December is a time of wonder and excitement, especially for families with young children. The festive season offers the perfect opportunity to create lasting memories and develop traditions that can be cherished for years to come. Whether it’s through simple, cosy activities at home or special outings with loved ones, the magic of Christmas lies in the moments shared together. Creating your own Christmas traditions is a wonderful way to build excitement for the season and nurture a sense of togetherness that children will remember fondly.
In this post, I’ll share some ideas for magical Christmas traditions that you can start with your family this December. From crafting and baking to outdoor adventures, these activities will help create a festive atmosphere that everyone can enjoy.
Advent Calendar Fun
One of the best ways to build excitement for Christmas is through an advent calendar, but you don’t need to stick to the shop-bought chocolate ones. Creating a personalised advent calendar is a great way to add a unique touch to your December celebrations. You can fill each day with small treats, activities, or family challenges that bring everyone together.
Some ideas for a personalised advent calendar could include:
- Christmas activities: Write down festive activities to do each day, such as watching a Christmas film, making paper snowflakes, or decorating gingerbread.
- Acts of kindness: Encourage your children to give back during the season of goodwill by including acts of kindness, such as donating toys, writing cards to loved ones, or baking treats for neighbours.
- Christmas stories: Share a festive story each night by adding a small Christmas book or story card behind each door. This could become a special family tradition that encourages reading and reflection during the busy festive period.
Decorating the Christmas Tree Together
Decorating the Christmas tree is often a highlight of the season, and making it a family tradition can create a sense of togetherness and excitement. Allowing children to take part in the decoration process, from hanging baubles to choosing the topper, helps them feel involved and proud of their contribution.
You could even create your own family tree-decorating traditions, such as:
- Handmade ornaments: Spend a cosy afternoon crafting homemade decorations with your children. Salt dough ornaments are easy to make and can be painted or decorated with glitter, making them a beautiful keepsake for years to come.
- A special Christmas playlist: Choose your favourite festive songs and play them while you decorate the tree. Singing along to carols or Christmas hits adds to the fun and helps create a festive atmosphere.
- Hot chocolate bar: Set up a hot chocolate bar with marshmallows, whipped cream, and festive sprinkles for when the decorating is done. It’s a lovely way to relax and celebrate the start of the Christmas season.
Christmas Eve Box
Christmas Eve is often filled with anticipation and excitement, and a Christmas Eve box is a brilliant way to channel that excitement into a magical family tradition. The idea is simple – a small box filled with treats and activities for the family to enjoy together on Christmas Eve. It can help build the excitement for Christmas Day while providing a fun and relaxing evening.
What to include in your Christmas Eve box:
- Pyjamas: New festive pyjamas for everyone to wear on Christmas Eve.
- A Christmas story: A special Christmas book that the whole family can read together before bed.
- Hot chocolate kit: Packets of hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, and perhaps a special Christmas mug for each family member.
- A festive film: Include a DVD of your family’s favourite Christmas film, or simply plan a movie night with something streamed.
This tradition is a great way to create a calm and cosy atmosphere before the excitement of Christmas morning.
Christmas Baking Traditions
Baking together as a family is a fun and creative way to celebrate the festive season, and it can become a beloved Christmas tradition. Children love getting involved in the kitchen, and there are plenty of simple recipes they can help with.
Some festive baking ideas include:
- Gingerbread people: Let the kids help mix, roll, and cut the dough, then have fun decorating the gingerbread with icing and sweets.
- Christmas cookies: Use festive cookie cutters in the shapes of stars, trees, or snowflakes and decorate them with icing and sprinkles.
- Vegan mince pies: A Christmas classic, mince pies are a great recipe for little hands to help with, from rolling the pastry to spooning in the filling. You can even try making your own mince filling if you’re feeling adventurous!
Baking together not only fills the house with wonderful festive scents, but it also provides delicious treats to share with friends and family. You can even package some up as homemade gifts for neighbours or teachers.
Outdoor Winter Walks
While the weather may be chilly, getting outdoors during December can add a special touch to your family traditions. Winter walks, especially if there’s a bit of frost or snow, can be a magical experience. Wrap up warm and head out for a stroll in a local park, nature reserve, or even your own garden to see how nature is preparing for winter.
For a festive twist, bring along a thermos of hot chocolate or spiced apple juice and make a game out of spotting winter wildlife, such as robins, squirrels, or holly bushes. You could even collect pine cones, leaves, and twigs to use in homemade Christmas crafts when you return home.
Letter to Father Christmas
For younger children, writing a letter to Father Christmas is an exciting and magical tradition. Set aside an afternoon to help them write or draw their Christmas wishes and send the letter off to the North Pole. You can make this a special event by decorating the letter with stickers, glitter, and colourful pens. Don’t forget to include a return address if you’re hoping for a reply!
You can also encourage your children to think about what they’re grateful for this Christmas and what they can give to others, fostering a sense of gratitude and kindness during the festive season.
Conclusion
Creating magical Christmas traditions for your family is all about finding activities that bring joy, togetherness, and a little festive magic into your home. Whether it’s through crafting, baking, or simply spending time together around the Christmas tree, these traditions will help build lasting memories that your children will cherish for years to come.
This December, take the time to slow down, enjoy the simple pleasures, and embrace the magic of the season with your loved ones. After all, it’s these shared experiences that truly make Christmas special.
