There are so many reasons to celebrate the holiday season. And we’ve learned some wondering ways to celebrate Christmas as a family. After the year 2020 has been so far, I have been more excited than ever to create magic and memories around the season with my family. I am ready to embrace coziness and healing and hope.
We have a few Christmas traditions that we’ve built as a family for years now, and I thought I’d share them with you here. (Also, see the free printable – I don’t even ask for your email!)
Free Printable
Ways to Celebrate Christmas Together printable!
Here are some ways to enjoy Christmas as a family:
Trim the tree.
Send out holiday cards.
Get Christmas pajamas or sweaters.
Every year, I am smitten with the Old Navy collection. For obvious reasons, these are calling me this year but then, yetis! While I realize deep down it is not fiscally responsible to buy Christmas pajama pants for my whole family … I can’t help it! The mornings of lazing around in matching holiday pajamas while eating cinnamon rolls is just too much perfection for me to pass by.
Decorate the house.
Drink hot chocolate.
Honor advent.
Advent and our count down tradition are two distinct things for us (see our count down tradition below). To honor advent, we light a candle on our advent wreath each Sunday, with Bible verses read out loud and some guided discussion. If you have questions on this tradition, or are looking for some guidance on readings, I recommend this post here.
Have a Christmas movie marathon.
Some of our favorites include:
- Rudolph
- Frosty
- the newest Grinch
- The Star
- Mickey’s Christmas Carol
- Home Alone (our boys are very into slapstick)
We always save Elf for it’s own night (see below). And while we love the Polar Express book, we never really fell in love with the movie.
I always watch White Christmas on my own, and on Christmas Day we usually have A Christmas Story on in the background (although the kids aren’t very into it as they find the part where Flick gets his tongue stuck to the pole horrifying).
Decorate a gingerbread house.
Send Santa a letter.
It’s 2020, so we’re 99.9% sure we are not going to see Santa in real life this year (which I allow myself to mourn but I will not allow myself to wallow in). So this year, we’ll be sending wishes via mail.
For parents: Santa can send video messages back via this website!
Count down the days.
As mentioned, we treat advent and a count down to Christmas differently. Our advent practice is spiritual and involves gathering on Sundays around the advent wreath and candles, reading scripture.
But our count down tradition is a daily activity that is an opportunity to revel in the excitement of the days to come! I made a quilted calendar with pockets for each day when The Bean was born. So December 1st through 24th is packed with fun little things. We try to place cards with activities in the pockets (such as our gingerbread house decorating day, cookie decorating day, drinking hot cocoa) but Target has a 12-days of Christmas package that makes it easier. We also put in holiday socks, LEGO minifigs, Pokémon cards, cookie cutters, Christmas Chapstick, bath toys or holiday bath fizzies, gift cards for iTunes songs, and when they were littles I really enjoyed the Crate & Kids gifts.
Free Printable
Ways to Celebrate Christmas Together printable!
Have a Christmas carol singalong.
Watch Elf and have pancakes for dinner.
Decorate Christmas cookies.
Drive around and look at lights.
Drink eggnog.
Get a Christmas puzzle.
Indulge in fancy holiday soaps and smells.
Yes, I get excited for the newest holiday collection at Bath & Body Works as well as the Winter Forest and Spiced Chestnut soaps and lotions at Williams Sonoma. I will wear my Christmas pajamas and smell like Vanilla Bean Noel and I will not apologize.
Do a holiday craft.
There are so many great ideas on Pinterest, of course. Make snow! Make ornaments! Make reindeer! You can also buy craft packets at Michael’s.
Give to someone in need.
This year there is more need than ever, and there are many ways you can help. You can look at the Compassion gifts catalog if you are thinking internationally, or you can team up with local food banks and food drives. We’re finding that even if churches and organizations aren’t necessarily accepting clothes, toys, etc. as gifts for families in need, they are still doing canned food drives.
Read Twas the Night Before Christmas.
We read this every Christmas Eve night – and my dad read it to me and my siblings every Christmas Eve night growing up. This is my favorite version by far. Eric Puybaret is a master at magical art. I am excited to learn that he has a Nutcracker book out.
Plan and prepare holiday menu and food.
Free Printable
Ways to Celebrate Christmas Together printable!
We know this season looks different and feels different all around. But it might be more needed than ever. By burying deep into some of our more quiet yet holy traditions, I am convinced Christmas 2020 will be magical and reverent in a new way. And hasn’t 2020 just been one big lesson in learning to be flexible and leaning in to the creases of life that we usually rush by?
Enjoy the trip with your family this holiday season and may this list help.