There is no time quite like the unofficial "Holiday Season," those exciting days between Thanksgiving and Christmas when our calendars are packed with festive gatherings, our homes are decked in lights, greenery, and all the trimmings, and our kitchens are stocked and ready to bake cookies, cakes, and casseroles. It is truly the most wonderful time of the year.
Whether you're entertaining for a group, exchanging gifts with friends, or decorating the tree with family, this special season calls for making holiday magic whenever and wherever possible. To celebrate, we asked our editors to share what gifts they're excited to buy this year, as well as what pieces they'd add to their ever-growing collections of holiday decor and hosting essentials. We may only break out these treasures once a year, but it wouldn't be the holidays without them. Halloween Yard Lights
Read on for our editors' picks from the Southern Living collection at Dillard's, and shop the full collection here.
“I can’t imagine a more cheery way to start out the day than with coffee in these Santa mugs. I’m hoping for plenty of hot chocolate and Hotty Toddies in my future this holiday season, too! Plus, they make perfect early gifts for friends and family.” -Kaitlyn Yarborough, Associate Digital Editor
“My in-laws would love these little dachshund plates! They've had three weenies over the years and have many stories about them trying to get into kids' Christmas candy or tearing around the house with tinsel, so having these plates on their holiday table would bring back some very sweet memories." -Mel Inman, SVP & GM
"When it comes to the holidays, my family is gathering around the dining room table more than ever, from weekend brunches with cousins to late night cocktail parties with friends. I love the idea of adorning chairs with these festive ornaments for an extra special seasonal touch." -Krissy Tiglias, Executive Editor and General Manager
"Cheery linens are the easiest way to zhush up a table. To make these feel extra personal, take them to your local embroidery shop and have them monogrammed for a thoughtful holiday hostess gift." -Betsy Cribb, Homes and Features Editor
"Every year my mother finishes the Christmas tree with her bright red, feathered bird tree topper, and I think she would love this hand-painted ornament to go with it. She’d like the glitter accents, and I can see it blending in perfectly with her collection of ornaments she’s gathered over the years." -Alana Al-Hatlani, Assistant Food Editor
“I love a timeless cabbage ware collection and think these would add a nice festive feel to the table without overpowering the rest of the table decor. Best of all, while they are especially fitting for the season, they’re still suitable for year-round use too.” -Cameron Beall, Assistant Homes Editor
“For friends and family members who collect blue-and-white pieces, this cotton dish towel is a cute gift idea. They’ll be able to display this machine-washable towel throughout the holiday season as a nod to their collection.” -Jenna Sims, Digital Editor
"While I love my glass carafes for entertaining, there’s nothing quite like pulling out your punch bowl to really get a party started. This piece is sizable yet simple enough to dress up or down for any holiday occasion that might call for a big-batch beverage and high spirits." -Katie Rousso, Senior Special Projects Editor
"Nothing dresses up a holiday table quite like a set of festive placemats. The colorful plaid patterns of these, in particular, feel both classic and cozy. They could be paired with fancier or more everyday pieces, making it easy to incorporate them into any number of holiday tablescapes.” -Caroline Rogers, Travel and Culture Editor
"Individually portioned desserts are such a great holiday hosting hack. They make portioning and knowing how much to make so much easier. Plus, with a cake pan as cute and festive as this one you can arrange the mini cakes into a tiny Christmas village or even make decorating the homes a fun activity for the kids!" -Hallie Milstein, Editorial Fellow
“I can’t resist a vintage-looking Santa ornament, especially when it’s pretty, colorful glass over plastic. Plus, this guy is winking, drinking hot chocolate, and has fuzzy accents? In the cart he goes.” -Mary Shannon Hodes, Associate Digital Editor
“I’m in charge of setting the Christmas table for my family, and I’d love to incorporate these pretty brass candlesticks into our tablescape this year. The magnolia base makes a statement on its own, so I’d just do a pair of these and keep the rest of the decor simple around them. I might add a simple greenery runner, votive candles, and maybe even lean into the floral theme with some magnolia leaves and a few fresh camellias from my backyard.” -Anna Price Olson, Assistant GM
“Something I’ve learned over the course of many holiday seasons is that you can never have too many glasses. When everyone gathers to celebrate, the cups go traveling–to coffee tables, porches, forgotten corners, the dishwasher. You won’t regret having an extra set of glasses when guests drop by for a visit and you’d like to offer them a sip of something festive. This is a simple set with just enough design details to make them feel special.” -Caroline Rogers, Travel and Culture Editor
"My husband and I love decorating for the holidays, and while we always enjoy unboxing and arranging our familiar standbys each year, this wreath would be the perfect thing to freshen up our front door decor. And since we’re not likely to get a white Christmas in Alabama, the flocking gives the magic of fresh snowfall." -Tara Massouleh McCay, Travel and Culture Editor
Vases For Decor “When it comes to looking for Christmas decor, my family is always on the hunt for something that looks like my crafty great-grandmother, fondly known as GG, would’ve made herself. GG would’ve loved the intricate peppermint and frosting details on these table-top trees, and if she was still around, there is no doubt that she would try to recreate them, probably super gluing her fingers together in the process.” - Mary Alice Russell, Editorial Fellow