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Are you new to home automation and looking for ways to use your Amazon Echo for the holiday season?
In this post, I will share different ways to have fun with your echo this holiday.
Since Thanksgiving is over, we can now officially get ready for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa
.The first sign of the holidays usually retailers have started their sales for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Everyone is out shopping and the count has begun.
There are many fun things you can do leading up to the Holidays besides shopping and here are several fun things you can do with Alexa for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.
Before we begin,
What is Amazon Alexa?
Amazon Alexa is a voice-activated personal assistant that let people speak with their Amazon Echo’s.
Alexa is designed to respond to several different commands and converse with users.
What is an Amazon Alexa Skills?
Alexa Skills are created to make Alexa smarter, task faster, easier, and more enjoyable for customers.
You can find more skills when you go to the search bar, click drop box down menu, and select Amazon Skills as shown below.
Go to Amazon.com and select All on the drop-down menu
Select Alexa Skills from the drop-down menu
10 Ways to Use Your Amazon Echo for the Holiday Season
1. Christmas Radio
One of the most obvious things you can do is stream Christmas music.
Alexa can play all sorts of Christmas music and if you are an Amazon Music Unlimited subscriber or have Spotify premium, you can play a list of Christmas songs, albums, and playlists.
There are also skills called Christmas Radio that you can play all sorts of music without any sort of subscription, you can also just ask Alexa to sing a Christmas Carol such as “We wish you a Merry Christmas”.
In addition to singing Christmas carols, it can also recite the night before Christmas in its entirety. You can also ask Alexa to play Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer a song by Robert May and Johnny Marks.
2. Christmas Lights
Looking to decorate the house for Christmas the “smart” way, just plug in any set of lights into a smart plug such as a WeMo Mini, and then you can say things like “Alexa, turn on the Christmas tree lights.” It’s easy and simple.
This can be done with any smart plug. You can schedule or create a routine in Amazon Alexa App.
3. Christmas Sounds
You can also use the Christmas kind of skill which was just a random act of kindness that you can perform on those around you.
If you consistently listen to the same Christmas Songs on repeat year after year maybe try to Christmas sounds skill. This skill, once you enable it to the app will play dramatic Christmas sounds such as a copy of Christmas Candles and much more.
4. Track Santa
You can use Alexa Norad tracks Santa skill. Open the Alexa app, find the skill and then just ask where is Santa? You will get an update on his location and Santa’s current status, you can also ask Alexa about any secret Santa files. Our kids’ favorite questions to ask Alexa,
- “Alexa, when will Santa be at my house?”
- “Alexa, can I get a fact from the Santa Files?”
- “Alexa, where’s Santa on Christmas Eve?”
5. Christmas Trivia
Finally, you can play Christmas Trivia with Alexa, who apparently knows quite a bit about the man in the big red suit. You can ask Alexa things like “Is Santa Claus real” or say stuff like “tell me about Santas reindeer”.
- “Alexa, what do you want for Christmas?”
- “Alexa, how old is Santa Claus?”
- “Alexa, where does Santa Claus live?”
- “Alexa, what’s Santa Claus’ address?”
- “Alexa, what are the names of Santa’s reindeer?”
- “Alexa, is there a Santa?”
- “Alexa, do you believe in Santa?”
- “Alexa, sing me a Christmas carol.”
- “Alexa, open my gift.”
- “Alexa, Merry Christmas.”
6. Hanukkah Trivia
You can also play Hanukkah Trivia, this is a Jewish Holiday quiz to gain more knowledge about Hanukkah. This time of the year is not only a time for Christmas celebration but also for the Jewish Festival of lights called Hanukkah.
If you are interested to learn more about Hanukkah or celebrating the holiday, this skill can help you learn more about the history and traditions of this event.
7. Winter Holiday Facts
Winter Holiday Facts trivia is a great way to learn more about Kwanzaa, and also about the celebration of other holidays. You ask Alexa random questions on facts about Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa to your guest during dinner time.
8. Last-Minute Shopping
If you are a prime user and running low in candy canes or need extra strands of Christmas lights, you can have Alexa order with Prime Now exclusive 2-hour delivery.
You can also stock up on holiday must-haves for your event.
9. Help Cooking That Special Meal in the Kitchen
If you have an Amazon Echo Show, get ready to have a helping hand in the kitchen, as you will have an opportunity to cook smarter. One skill you should defiantly check out is Allrecipes.
This skill will give you a recipe of the day or you can simply ask “Alexa, Allrecipes what can I make with chicken and broccoli.”
Though the Echo Show, you can also maintain lists for shopping and a to-do list. All you have to do is ask Alexa to add items to your shopping list.
10. Set a Timer for Holiday Dinner
Preparing for a holiday dinner can be very exciting, but putting together a sensational multi-course meal for 15 is also nerve-racking.
Don’t worry, take a deep breath, Alexa, can easily make things easier by setting multiple simultaneous timers for different dishes, and make your event fun and festive for the holiday evening.
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Conclusion
Amazon Echo has been a hit since the release of its new product line and the latest product to hit the market is the newly released design of the 3rd gen Amazon Echo Dot.
After looking at the stats, it’s amazing how so many people have purchased the Amazon Echo Dot either for themselves or for someone else during the holidays.
If you are a long time or new user of Amazon Echo you won’t be disappointed as there is so much you can do with Alexa over the holiday season.
Don’t forget to check out our recommended gadgets for the best tech for your buck.
For more useful tips and tricks with Home automation, please continue to check out AutomateYourCrib.com.
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It's great to see that you have come across my website. I hope you explore it thoroughly. The website caters to regular consumers who have an interest in home automation. I am based in the Tri-state area and enjoy the latest smart tech along with my wonderful wife and three energetic boys.
