18 Christmas traditions that will make your family merry and bright

It’s that time of year again when we start thinking about getting into the Christmas spirit again. But what is it that makes a Christmas truly special as a family? Maybe it’s the picturesque moments you share every day, or the celebratory moments that are so important to the children as they grow up. Whatever it is, Christmas is about embracing all of these special moments with your family. To help you do just that, we’ve collated some of the best Christmas traditions for families. From festive food to magical stories and wholesome activities, these Christmas traditions will bring joy and happiness to your little ones as well as your adult relatives. Take a look:

18 Christmas Traditions To Make Your Family Merry and Bright

Decorate The Christmas Tree

According to Christmas traditions, Christmas trees and decorations should go up on the first day of Advent, which is the fourth Sunday before Christmas. This year, that falls on Sunday 27th November 2022. Every year, decorate your Christmas tree early so that you can enjoy it as much as possible in the run up to Christmas.

Decorate your tree with ornaments that have special meaning for your family, and of course some mandatory Christmas lights. Use your decorating time to put up decorations that symbolize your family’s values or traditions, or that conjure up special memories. We usually make a small “event” of this, putting on Christmas songs to get into the Christmas spirit. If you want to be extra creative, you can also decorate your Christmas tree with ornaments that you and the kids have handmade. According to experts, Christmas trees can stay fresh for five weeks or more when given proper care

Play Christmas Music All Day Long

One of our favourite Christmas Traditions! Starting a few weeks before Christmas try to play Christmas music in your home as often as possible. This is a great way to celebrate the holidays, especially for kids who love hearing Christmas tunes. Try setting up a speaker and music system in your hallway or the family room/kitchen so that you don’t have to get up from your couch to switch tracks. Another great way to celebrate the holidays is to make a family-oriented playlist. Put together a playlist featuring songs that remind you of your family and your traditions with songs picked by everyone.

Make Gingerbread People and Animals

A lot of families like to make gingerbread people, animals or even a full on gingerbread house for the Christmas season. This can be a fun activity that your whole family can get involved in. Gingerbread people are a great way to decorate your house with Christmas decorations while also making edible treats that your family can enjoy.

Write a Family Storybook

If you have a budding writer in the family, why not get them involved in creating a family Christmas storybook? This can be a simple way for kids to express their creativity and their love for the holidays. You can create a storybook featuring family traditions, pets that have passed away or pets that you wish you had. You can also create a storybook about the love between family members or the importance of teamwork and the Christmas spirit.

Don’t Forget The Pet Dogs!

If you have a dog in your family – like we do – then don’t have to forget about including him or her in your Christmas traditions. You can decorate your dog’s festive collar with a Christmas ribbon and bell so that he’s the first thing your family sees and hears when they walk into the house. You can also get your dog a festive Christmas gift for fido to enjoy over. Some great gift ideas for your dog include toys, treats and a festive collar.

See Santa In a Grotto

What child doesn’t love the magic of going to see Santa in a grotto? There is something so wonderful about being escorted by an “elf” and seeing the big Mr Claus himself. Don’t forget to be ready to tell him what is on your Christmas list and that you have been trying really hard to be nice. If you’re lucky you may even leave with a gift!

Go For A Festive Walk

If you’re looking for ways to get your festive spirit up, a brisk walk is a great way to get in some exercise and enjoy nature at the same time. Plus, research has shown that walking can have numerous health benefits. Plan a winter woodland stroll, a mooch around a Christmas market or around a festive illumination trail. There’s nothing like getting all wrapped up and enjoying your chilly stroll and coming back to a warm hot chocolate.

Go Ice Skating

Ice skating is a winter activity that’s great for kids and adults alike. Ice skating is a fun way to stay active in the cold months. In addition, skating is a great way to bond with your family and friends. If you’re interested in ice skating this holiday season, be sure to book your reservation early as many ice skating sessions get booked up well in advance.

See A Pantomime

Pantomimes aren’t just for children. There’s something special about seeing a story brought to life through dance, music, and acting. It’s the perfect way to spend family time together, and you don’t have to be in the front row to enjoy it. There are many different types of pantomimes available (some ticketed and some free), so there’s sure to be something that suits your needs. And with a variety of themes to choose from, you’re bound to find something that appeals to all members of your family. If you’re planning on seeing one next Christmas, there are still plenty of tickets available. So don’t miss out on this opportunity to hear a classic tale come alive!

Make a Stocking for Santa Claus

Stocking-shaped treats are a great way to bring some festive holiday cheer to your little one’s stocking. You can also make your own stocking-shaped cookie, or you can find a stocking-shaped cookie recipe online. If your family’s tradition is to write letters to Santa Claus, you can always make a stocking for your little one that is filled with letters from her family members.

Prepare a Christmas Eve Box

Christmas is a festive time of year and it’s customary to give gifts to friends, family, and loved ones. Some people like to prepare special gift boxes for their loved ones. One option is to make a Christmas Eve box. This can be a box that you put together with items that are special to the person you are giving gifts to. There are lots of ways to make a Christmas Eve box. Check out our article on Christmas Eve Box ideas here.

Watch Christmas Movies and Sing Carols

The best part about Christmas traditions is that they can be changed or adapted to fit your family’s needs and traditions. Try to choose a family tradition that you can do with the whole family, so that you don’t end up leaving anyone out. Snuggling up on the sofa watching Christmas movies or coming together to sing Christmas carols are just two perfect examples.

Make Handmade Gifts

If you really want to make your family’s Christmas special, why not try to make handmade gifts for everyone in your family? You can try to make gifts from scratch, or you can buy homemade gift kits from the store. Children love being involved in making gifts and here are some great examples of Christmas gifts they can make from scratch.

Make a Real Christmas cake

Even though you may be too busy to make a real Christmas cake, you can still celebrate the season with a festive cake that is decorated with Christmas characters. You can try to decorate your cake with edible decorations, or if you have more time you can try and make a Christmas cake or chocolate yule log from scratch.

Wrap Presents

Wrapping gifts can be a great way to feel like you are making your family’s Christmas special. Why not try to wrap all of your family’s presents in one day? You can try to wrap presents while you are doing other activities, like while you are cooking a meal or while you are watching TV.

Make a Christmas wreath

Another great tradition that you can add to your Christmas celebration is making a Christmas wreath. You can try to make a wreath out of twigs and pine needles, or you can try to make a wreath that looks like a Christmas tree.

Serve Christmas dinner

The smell of delicious Christmas dinner will always make your family feel warm and cozy. If you don’t want to cook a traditional Christmas dinner, you can always order a Christmas feast from a restaurant or a catering service. If you do want to cook your own Christmas dinner, try to incorporate some of your family’s favourite recipes. You can also try to incorporate some of your family’s favourite Christmas traditions, such as having everyone sit at the table together or using special plates or dishes.

Hand-Stamp New Year’s Resolutions With Family

Decorate a memory box with your family’s resolutions for the New Year. This will serve as a nice reminder of your family’s goals for the following year. You can also decorate the box with photos or newspaper clippings that document your family’s progress toward their resolutions. When it’s time to make New Year’s resolutions, you can get your family together to stamp their fingers and make a big fuss out of it. You can also get everyone to write their resolutions on a piece of paper and pin it to the wall or place it in the memory box.

What are your favourite Christmas traditions? Let us know in a comment below. And whatever Christmas traditions you decide to enjoy remember you don’t have to do everything at Christmas. Instead, avoid the Christmas frazzle and pick a few that really resonate with you that you can enjoy.

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