Why Do The Holidays And Sports Go So Well Together?

Cinnamon and nutmeg. Santa Claus and reindeer. Holidays and sports. Some things are just meant to go together!

Whether it’s your family’s Thanksgiving Day “turkey bowl,” holiday season college bowl games or the NHL New Year’s Day Winter Classic, sports are synonymous with holidays. And for good reason — they just go hand-in-hand.

But why is that? Is there a reason that sports and the holidays align so perfectly? Or is it simply a coincidence of good scheduling?

Let’s take a look at why sports and holidays go so well together:

1. Bringing People Together

Whether in the huddle on the field or huddled around the TV in the family room, sports and holidays are a perfect marriage.

Both bring people together, either through the strong bond of family or the strong bond of comradery — or, a lot of times, both. We naturally want to spend time with the people we identify with, and there’s no better way to connect with loved ones or distant relatives than through sports.

The holidays are the perfect time to visit family near and far, and spend some quality time together. And usually, that means taking in a game or two.

2. Bringing Out The Best

Sports and holidays generally bring out the best in people.

Athletes always want to be the best, always want to play their best and never want to lose. Well, the holidays are no different.

Who doesn’t want to be at their best during the holiday season? Whether it’s giving the best gifts, or having the best decorations, or being on their best behavior, everyone turns it on for the holidays — except maybe the occasional Grinch or Scrooge, of course.

This time of year is even dedicated to having the best ugly sweater!

3. Bringing The Prep

Whether you have an upcoming game or an imminent holiday dinner to host, there’s only one way to succeed: preparation.

To succeed at athletics you must train, practice, workout, study and prep mentally to be prepared for the field, pitch, court or ice. Well the same goes for a holiday dinner.

To host a successful holiday dinner you must train and practice so that you know how to properly cook the meal; you must workout and study the proper timing to go to the grocery store; and you must be mentally prepared for things that go wrong or that one cousin with food allergies.

Oh, and don’t forget shopping for gifts too!

Why do the holidays and sports go so well together? From family and friends to preparation and performing, there are actually many similarities between the two.

Win The Holidays

Author Bio

Bobbie Quinn, co-founder of Gladiator Custom Mouthguards, played both lacrosse and field hockey as a youth and went on to play Division 1 women’s lacrosse in college. Bobbie continues to play women’s league field hockey and enjoys watching her son play various sports.