Every year when the holidays roll around, my mind drifts back—not just to the gifts or the tree, but to the little things that made Christmas feel like Christmas. One of those things? A set of glasses from Arby’s.
I know, I know. Fast food and festive elegance don’t usually go hand in hand. But these glasses were something special. Back in the late ’80s or maybe early ’90s, Arby’s released a holiday set—etched with delicate snow-covered trees, tiny flakes falling all around, and rimmed in gold like they were meant for royalty. My mom saw them and instantly declared they were “fancy.” And who were we to argue?
We ended up with four of them, and they became a staple of our Christmas season. Every year, Mom would pull them down from their proud perch atop the china cabinet, where they sat like trophies the rest of the year. She’d fill them with punch or eggnog, and suddenly, it felt like the holidays had officially begun.
There was something magical about those glasses. They weren’t just drinkware—they were part of the ritual. The etched winter scene, the shimmer of gold, the way they caught the light from the tree… it all added up to a kind of quiet joy that’s hard to explain but easy to feel.
I’ve seen them pop up on Etsy from time to time, and I keep telling myself I’m going to buy a set. I haven’t yet, but I will. Because those glasses aren’t just a memory—they’re a piece of my Christmas story. And I want them to be part of my future holidays too.
If anyone out there remembers these or knows more about when they were released, I’d love to hear it. Or if your family had a set and they meant something to you, share your story. These little treasures deserve to be remembered.
I worked for Arby’s at the time and thought they were Fancy also. Each year they came out with different glasses. Water, milk, wine, etc. One year Piggly Wiggly came out with dishes that matched. So I got the whole set.
Oh nice! We had a Piggly Wiggly in town around this time, but I never knew there offered anything like these.
I bought several styles when Arby’s had them. I bought extras off of eBay several years ago
I had bought some when Arby’s had them. I got some more off of eBay many years ago
I bought mine in 1989-1990. I a complete 8 piece set of each style plus the same in the Holly design. I bought them 2 at a time. Going to several Arby’s to compete my collection before the stopped selling them. I love the style and treasure them because of the hard work it took to collect them all.
I actually still have a set of Christmas glasses I bought at Arby’s in the early 90’s when I was first married! They have held up well over the years. We only use them on Christmas Eve. I am pretty sure they were discontinued the next year because I recall wanting to get more that year and not being able to.
That’s awesome. I remember my mom being so impressed wth those things and thinking they were so fancy. At that time, I thought she was crazy. I mean, even I knew that fancy stuff didn’t come from fast food restaurants. But through the years, those memories and the nostalgia have taken over, and I am super careful with the glasses, and take great care of them. So to me, they are now really fancy because of the nostalgia.
90’s also try ebay or church garage sales
Ooh, those are nice, and remind me of how much I miss Arby’s up here.