The holiday season, a three-month stretch beginning with Halloween and ending with New Year's Eve, is notorious for its decadence and its overindulgence. If you're trying to avoid that perennial hangover (or maybe drinking just isn't your thing), check out these non-alcoholic holiday drink ideas. Your head will thank you in the morning.
The concept of the marathon of eating, drinking, and spending copious amounts of time with extended family during the holiday season has been around for millennia. Even before the Three Wisemen supposedly brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to baby Jesus, pagan communities in Europe and the Middle East engaged in a number of midwinter festivities. Perhaps the most notorious was the Pagan Roman holiday of Saturnalia, which celebrated Saturn, the god of agriculture, for a full week in mid-December. Participants feasted, drank heavily and exchanged gifts, like edible treats and carved figurines. Shouts of, "Io, Saturnalia," their version of "Happy Holidays," rang out across their villages, according to The Week.
The point of Saturnalia, and the many other post-harvest winter events, was to shed a bit of light during the hardest, darkest time of the year. Like, winter is still tough and we live in an age with heat and electricity. During these pagan festivals, people came out in droves to support one another, to celebrate and indulge because sometimes, material pleasures can help ground us, bring us back to reality, to the here and now. But, like, that doesn't mean you need to be lit for three months.
Ready to get your mocktail on?
Mulled Cranberry Apple Cider
Need help getting into the holiday spirit? Whip up a batch of this Mulled Cranberry Apple Cider. Your home will immediately smell festive.
Slow Cooker Spiced Cranberry Citrus Apple Cider
Love hot cider but want the most easiest, tastiest option? Try this Slow-cooker Spiced Cranberry Apple Citrus Cider.
Ginger Honey Lemon Tonic
The holidays — cold weather, traveling, consuming ton of sugar and kisses from weird aunts and uncles — can wreak havoc on your immune system. This Ginger Honey Lemon Tonic is a life-saver.
Ginger Tea
Already sick? This Ginger Tea, made with cayenne, cinnamon and ginger, will begin to clear out those sinuses and jumpstart your body's detoxification process.
Apple Cinnamon And Almond Smoothie
Satisfy your sweet tooth with this low-sugar Apple Cinnamon and Almond Smoothie. Come January, you'll be glad you did.
Double Mocha Pumpkin Flax Smoothie
Toss that leftover pumpkin puree into the blender, along with coffee, cocoa powder and greek yogurt, and sip on this Double Mocha Pumpkin Flax Smoothie aaaaall day.
Pumpkin Pie Milkshake
Uh, hi, milkshake? And pumpkin pie? Is there anything more decidedly "holiday" than a Pumpkin Pie Milkshake? No. There's not.
Butternut Chai Latte
A slightly more savory play on the classic Pumpkin Spice Latté, this Butternut Chai Latte includes real butternut squash puree.
Gingerbread Mocha
With molasses and ground ginger, this Gingerbread Mocha is made in a slow cooker so you can wake up in flavored coffee heaven without lifting a finger.
Slow Cooker Peppermint White Hot Chocolate
Why make the trek outside for a holiday bevvie when you can make this Peppermint White Hot Chocolate? Just kidding, I know why. You gotta snag at least one of those holiday cups, right?
Big Batch Mexican-Spiced Hot Chocolate
Another great twist on the classic hot chocolate, this Mexican-Spiced Hot Chocolate is made with brown sugar, ground cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Yes please.
Sparkling Berry Apple Mocktail
I love the word "mocktail." I immediately feel like a fun mom gossiping with my pals on the porch. This Sparkling Berry Apple Mocktail, which mixes berry syrup, apple cider, and sparkling water, lends itself to both non-alcoholic and boozy variations.
Non-Alcoholic Maple And Grapefruit Cocktail
Maple and grapefruit? Sound odd, tastes amazing. This Maple and Grapefruit "Cocktail" has only a few elements, but its sophistication is next level.
Non-Alcoholic Sangria
Sangria, traditionally made with wine and rum, also lends itself to a great batch "mocktail" option. This non-alcoholic sangria relies on orange juice, pomegranate juice and black tea for its flavor and color.
Sparkling Ginger Citrus Ade
Take advantage of winter citrus with this Sparkling Ginger Citrusade. With five different citrus juices — grapefruit, blood orange, orange, lemon, and lime — this bad boy is brimming with vitamin C.
