Hallmark published its 2026 Christmas trends on October 1, naming six looks: Fa La La La Luxe, Handcrafted Holiday, Sweet Season, Joy for All, Bright Christmas and Winter Wonders. Several lean warm, nostalgic and natural, which makes them easy to adapt for a baby's December first birthday.
The holiday trend reports are rolling in, and one of the biggest names in Christmas has weighed in. Hallmark's 2026 Christmas trends, published October 1, point to a season that's equal parts glamorous, homemade and cozy. For parents planning a first birthday in December, a few of these trends translate surprisingly well to a party for a one-year-old.
What's trending
According to Hallmark's 2026 Christmas trends report, this year's holiday looks fall into six themes:
- Fa La La La Luxe: holiday glamour in jewel tones, deep reds and rich greens.
- Handcrafted Holiday: "the warmth of a vintage-inspired and homemade holiday," with golden yellow, pastels and olive green, plus thrifted vintage ornaments.
- Sweet Season: candy-colored, bakery-style cheer with modern reds and greens, silver, and brown and tan accents. Its icons are bows, gingerbread cookies and poinsettias.
- Joy for All: togetherness, cozy socks and a chance to "live your Christmas childhood nostalgia."
- Bright Christmas: bright metallics, pinks, periwinkle and tinsel trees.
- Winter Wonders: nature-inspired colors and evergreen trees, with a suggestion to make ornaments "out of pinecones, branches and other natural materials."
Why it's resonating
The common thread is warmth. Outside of the luxe and bright looks, Hallmark's list leans on homemade touches, natural materials and childhood nostalgia, the kind of Christmas that feels personal rather than store-bought.
That's good news for December families, who often struggle to keep a baby's birthday from being swallowed by the holidays. The cozier trends give you a festive backdrop that still leaves room for the birthday to be the star.
Borrowing the trends for a first birthday party
Three of Hallmark's themes are especially easy to adapt for a one-year-old's party:
- Sweet Season brings tan and brown accents, red bows and gingerbread. Think a gingerbread smash cake and a cookie-decorating table for older kids.
- Winter Wonders points to pine, pinecones and evergreen, perfect for a rustic table or a photo backdrop (just keep small natural decor out of little hands' reach).
- Handcrafted Holiday suits handmade touches like a garland of the baby's monthly photos or a vintage ornament as a keepsake.
Those same notes of tan, red bows, pine and pinecones show up in Western-inspired "first rodeo" parties, which pair naturally with a December birthday. Our own Holly Jolly First Rodeo invitation uses that mix of cowboy boots, rope, pine, holly and warm string lights, if you're looking for a starting point.
The bottom line
Hallmark's 2026 trends make it clear that cozy, nostalgic and homemade are in this season. For a December first birthday, that's an invitation to keep things warm and personal, and to let a few festive details frame the real headline: your baby turning one.