Sound Design Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for sound engineers, producers, editors, and enthusiasts. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this community
What are some non-cliche "Holiday" sounds that could be used to decorate a series of commercial spots?
I don't always think of the Holidays as being strictly Christmas sounds, sleigh bells, carols etc.
What about other religions / areas of the world, what sounds do they associate with the Holiday season?
Are there sounds of Kwanzaa? Or, Hanukkah?
A very vivid sound memory of mine is the sound of a car driving down a gravel driveway, followed by footsteps, and the doorbell. Obviously, I spent a lot of time waiting for family to show up.
Salvation Army bell-ringers, too... and there's a local homeless cellist that plays outside the malls during the holiday season, so I have his renditions of Christmas songs stuck in my head.
I could envision a burp or a meow. Depending on where you are, a car alarm or glass breaking.
To me it's an English Brass Band. I grew up playing in them and it's the one part of Christmas I really miss in Ireland. My Dad has to ring me up at around 6am Christmas morning so I can hear the band wake the village up with the carol "Christians Awake".
Some free-associated sounds that I would tag for the holidays...
It's probably obvious that I come from a Xmas-celebrating home in a colder climate. Like Ryan said, knowing what you're selling or how you're selling it would help focus ideas.
EDIT: @Dave's salvation army ringer reminded me of the handbell choir I used to play in, we'd go around to people's parties or homes and perform carols. Pretty Xmassy, but another sound that triggers "holiday" for me.
