For many adults, this time of the year is dominated by to-dos: buying thoughtful gifts, decorating the house, wrapping up work projects ahead of vacation, practicing self-control around food and drinks and the crazy uncle you’d love to tell off.

Try to remember how it used to be. The holidays shimmered with the light of kinaras and menorahs, the reflective sheen of Christmas ornaments, oily pans frying latkes, and the iced tops of homemade cookies.