Summary
It’s that time of the year again: the bells are ringing, cookies are baking, and the scent of holly and scented pinecones is in the air. That can only mean one thing: the holidays have come for both gamers andthe Sims 4.
Sims have holidays just as we do. Granted, their holidays involve a lot more magic men and killer gnomes than ours do, but there’s still tons of holiday cheer to be found within the Sims 4. If you’re looking to add some cheer to your game, look no further. These are the best ways to celebrate the holidays in the Sims 4.
10Make Custom Holidays
It’s A Holiday Somewhere
Sick to death of magic gnomes and Father Winter? That’s alright -the Sims 4 holidaysare wonderful, but they’re always the same. If you’re craving something new in the holiday season, just make your own.
Making your holidays is super easy - just go to the in-game calendar and schedule one; you can choose your traditions and themes, and even give it a name. If you’re trying to replicate a specific holiday, or just going on pure vibes, there are plenty of things to choose from. You can mix and match traditions too, allowing for egg hunting alongside Trick or Treating.
9Get Wild
Get Weird With It
Sometimes we get stuck in a rut, especially when it comes to routine. Sim holidays seem to happen every time you play, right? What’s so special about them? When that happens, the time comes to make them special.
The best antidote to stagnation is getting weird with it, as there are a ton of fun things to do during the holidays. Take a Polar Plunge in the dead of winter, summon the dead during a seance, andcollect some of the collectiblesassociated with a holiday. There’s way more than just Grand Meals and presents out there - dive in and see for yourself.
8Plan Something For Every Sim
A Little Something For All
If you haven’t noticed, not every Sim likes every holiday tradition. Gluttons will find the Fasting tradition hard, and Jealous Sims will find it hard to be thankful. If you’re planning a unique holiday, make sure to take all Sims into account.
Nobody likes feeling left out, so get diverse with the traditions. Throw in a little something for both Adults and Kids alike, and your family is sure to be balanced. For those misers in your Sim families, things like Airing Grievances or Fighting might be appreciated. Nobody should be alone during the holidays, even the crabbiest of Sims.
7Learn About Real Life Traditions
From Krampus To Fried Chicken
There’s no one way to spend the holidays. Even that word - ‘holidays’ - barely seems to sum up the sheer amount of traditions based around winter festivities. If you’re looking for something new to do in the Sims 4, looking into real-life traditions can give inspiration.
The traditional options Light Menorah and Light Kinara, which are connected to Hanukkah and Kwanzaa respectively, help create a different holiday experience in-game. By changing menu options, you can recreate traditions like ordering KFC for Christmas in Japan or dining on fish in Italy. Changing things up for different Sim families is not only fun, but it embraces the diversity inherent in the Sims series.
6Plan Special Meals
Mashed Potatoes For All
Half the fun of the holiday season is gorging yourself on great food. With well over a hundred recipes in the Sims 4, there are plenty of options to choose from. Grand Meals are recipes specially designed for holiday feasts, but Sims can serve up any combination of food they’d like.
From the classic Roast chicken to delicious bowls of Pho, there’s something for any Sim with the sheer amount of recipes. You can also recreate stranger meals with things like the dubious Faux Meat Casserole and Curious Pizza. There are even desserts like Black and White cookies and SimCity Cheesecake to finish off the meal. Dig in and enjoy. Just be careful with that Pufferfish Nigiri.
5Remember Niche Traditions
Get That Polar Plunge
They get lost in the rush of the ‘traditional’ Sims holidays like Love Day and Winterfest, but there’s a shocking amount of smaller traditions built into the holiday system. The Sims 4 pays attention to detail, and there are plenty of little details when creating a holiday that go unnoticed.
Everything from watching Sports TV to Airing Grievances is located in the traditions menu. You can easily add some of your real-life traditions with just a click of a mouse. Make your Sims' holiday experience special and give them something new to try out this season.
4Sims Decorate The House
Deck The Halls…
In the Sims 4, the Sims are more independent than ever. They can do a lot on their own, and even more with the benevolent direction of the player. This extends to holidays - your Sims can help prepare the house for the holidays.
Using the Attic Shack Decoration Box (located in Misc Decorations in Buy Mode), Sims can decorate their homes with just a click of a mouse. They can even get wants for it, and many will want to decorate the house on holidays. There are tons of options for lights and decorations, which lets every house be unique.
3You Decorate The House
…With Boughs Of Holly
But you don’t have to sit back and just watch as your Sims have all the fun. There’s plenty of decorating fun to go around and plenty of objects you can place. Kick the holidays up a notch by decorating your Sims' houses yourself.
While the game comes with a ton of objects, there are also oodles ofcustom contentbased around the holidays. Everything from custom trees to custom ornaments to custom meals can be found online. If there’s something you’d love your Sims to have, but it isn’t in the game yet, the custom content community has you covered.
2Host Family Events
Home For The Holidays
If you’re a Simmer that focuses on things like legacies, your Sims no doubt have a large, large (large) extended family. Keeping a family going for generations means a lot of family, and there’s no better time to have a family reunion than the holidays.
Whether you host the picture-perfect gathering, or a ‘Griswold Family Christmas’ catastrophe, it’ll be fun to play out. Gather all those far-flung members of your Sims' families and bring them all together for the holidays. It can be an excuse to have Sims meet that haven’t before, and gives a chance for new storylines to unfold. Who will get along great, and who will fight like cats and dogs? - It’s up to you.
1Enjoy The Game
Happy Holidays, Simmer
Ultimately, how you and your Sims choose to celebrate the holidays is entirely up to you…and possibly the whims of your Sims. They can be remarkably stubborn creatures. The holidays are meant to be enjoyed, not endured, and you may play them however you’d like.
Whether you keep it lowkey or throw the holiday party of a lifetime, your Sims are going to have a great time. Remember that it’s just a game, and is meant to be fun. Don’t get bogged down in the details and miss the season altogether - both in-game and out. Just have fun, and it will be a great holiday.
