It’s no secret that every family does the holidays a little differently from the next. There are those who wear matching pajamas while opening presents each year, and others who can’t help but go all out with Elf on the Shelf. Some swear it’s not Christmas until personalized stockings are hung on the mantle, while a few must have eggnog on hand at all times. And you know what? In this realm, HGTV stars are no different from the rest of us!
Ahead of the new season of Home Town, I chatted with Erin and Ben Napier about all the holiday particulars of their household. Here’s a peek at what Christmas looks like in Laurel, Mississippi each year:
Though the Napiers usually start with picking out their Christmas tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving, decorating kicked off early this year at the behest of daughters Helen and Mae. (This likely came as no surprise, considering younger daughter Mae requested a Christmas-themed 3rd birthday party earlier this year.)
When it comes to what goes on the tree, the Napiers opt for white lights and dried orange slice garland. Their ornaments are a colorful and sentimental assortment, and include nods to favorite places they’ve traveled as well as the girls’ first Christmases. (Erin ordered custom ceramic baby shoes from Etsy that list each daughter’s birth stats—how sweet is that!?)
But perhaps the most ardently abided by holiday rule is when the decorations come down. Each year, this happens on the same day: January 3, older daughter Helen’s birthday. “In the morning before she goes to school she gets to say goodbye to the Christmas tree, and when she comes home it’s all gone,” Erin explains.
As a new mom to a fellow January baby, I couldn’t be more on board with this idea. I love that it marks a clear separation between Christmas and their special day, which can sometimes be overlooked for kiddos born during or near the holiday season. And, if I’m being super honest, I also like that it assigns a hard deadline to when the house should be clear of Christmas cheer, because the procrastinator in me might just never get around to it otherwise.
You can tune into season eight (part 2!) of Home Town on Sunday, December 29 on HGTV. Past seasons of Home Town are available to stream now on Max and discovery+ and the new episodes will be available to stream on December 30.
Sarah Zlotnick is the Lifestyle Director at Country Living, where she has run point on travel, rural lifestyles, and all things vintage and antiques since 2021. Previously a lifestyle editor at Washingtonian and Philadelphia magazines, she has been championing small businesses and regional destinations for 15 years. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Georgetown University, a major her younger self would be quite surprised to learn has come so in handy. First and foremost a service journalism enthusiast, she loves an in-depth explainer on an everyday topic or a deep dive into the history of vintage objects. When she’s not editing and writing, you’ll find her needling her husband to pull off the highway so they can explore a new small town or cozying up with a juicy murder mystery.
