How to festivify your ride this Christmas

Mariah has announced it is time, and soon, Elf on the Shelf will silently, yet conspicuously (they’re always watching) join her chorus in the countdown to Christmas.

And I for one say when in Rome… or, in this case, when it’s Christmas.

And while you can’t have (a Hallmark-inspired) Christmas without hanging red and green tinsel around your house and draping fairy lights around the Christmas tree, why should it stop there? No one ever said your car had to miss out on the festivities…

Before I whip out the tinsel and start jingling bells, though, I must state that many decorations, like fairy lights (inside or outside your car), are a no-no under Australian law.

Same goes for fake snow and some festive stickers on your car windows as it can reduce visibility. And, I’m sorry to say, toys or mascots (Santa stuck in the car boot) attached to the car that can cause distraction deems them unsafe (and illegal) too.

Not on Santa’s naughty list are tinsel and reindeer antlers (and Rudolf's nose), which, if they are attached securely, don’t obstruct numberplates or headlights, and don’t pose a risk to other road users (no real antlers, please) have the green light.

Decorating is part and parcel of Christmas but so too are carols. And while it’s easy to give them the cold shoulder, they have come a long way in recent years (in my Mariah-pop-loving opinion at least).

There is a huge range of carols out there- from the classics like Bing Crosby and Chuck Berry, to all our mum’s favourites, Michael Bublé and Rod Stewart. Then, of course, pop royalty Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Kylie Minogue, Ariana Grande, and Taylor Swift, and rockers U2, Weezer, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, and AC/DC – meaning there truly is something for everyone.

Yep, while we are talking tunes, why not turn the volume up and sing your best All I Want for Christmas is You en-route to Christmas shopping? (Come on, I know you know the words).

Smell is one of the most powerful triggers of nostalgia and memories, so why not tap into this, or make your own with some fun festive car air fresheners?

Along with decorative air fresheners featuring Christmas trees and Santa – there are also speciality diffusers with specific festive scents like Glasshouse Fragrances’ Night Before Christmas.

Or you can just choose more summer-y like tropical fruits, or go for something more traditional like pine, ginger, and cinnamon. Festive fragrances that tap into Christmases of years gone by.

If you’re not keen on investing in the sounds, smells, or decorations of Christmas for your ride, you can still avoid the Grinch label by going for a spin around town to your local Christmas display, or if you live somewhere more festive, displays.

The city I live in always goes all out with its Chrissy decorations and while I like to explore on foot with my kids each year, it is also nice to do a lap in the car, especially on a colder evening when the lights have been switched on.

But even if your town’s decorations haven’t been updated since you too were a kid, there’s always the Christmas lights on people’s homes, which can include some amazing displays.

Closer to Christmas, there’s usually a map or list of where the most impressively decorated homes are, so you don’t have to spend hours driving around trying to find them.

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