The Christmas season is a time for togetherness, love, and creating lasting memories with the whole family. Establishing meaningful Christmas family traditions can make this magical time of year even more special for everyone. Whether you’re looking to start easy Christmas family traditions or enhance your current celebrations, here are some of our fun activities to try that will spread holiday cheer and bring loads of fun.
1. Decorate the Christmas Tree Together
One of the best Christmas traditions is gathering around the family room to decorate the tree. Let the kids help by hanging their favourite ornaments and stringing up Christmas lights. You can even add a new ornament each year to celebrate your family’s growth. We buy new individual decorations on our family’s travels throughout the year – just one or two each year so our Christmas tree is a memory tree of our time together. Plan to go to a Christmas tree farm in early December for an authentic experience that creates lasting memories.
2. Create a Christmas Eve Box
Make Christmas Eve even more special with a festive Christmas Eve box. Fill it with matching Christmas pyjamas, hot cocoa, and maybe a holiday book to read together as a family or fun games you can play during the evening. We always go to the cinema on Christmas Eve to see the latest Christmas Movie. This is a fun way to kick off the celebrations and capture the magic of the evening.
3. Start an Advent Calendar Tradition
Counting down the days of Christmas with an advent calendar is a favourite Christmas tradition in many households. You can find ready-made calendars with chocolates, treats or toys or create your own with little treats, notes, or activities to enjoy leading up to Christmas. This is a fun family activity that keeps the excitement building.
4. Bake and Decorate Christmas Cookies
Nothing says festive season like the smell of freshly baked cookies, brownies or mince pies. Let the kids go wild with icing and sprinkles while decorating Christmas cookies in fun shapes. This tradition is not only delicious but also a great way to spend time together as a family.
5. Build a Gingerbread House
Building a gingerbread house is a holiday activity that kids of all ages will love. From assembling the house to decorating it, it’s a creative and fun Christmas activity for the whole family. Plus, it doubles as a festive decoration for your home – the hard part is not eating all the sweets before you have finished decorating!
6. Enjoy a Christmas Movie Marathon
Snuggle up in your Christmas pyjamas with bowls of popcorn and enjoy a Christmas family movie marathon featuring your favourite holiday classics. This tradition brings everyone together for a cosy and relaxing evening full of laughter and Christmas spirit and is a great alternative if you don’t want to go to the cinema.
7. Have a Christmas Breakfast Feast
Start Christmas morning with a delicious family breakfast. Make it a tradition to cook special holiday dishes like cinnamon rolls, pancakes, or even a full English breakfast. It’s a wonderful way to begin the day and enjoy time together before diving into the gift exchange.
8. Send Christmas Cards to Spread Holiday Cheer
Creating and sending Christmas cards is a simple yet meaningful way to celebrate Christmas. Get the kids involved in crafting cards or writing messages to loved ones. It’s a family activity that’s all about sharing love and connection during the festive season. When my children were little, we used to buy ink pads to decorate the cards with their fingerprints. There are lots of great ideas online if you search for fingerprint art.
9. Host a Secret Santa Gift Exchange
Make gift-giving even more fun with a Secret Santa exchange. Set a price limit and let everyone pick a name to buy for. We use apps like Elfster or DrawAName to keep it all secret and they give everyone a chance to select gift ideas within the budget to ensure you will receive something you love. It’s a fun activity that adds excitement and ensures gifts for everyone without breaking the bank.
10. Embrace the True Meaning of Christmas
Amid the festive chaos, take time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Attend a nativity play, read a Christmas carol, or volunteer together as a family to spread some holiday cheer. These traditions help create lasting memories and remind everyone of the season’s deeper purpose.
Bonus Ideas for Even More Fun:
- Visit a Christmas market for unique gifts and festive foods.
- Go ice skating as a family for a magical winter experience.
- Start an Elf on the Shelf tradition to add daily excitement for the kids.
- Head to the Panto for some traditional Christmas fun – oh yes it is!
- Take a family photo each year to capture the magic of Christmas time.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, the best Christmas traditions are those that bring your family closer and create lasting memories. What are your favorite Christmas traditions? We’d love to hear how your family celebrates this special time of year!