There is a reason holiday movies tend to be romances. There are multiple television networks that make the majority of their money on holiday movies, often built around the same basic premise.

The reason for these holiday movie tropes is that the holidays naturally inspire deep emotions. Most people have strong childhood memories of the holidays, whether it is Thanksgiving with your grandparents, Hanukkah with your extended family, or Christmas morning with your parents.

When you have dates that connect with those holiday memories, you bond those memories together, and the new relationship gets the benefit of all of those positive associations. This makes the holidays perfect for dating. Here are some ideas for perfect winter dates.

Skating in the Park

If you live near a large city, there is almost guaranteed to be an ice rink set up, at least seasonally. If you are very far south, it may be indoors, but modern technology means that even in cities as southern as Atlanta, GA, there are multiple outdoor ice rinks available. 

Ice skating is a perfect date regardless of your skill level, or your partner’s. If you are a strong skater and they are not, you can show how helpful and patient you are,

If the roles are reversed, you can show that you are humble and willing to go out on a limb with something you are not comfortable doing, as long as it is with them. If neither of you are strong skaters, you get to make comedic memories of your falls. 

If you are both good skaters, you can have your perfect movie moment. Regardless, this is a hard to beat date.

Looking at Christmas Lights

This is a versatile date, because it can be adapted to weather, social distancing, and mobility.

Many areas have walkthrough light displays. At these events, there may be things like hot chocolate vendors, petting zoos, and christmas villages. 

If the weather is less hospitable, many areas have large drive through light displays. These give the opportunity to sip hot beverages and play christmas tunes through your car radio. Everyone gets a little child like spark looking at pretty lights, so this is an opportunity to form some positive attachments.

Snuggling at Home

This one is a given. If you have a fireplace, you could burn a fire and play some classic christmas tunes. Bake some christmas cookies, or purchase some delicious holiday treats, and sip some coffee or cocoa.

You could also put on a classic holiday movie like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and curl up under a blanket together. The holidays should be comforting, so get comfortable!

Decorate!

Whatever holiday you celebrate, find a way to do some decorating together. It might be putting out the menorah for Hanukkah, or laying the elements for Kwanzaa.

If you celebrate Christmas, go purchase an ornament together. You can take it back and put it on your tree together. 

Figure out how to incorporate an outside excursion into your decorating. For example, go cut down a real tree on a tree farm. 

Even if you don’t celebrate any of the other holidays, you could get your home New Years’ ready with some sparkle, and get ready for your midnight kiss.

To summarize, the holidays offer a wide variety of options for date nights. Regardless of how you choose to celebrate, the holidays are a magical time. They can add some magic and spark to your dates if you are willing to work with the season. 

Hopefully you are able to use some of these winter date ideas and incorporate them into your holiday plans.