Each week in my newsletter, I try to think of new little “mini challenges” to send out and the one for next week popped into my head as I stared at the Christmas tree: Creating new (or new-to-us) holiday traditions! Now that Emma is getting older and can appreciate these things, I really want to start creating a few new traditions for our family for the month of December and leading up to Christmas. I have searched the internet and compiled a list of the ones I think are really great ideas, and I am sharing the traditions you all sent over to me that you do in your family, too! They are all special traditions to make the holidays magical, and I hope you can find one in here you want to pick up! Let me know if you do!
BTW, that picture above is from last year but I just love it so much…look at how little Emma was! I AM NOT WELL. Brb, going to cry!
Traditions to Make the Holidays Magical
Tradition Ideas
- Drive around to look at Christmas lights – this is actually one tradition we always had in my family on Christmas Eve growing up! If you live in or near Charlotte, consider a drive to see the McAdenville Christmas Lights aka Christmastown, USA.
- Bake Cookies & Listen to the story of Jesus’ birth! I must admit this is not my idea but something that our church is putting on virtually and I think it’s such a cute idea that you could totally recreate. “Dough Holy Night”—a deliciously fun family experience with the true meaning of Christmas baked in. Together you’ll bake a batch of Christmas cookies and, along the way, hear the story of the very first Christmas.
- Choose a Christmas tree & go to dinner somewhere special – Special doesn’t mean fancy necessarily, just some place with some importance to you or your fam. Or just with really good food!
- Decorate the tree while you listen to Christmas music
- Make peppermint hot chocolate and watch a Christmas movie
- Make a Christmas movie bucket list – aka watch allllll the cheesy Hallmark & Netflix Christmas movies any chance you get!
- Advent Calendars – I used to love these growing up and they make every day sort of feel like a mini Christmas as you open that day’s “gift”! My mom got me a grown up Advent calendar this year…every day has a mini bottle of wine. HELLO that rules. She also got Emma a regular one with tiny little chocolates 🙂
- Read Christmas books! I just got Emma a bunch of new Christmas books for us to read before bedtime. We got this one, this one, & this one. Will add new ones each year!
- Volunteer and/or Donate – Now is a great time to gather donations or make monetary ones if you’re able! You could also look into sponsoring a child or family in need or Toys for Tots is another idea! There are a ton of different organizations you could find in your area.
- One organization in particular and one we’ve done the past 4-5 years is Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse. You can pack shoeboxes (there is a virtual option or you can pack at home and dropoff) for less fortunate children.
- Donate to a food pantry or family in need – You could go grocery shopping and donate it all to a local food pantry. Or if you personally know a family who is struggling, drop off a box of groceries on their porch. (Found this idea here)
- Create a family Christmas bucket list for the season! Check out this post for ideas.
- Track Santa on Christmas Eve! Click here.
Traditions Sent in by You
- Special ornament each year – a lot of you sent this in that your parents did this and now you do, too! Select a special ornament for each child/person that represents a milestone or memorable moment in the year, then once that child leaves home and has their own Christmas tree they have a set of ornaments with tons of meaning!
- Matching Christmas Pajamas + Opening a new set with slippers on Christmas Eve
- Make gingerbread houses
- Chinese food on Christmas Eve
- Throw a North Pole Breakfast the 1st Saturday in December with a different festive theme
- Painting ornaments with big moments from the year
- Lay under the tree and read “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”
- See the Nutcracker with girlfriends and/or mom/sisters…Dress up and have a girls night
- Mom hides a Christmas pickle ornament on the tree and the first person to find it gets a prize!
- Bake Christmas cookies all day!
- My husband and I each take our son for a date night and he picks out the other a Christmas gift from him. He wraps it and it makes him so excited. We grab dinner and just spend time together.
I think those are them all! There were a lot of repeat answers so I only wrote them once, but I think there are a ton of really great ideas in this post! I’d love if you found one you liked…let me know if so and which one you’re going to try! I will keep you all posted on Instagram which new ones we decide to try:)
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!
xo,
Bess
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