New Christmas Traditions for Holiday Fun

Start a Family Christmas Tradition that will Create Holiday Memories to Last a Lifetime

After enjoying a delicious Thanksgiving feast, everyone’s thoughts turn toward Christmas. Whether it’s a casual Christmas Eve gathering entertaining friends or Christmas family dinner with all the fancy trimmings, visions of celebrations start dancing in our heads.

One of the real joys of the Christmas season is discovering new family activities or adding a new twist to old ones. In the years ahead, these new holiday activities join the list of beloved family Christmas traditions.

Orchestrate the Family Photo

Getting the whole family together for a photographic moment can be a challenge. Plan a “Family Photo Shoot” day well in advance and let everyone know if you have an idea about the theme or clothing choices. If the photo is intended for holiday cards or a gift, the sooner you plan, the easier you can put your photos into action.

Hang the Stockings With Care

Encourage family members to personalize their stockings by adding decorative elements that are unique to them. Host a gathering and supply lots of craft supplies, then let the personalization begin! Another fun stocking idea, especially once children are grown, is to assign “secret stocking” duty to every member of the family. Then each person must fill another person’s stocking with something unique and hang the filled stockings by Christmas morning. And, don’t forget to leave letters for Santa and an elf on the shelf!

Throw the Best Holiday Party of the Year

Are you looking to throw the best Christmas party this year? Well, that doesn’t mean it needs to be the biggest or the most expensive. Small, budget-friendly get-togethers can be the ones that are remembered for years.

The first step is to select a theme and everything will fall into place from there. Make sure to inform your guests of the theme in the invite. Are you considering a sophisticated cocktail party or a family-friendly caroling spree? Is the mood meant to be formal and elegant, or casual and improvised?

Now that you know what kind of party it will be, you can plan your menu accordingly. Try to strike a balance between what you will prepare yourself and what you can ask others to bring or what you can buy pre-made and present it beautifully on a platter. Want to make it a stress-free event? A buffet can make the food easier to manage or opt for just cocktails and finger foods to avoid having to orchestrate an entire meal.

Create a festive tablescape for the middle of your holiday table that reflects the theme. When you depart from the everyday dishes and set the table with something merry instead, everyone knows that it’s a special occasion and makes it memorable. Set the table with colorful dinnerware in a seasonal design. There are many patterns and sets available — some even feature matching goblets and serving pieces. Don’t forget the matching placemats and table runner, too! And, get a decorative gingerbread house as a centerpiece.

To complete the mood, don’t forget to put Christmas movies on television and play your favorite Christmas music in the background. Classic Christmas carols will put everyone in the holiday spirit!

Add Cultural Holiday Traditions

Our communities offer so many diverse cultures and activities during the holidays. Look into cultural events taking place during the holidays to discover how other cultures celebrate and add something new each year to your family’s holiday plans.

Christmas Eve Dinners

You know that Christmas Eve can get a little hectic, so keep it simple, especially if you’re preparing the big Christmas Day dinner! Consider adding these ideas to your Christmas Eve traditions.

• Get take-out. More and more busy families rely on taking out or going out on Christmas Eve. So many, in fact, that Chinese takeout has become something of a tradition all its own!
• Invite the family over for a potluck dinner. Ask everyone to bring something easy and then set up the holiday buffet. Save the good china for tomorrow and use paper plates with a holiday pattern.

Christmas Eve Traditions — Out & About

If you’re going to be out on Christmas Eve (hopefully not racing around buying last-minute gifts), do something fun and meaningful. Pick Christmas activities that will be fun for the entire family.

• Nearly every community has a Santa Claus Lane – you know, that one block of houses all amazingly decked out. Go and gaze in admiration at the magic of the twinkling lights and nodding reindeer.
• Go caroling. Everybody loves to sing, and what a wonderful way to share warm holiday spirits with neighbors.
• Join a candlelight walk and drink in the beauty and joy of the season.
• Pick a Christmas story that you can read every year before bedtime on Christmas Eve. Of course, a traditional choice is “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” but you can pick any story that resonates with your family and turn it into an annual custom.

Pay it Forward

There is no more perfect way to recognize the true spirit of the season than by doing something for those less fortunate.

• A simple gift goes a long way to making someone feel remembered. Visit the dollar store and pick up some new toiletries, socks, candy or books. Wrap gifts and take them to a local charity.
• Volunteer at a local soup kitchen.
• Include a retirement home on your caroling route. They will really appreciate the visit.
• Bake Christmas cookies with the kids and share them with friends, family, neighbors and the local homeless shelter.

Home Again

Christmas is family time. When you’re back at home, get the kids (and adults!) into their pajamas and do those final Christmas Eve activities. These are the most pleasurable chores imaginable.

• Gather around the tree with Snow Cocoa or hot buttered rum and tell Christmas stories.
• Let everyone open just one present. The rest have to wait till morning!
• If you don’t have a fireplace, make a decorative key to the front door for Santa and have the kids hide it under the front doormat.
• Make it a tradition to give everyone a new Christmas ornament each year. When trimming the tree each year, they’ll be reminded of their favorite memories. Plus, when the kids get older and have a home of their own, they can take their ornaments and decorate their own Christmas tree.

Throw a Christmas Tree Slumber Party

Many of us can remember laying under the Christmas tree and gazing up at the sparkling lights in wonder and awe. This year, try throwing a slumber party under the tree. Pile on the pillows and blankets. Pass around the hot chocolate and cookies, and spend time singing carols, reading Christmas stories, or thumbing through photo albums from Christmas Pasts.

After the Kids Are Asleep

Decorate the house with greenery and twinkling white lights so everyone will wake to a magically transformed wonderland. Spray artificial snow on the bottom of a pair of men’s shoes. Make visible tracks from the front door to the table where Santa’s cookies await. Leave only a few crumbly bits and then make tracks that return from the table to the front door.

Get your coffee ready and enjoy the amazement in their little faces in the morning!

New Family Christmas Traditions

What new family activities will become your Christmas traditions? Comment below and share with us what your family looks forward to every year!

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