part of us becoming who we are.

The Memories We All Carry

There are some holiday memories that seem universal. They’re the kind we don’t talk about much, but recognize instantly when someone else mentions them:

• The one dish you looked forward to every year.

• The ornament you always insisted on hanging yourself.

• The slightly crooked tree that somehow felt perfect.

• The chaos of wrapping paper everywhere.

• The adults laughing at jokes you didn’t understand.

• The comfort of going to bed exhausted, heart full, stomach even fuller.

And then there are the quieter memories, the ones we didn’t know were important until much later:

• The way someone looked at you with pride.

• The warmth of sitting beside someone you loved.

• A moment of kindness that you still remember because it mattered more than anyone knew.

These small memories hold pieces of who we used to be, with all the wonder, innocence, and joy.

Why These Memories Matter

The memories we carry aren’t random souvenirs. They’re reminders of connection to family, tradition, and the seasons of our life. They tell us who we were, where we came from, what made us feel loved (or not), and what we still long for.

They help us understand why certain moments move us today, and why others unsettle us. They give us stories to pass on, and they soften the edges of time. And most of all, they remind us that meaning isn’t found in the perfect, polished moments; it’s found in the unplanned, unposed flashes that made us feel something real.

How to Capture Your Holiday Memories This Year

This season, you don’t need to document everything. Just notice the small things—the ones that make your heart pause for half a second. Here are a few gentle ways to capture the moments worth keeping:

1. Write a 5-Minute Memory Snapshot

Ask yourself: What small holiday moment from my childhood still lives in my senses? Set a timer for five minutes and write whatever comes. It doesn’t need to be perfect… just real and true.

2. Use All Five Senses

When something catches your attention, note it down:

• the smell of pine or cinnamon

• the sound of laughter or an old song

• the warmth of a blanket

• the colors in the room

• the taste of something nostalgic

Sensory memories bring stories back to life.

3. Keep a Running List

Title it: “Ten Moments I Never Want to Forget This Season.” Then add one item each day or whenever something moves you.

4. Take One Real Photo a Day

Not a perfect one—a real one. Like flour dusted on the counter, wrapping paper chaos, a pet sleeping under the tree. These photos capture a feeling, not a pose.

5. Collect a Memory Object

Choose one tiny thing that holds meaning: A recipe card, gift tag, scrap of wrapping paper, anything that sparks a story. Your future self will remember because of it.

Enjoy this Beautiful Season

The holidays are built from thousands of little moments, many of them quiet, imperfect, fleeting. And those are the ones that stay with us. Not because they were extraordinary, but because they made us feel something.

So this season, slow down just enough to notice. Let the small things imprint themselves. Let yourself remember what made you who you are. Those are the moments worth writing down.

And those are the ones your heart will carry forward.