You might be searching for some fun Christmas traditions to start with your family or kids this year. Nothing brings more happiness than seeing our kids enjoying the holidays and creating beautiful Christmas memories. I’ve rounded up 25 holiday traditions that will make Christmas time extra magical for your family. I hope these Christmas ideas bring joy to everyone around!
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1. Twelve Days of Christmas Books
This Christmas tradition is the perfect way to encourage reading in your household. Wrap up twelve books and place them under the Christmas tree. Each night leading up to Christmas (starting December 13th), unwrap a book and read it by the tree or fireplace! Here are some of my favorite Christmas books for kids:
2. Memorable Ornament Family Christmas Tradition
Are you a new parent? This Christmas tradition can be started with young babies. Each year, gift your kids an ornament to represent their year. It can represent a hobby, family vacation, favorite food, milestone, etc!
You can also grab a clear plastic ornament and fill it with something special from that year. (EX: hospital bracelets to symbolize baby’s birth)
3. Christmas PJs + Movie the Night Before Christmas
Wear matching PJs the night before Christmas. Curl up on the couch with some hot chocolate and watch a holiday classic. Pjs are a a perfect add-on to all family Christmas traditions!
4. Santa’s Breakfast
Surprise your kids one morning in December with a decorated breakfast table filled with Santa’s favorite breakfast items.
Here are some Christmas Breakfast ideas:
– Gingerbread Waffles (Shop Waffle Maker here)
– Santa Pancakes
-Snowman Hot Chocolate
-Reindeer Donuts
>>> Check out these fun Christmas breakfast ideas kids will love
5. Spread Joy to Those in Need
Gather as many family members as you can and prepare lunch bags filled with homemade sandwiches, chips, water bottles, and a mini hand sanitizer. Drive around town handing out bags to those in need during the holiday season.
6. Holiday Charcuterie Board Night
Host an annual holiday charcuterie board night. Stock up on holiday snacks and sweets (Trader Joes has a great selection of themed treats) Each child is in charge of designing a mini charcuterie board.
7. Handprint Ornament
Create an ornament with your child’s handprint each year and engrave the year on the back. Compare the handprint sizes each year to watch how much they’re grown!
>>> Check out these DIY Handprint Ornament Kits
8. Donuts & Christmas Lights
Put on your family PJs, jump in the car, stop at your local Dunkin’ Donuts to grab some hot chocolate & donuts, and drive around your neighborhood to enjoy the Christmas lights.
9. Show your Appreciation
Show your appreciation for delivery workers during the holiday season by setting up a ‘Thank You’ station in your front porch. Fill up goody bags with snacks and add some water bottles.
The sign is a freebie designed by @TheAmyGroesbeck (Check out her Instagram to get access to the link!)
10. Family Winter Bucket List
Create a winter bucket list with your kids. Jot down each idea on a slip of paper and place them inside of a jar. Each day (or weekend!), take out a slip and enjoy the activity with your family!
11. Carrots for Santa’s Reindeer
Leaving cookies out for Santa on Christmas eve? Don’t forget about his helpers! Add some carrots to your plate for Santa’s Reindeer.
12. A Day at the Tree Farm
Spend the day at the Christmas tree farm. Pack some lunch, set up a picnic, and pick out your family Christmas tree.
>>> Check out this cute picnic basket setup!
13. Light it Up Bicycle Ride Tradition
Add some garland and string lights to your bicyles and take a ride around the neighborhood. Want to make it an extra special ride? Bring a small speaker and play Christmas music as you tour the neighborhood with your family.
14. Family Hot Chocolate Bar & Decorating
Here’s another fun family Christmas tradition: Surprise your kids with a hot cocoa bar! Stock it with Christmas mugs, marshmallows, gingerbread cookies, sprinkles, peppermint sticks, and anything else you can find to fit the theme! Decorate your home while sipping on some warm chocolate.
15. Christmas Pizza Night
A nontraditional spin to family Christmas dinner– homemade pizzas on Christmas day!
16. Family Christmas tradition: Pack Shoeboxes for Kids
Tis’ the season for giving. Pack a shoebox filled with toys and goodies for kids in need.
Learn more about packing a shoebox here.
17. Design Ugly Sweaters
Design your own ugly Christmas sweaters. Grab some white sweatshirts, craft paint, gemstones, patches and see which family member can come up with the most creative design.
>>> Grab the Plain Fleece Sweatshirts Here
18. Cookie Decorating Contest
Host an annual Christmas decorting contest with your family and friends. Pick a theme each year and set up all the decorating goodies! You’ll need cookie cutters, icing, sprinkles, candy, etc. Have some boxes ready so that your guests can take some cookies home.
Here are some cookie theme ideas:
+ Gingerbread Men
+ Christmas Trees
+ Santa
+ Snowmen
+ Ornaments
+ Reindeer
19. Family Holiday Campout
If the weather permits, camp out in your backyard. Wear Christmas PJs, read Christmas stories, and munch on holiday snacks.
20. Surprise your Neighbors- ‘You’ve been elfed’
Fill small stockings with treats and hang them on your neighbors’ doorknobs. These ‘You’ve Been Elfed’ printables encourage the neighbors to continue spreading the love around the neighborhood.
21. Kindness Advent Calendar
Instead of an advent calendar containing treats inside, how about a calendar filled with kindness acts? Fill each date with a slip of paper containing a random act of kindness.
Here are some ideas:
+ Pay for someone’s coffee
+ Spread kindness post-it notes around the grocery store
+ Write a letter to the mail carrier thanking them
+ Shovel snow for a neighbor
+ Donate food to a food bank
+ Drop donuts off at the local fire station
+ Take coloring books to the children’s hospital
22. Christmas Tree in Every Room
Set up a themed Christmas tree in every room of the house. Let your children choose the theme for their bedroom tree every year and help DIY ornaments to match.
23. Santa’s Magic
Leave a trail of ‘Santa’s Magic’ (glitter) and footprints around the house on Christmas day.
24. Set up an Animal Toy Drive
Many animals are in need during the holiday season and the local animal shelter is always accepting donations! Design flyers to place around the neighborhood letting your neighbors know that you’ll be collecting items to drop off at the shelter.
Here are some items that are usually needed:
(Check with your local animal shelter for a more specific list)
+ Dog & Cat Food
+ Snacks
+ Toys
+ Blankets
25. Twenty Five Days of Gratitude Tree
Have each family member share something they are grateful for each day in December. Write down each response on a cutout ornament and place it on the ‘Gratitude Tree’.
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I hope these traditions make the holidays extra special for your family and little ones!
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