If you’ve been using Alexa, Amazon’s voice-activated assistant, you know that it’s incredibly helpful around the house. It is so useful in fact that it has created a whole new way for all of us to interact with the Internet.
Now, millions of homes have voice-activated virtual assistants that work across devices like the Amazon Echo. You have probably also used or heard about Google Home and others.
So, how do you use Alexa? Maybe you want to ask Alexa to play your favorite songs.
You can ask Alexa to help you around the house. Perhaps you’ve asked Alexa to turn down the heat on your thermostat, to open your garage door, or maybe you’ve used Alexa to schedule an Uber ride.
But, did you know that Alexa also has a Christmas spirit? All you have to do is ask questions and enable certain “skills,” which are essentially apps that work with Alexa.
You may not know that Alexa also has a sense of humor. But, this Christmas, you will find that she does.
Move ahead. Ask Alexa questions about Christmas, like “How old is Santa?”
You can ask funny questions, like “Alexa, who’s your favorite reindeer?” Alexa has the answers.
You can also ask the more serious Christmas question: “Alexa, what exactly is the meaning of Christmas?” For that, you’ll get a surprisingly poignant answer.
the night before christmas
Talk about Christmas traditions. Who has no one in the family, maybe Dad, who sits by the fireplace reading, “The night before Christmas?”
Well, this is a tradition that probably only happens in movies. But it still doesn’t feel like Christmas until you hear someone read (or sing) a 19th-century poem attributed to author Clement Clarke Moore.
Good News. Alexa can fill in and read the poem for you.
“Alexa, can you read ‘The Night Before Christmas’?” Sorry, no cracking fireplace, unless you already have one.
christmas kindness
“Alexa, open Christmas Kindness.” Alexa can remind you about the Christmas spirit every day.
After all, it’s all too easy to get distracted by Black Friday, shop online for Christmas bargains, and go from one holiday party to another. It’s fun.
But the spirit of Christmas is really about giving back. For most people it is more fun to give than to receive.
This Alexa skill will suggest an easy way to share that feeling with other people. Alexa can suggest something like letting someone else overtake you in line at the grocery store.
tracking santa
We’ve been telling you about the NORAD Trax Santa for years. The website NORAD Santa Tracker has a countdown timer that is ticking until Christmas morning.
But the most fun happens on Christmas Eve. That’s when the NORAD Santa Tracker tells your children or grandchildren where Santa is and reminds them that he will soon be placing presents under your Christmas tree.
Now, you can ask Alexa where she is. “Alexa, NORAD Tracks Ask Santa, Where’s Santa?”
christmas radio
If you’re like many people, you might think that Christmas starts too soon. It’s inevitable — just before Halloween, you start looking at Christmas decorations at stores and gasping, you start listening to Christmas music.
“It’s not even Halloween yet!” But, if you’re like me, Christmas can’t be here soon enough.
If you love this time of year, you can listen to Christmas music in early October. Just ask Alexa to “Open Christmas Radio.”
iHeart Santa
If you prefer a selection of Christmas songs to suit your specific taste, iHeart Radio has the Alexa skill for you. Begin by saying “Alexa, talk to Santa Claus.”
Santa will ask you some questions. Once he gets a better feel for your personality, he’ll choose Christmas songs that you’ll love.
feel christmas
Well, it might be even more fun than listening to Christmas songs. How would you like to hear the owl hooting?
Would you like to hear Christmas carols and the clip-clapping of horses in the neighborhood? Christmas sounds will add to the joy and wonder of the season.
An Amazing New Way to Use Amazon Alexa
You know Alexa, Amazon’s voice-activated assistant, is adding new skills all the time. For example, some of the Christmas skills above are new.
But there are other skills, including being a messenger, that you’ll use all day, 365 days a year. This is a real game-changer!