Donnie Wahlberg’s Magical Christmas Memories
There’s something truly special about how families around the world celebrate Christmas, but for Donnie Wahlberg, the holiday season holds an extra layer of sentimentality. The iconic New Kids on the Block singer recently opened up to Closer Weekly about the cherished memories of his childhood Christmases. Growing up in a bustling household with his parents and eight siblings, Donnie recounted the excitement of waking up on Christmas morning and gathering together as a family.
Speaking exclusively to Closer at the 10-year anniversary celebration of Target’s annual holiday Heroes & Helpers program, the 50-year-old reminisced about those magical moments. “I’ll always remember—and I think anyone in my family, including Mark [Wahlberg], will tell you—that Christmastime when we were kids was the absolute best part,” he shared. “Whoever woke up first would immediately wake up the other siblings, and we’d all sit at the top of the stairs, waiting to go downstairs to see what was under the tree.”
View this post on Instagram#TBT to — as my beloved mother #Alma would yell every day at dinner time — “Donnie, Mahhhk and Baw-Bo” I’m the one on the left with no teeth eating popcorn like “hey, I’m just here eating some pop corn with no teeth”. Mark is behind me sad, like “I still got my teeth, how come I ain’t got no freaking popcorn”. Bob is in the stripe shirt like, “shut up, both of ya’s, and eat ya freaking pop corn before I knock out all of ya freaking teeth”. @wahlburgers @markwahlberg #Family
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A Family of Nine: Joy Despite Challenges
Donnie described the overwhelming sense of joy and love that filled their home during Christmas, even with the challenges they faced. Alongside his brother Mark, 48, and their older siblings—Debbie, Michelle, Arthur, Paul, Jim, Tracey, and Robert—Donnie grew up in a house where happiness was abundant, despite financial struggles. Their mom, Alma Wahlberg, and late father, Donald Wahlberg Sr., did everything in their power to make the holidays memorable.
“Christmas was tough sometimes because our Christmas lists were never really fulfilled,” Donnie admitted. “We didn’t always get a lot of stuff, but that moment—the nine kids literally sitting together on the steps, waiting for our parents to come out and say, ‘OK, go down!’—it’s probably one of the greatest memories of my life.” His voice filled with nostalgia, Donnie’s words paint a vivid picture of a family bonded by love and excitement.
Charity and Gratitude: Lessons from Childhood
While participating in the Heroes & Helpers program—a charitable initiative that pairs police officers, firefighters, and other public safety partners with underprivileged children across the U.S. to help them shop for holiday gifts—Donnie praised his parents for their incredible dedication. “I think, to go from there… I think it’s one of the reasons why our family tends to be charitable and loves to do events like this,” he said. “It’s because our parents didn’t have a lot, and getting gifts for nine kids on our budget back then was near impossible.”
Donnie emphasized the lasting impact his parents’ efforts had on him and his siblings. “To see how hard they worked at the holidays to make something feasible happen on Christmas, including having just Christmas lights and putting a few presents under the tree—they worked so hard,” he expressed. “For us, I think as much as we give back, it’s definitely influenced by that time. Our parents were doing everything they could to bring smiles to our faces, and we now try to do as much as we can to put smiles on other people’s faces.”
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View this post on InstagramHappy #MothersDay to these two amazing moms, and to all the incredible mothers everywhere. Especially the many wonderful moms in my amazing #BH #NKOTB Family!
