For many people, the holidays are a time to lie on their couches, surrounded by their loved ones, and, if your family is anything like mine, a game would be on the TV to make this picture complete. 

For Thanksgiving, once the meal is over, or even while you’re eating, a football game is on, the same goes for Christmas with NBA basketball games. 

But this isn’t a new tradition. Starting in 1876, Yale University would host an annual Thanksgiving football game against Harvard or Princeton in New York City, drawing crowds of about 40,000 people. 

In the NBA, the tradition of playing Christmas games began in 1947, when the New York Knicks faced the Providence Steamrollers. 

But these traditions go deeper off the field and court, finding their way into many families’ homes. 

These games allow families to bond together during the holiday seasons beyond just the holidays themselves because sports is something that often brings families together. 

According to the University of Kentucky, their take on holidays and sports, become a key part of American celebrations. They noted that these traditions not only bring excitement to the season but also help strengthen family bonds by being able to create connections between the whole family. 

Creating an enjoyable environment that the whole family can engage in is one aspect that makes the holidays special. 

For me, this holds true. I cannot remember a time during our family dinners when the whole family wasn’t discussing basketball or any other game that was on. 

Those conversations enabled me to create deeper connections with my family over something that we can all relate to during the holiday season. 

But in some cases, these games can also have a significant downside, specifically for the families of the athletes who play in them.

Jen Smith, an assistant professor in the University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information, spoke with UKNOW and stated, “Families work around the work schedule and decide to celebrate a day after the actual holiday.” 

She elaborated on how your loved ones adjust to the schedules to make you still a part of the holidays. “They get used to knowing that you are not going to be there because that’s a workday, but the media and athletes make it work,” Smith said.

But yet again, these holidays remain true to people across our country, and this might be the first year there’s competition within our holiday traditions besides the games you play with your families.

This year, there will be a tripleheader of NFL games on Christmas: for the morning slate, the Washington Commanders will face the Dallas Cowboys at 11:00 a.m., in the afternoon window, the Minnesota Vikings will play the Detroit Lions at 4:30 p.m., and for primetime, the Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Denver Broncos at 7:15 p.m. 

Now, as we know, Christmas is the NBA’s signature holiday game, but this year, they will face competition for viewership for the fifth year in a row.

Director Adam Silver said to a reporter from The Athletic, “I welcome the competition [from the NFL]. It makes us better, too.” 

The NBA will play five games alongside the NFL throughout Christmas Day: the New York Knicks vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers at 11:00 a.m., the San Antonio Spurs vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder at 1:30 p.m., the Dallas Mavericks vs. the Golden State Warriors at 4:00 p.m., the Houston Rockets vs. the Los Angeles Lakers at 7:00 p.m., and the final game of the night is the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. the Denver Nuggets at 9:30 p.m. 

This year, holiday games will bring even more competition and cheer to your holidays. So, when you’re watching these games with your family, think about all the new traditions you’re making during this holiday season!