Christmas traditions are some of my FAVORITE memories to make. And I think during this season we are so intentional with our time and memory making which is why we love these traditions so much!
That said, it is VERY easy to get overwhelmed real quick. I remember being a mom to two toddlers and trying to do every tradition I saw so that my kids didn’t miss a thing. We planned an advent calendar where we would do one kind act a day. Let’s just say this, by day 3 I threw that out and replaced it with a daily Hershey kiss and everyone was happier about that.
My new rule of thumb, we pick 3 MUST DO traditions and the rest are cool if we get to them and okay if we don’t because our favorites are still done.
Here’s a list of all the Christmas Traditions that this community has shared with me in the past. I hope you find one or two to adopt and make your own.
Christmas Traditions
This is when our elf comes back to visit us for the Christmas season and makes a big, festive breakfast the first day
I actually host this twice once for all the neighbor kids and then once for our family of four to decorate gingerbread houses.
Cookie Baking on Christmas Eve
Santa deserves the freshest of cookies and letting the kids just go wild on the decorating is so fun
Cookie Hooky Day
This one is new to me. We will all skip a day of work/school to make make and pack cookie tins for the neighbors.
Sleep Over Under the Tree
Family sleep over under the Christmas tree with all the lights
Looking at Lights
Bonus – after we put the kids to bed, we surprise them and wake them up with hot cocoa to go drive around and look at Christmas lights
Reading around the Tree
This is so precious. After 11 years of parenting we have enough Christmas books, but new moms grab some from the library
Cut Down Your Own Tree
We did this once for the nostalgia and I LOVE that we did. And it was a Charlie Brown tree so now I also love my fake tree. 😂
Decorate the Tree
Make it a whole experience with drinks, appetizers, and a movie marathon
Grinchmas Eve
Watch the movie and make themed snacks
Board Games on Christmas Eve
Board games and cards around the table with family, say less. Christmas in Southern CA is warm and sunny, but I imagine it is cozy everywhere else.
Candlelight picnic in the living on Christmas Eve
The kids go upstairs and when they come down the lights are off, the candles are lit and Christmas music is playing.
(linked the photo on pinterest because I couldn’t find the owner)
Pictures with Santa
Yearly photos with the big guy. And make sure you display them all each year to see your kids grow.
Midnight Mass
Such a beautiful and special service.
See the Nutcracker
On my bucket list to see this and the Rockettes in NYC. How special to make a weekend out of it
A simple “gift” thats full of traditions. You open it on Christmas Eve. Inside you might find: matching PJs, board games, a Christmas movie, a blanket and snacks to cuddle and munch together.
Hidden Pickle Ornament
Hide the pickle ornament on the tree and who ever finds it gets bonus gift (we always do lotto scratchers).
Oats, sprinkles, and a little magic for the reindeer to find your house. We also always include fresh carrots.
Advent Calendars
There are so many fun ones out there. The one that makes our family happiest is a simple chocolate a day.
Yearly Ornament
Everyone gets a new ornament to commemorate their year and this way when your kids move out they have 18-25 ornaments for their tree
I make homemade vanilla and stove top potpourri to give out. People look forward to the vanilla every year which is SUCH a compliement.
There are so many fun ones out there. The one that makes our family happiest is a simple chocolate a day.
Cheap but effective. Grab 2 packs of battery string lights and wrap them around the inner perimeter of the car. I wrap them around the coat hooks & door handles at the top of the car and tuck them in the upholstery. The kids love it and were a hit in the carpool line
You either love it or hate it. I love it. We buy a kit that we use for 2ish years because some nights our elf does fun silly things and some nights she just moves.
A classic. We did matching pjs for the first few years. But Eric only wears it for 5 minutes and I never find them flattering. So the last few years we adopted matching sweatshirts.
I’d love to hear about your family’s Christmas traditions 💜 Merry Christmas! Love ya
More Posts You’ll Like
comments