14 Classic, Must-Do Christmas Traditions to Try this Season
This post may contain affiliate links. That means I may make a small commission on items purchased through links in this post at no extra cost to you!
Looking for fun, classic family traditions for Christmas?
Family Christmas traditions are the things that make it the most wonderful time of the year! These are what make memories to cherish year after year. They are what being the excitement and magic to the season. These traditions are what (hopefully!) our kids will want to continue into adulthood and maybe even continue when they have their own little family.
As a young family, we are still figuring out which traditions we like and which we want to change to fit and complete “us.”
The point of traditions is foster family time and bonding, to create precious memories and to bring excitement to the season.
Traditions don’t have to be intricate or expensive. Most of them can even be free.
All great traditions have one thing in common: spending intentional time with our most loved ones.
Below are 14 traditions to try with your family this season-
- Read a book as a family on Christmas Eve: Choose your book to read each year on Christmas Eve. Ours is “Twas the Night Before Christmas” but it doesn’t have to be! The best part – Add a one liner to the inside cover for something interesting about each child that year.
- Advent calendar: this is a new one for us! We are filling our calendar with Christmas pajamas, socks, fun holiday gear, a few small toys and treats and some simple experiences. Check for advent calendar filler ideas here.
- Watch The Polar Express: or a different movie your family loves! This one is probably our most watched and loved Christmas movie. We end up watching it several times each year.
- Personalized annual ornament: I love annual personalized ornaments. I remember getting them made at the mall with my mom. I usually get ours from Etsy or PersonalizationMall.com. I try to get a different style each year and as a young family it has been so fun to see our family dynamic change with time.
- Visit Santa for photos: some young kids hate it but I feel like it’s a rite of passage. There are usually lots of free options in towns (check local Facebook events and groups) but you can also find tons of paid experiences (usually with better looking Santas). I look in my local mom Facebook groups for photographers hosting Santa visits/photos and knock it out all at once.
- Christmas parade: we don’t love crowds but we do love the music and excitement of seeing the lights, bands and the decorated floats
- Make handmade gifts and ornaments: we do this several times throughout the season as an activity and it’s one of my favorite things! I make sure to always date the back and I store them with the other Christmas things after the season. Then, next year I get to see all the tiny hand and foot prints and compared to this year.
- Watch The Grinch: this was a little too scary when my son was younger but at 2.5 he loves the grinch! The 2018 version seems to be more little-kid-friendly.
- Eat Pillsbury “picture” cookies: you know the ones with Christmas trees or snowmen or reindeer on them? Pop them in the oven and eat way too many while watching a cozy movie
- Milk and cookies for Santa: a classic Christmas Eve non-negotiable. It’s even better when you’re the parent and get to eat the cookies guilt free after bedtime
- Carrots for reindeer: this was my favorite part as a kid! You can put them next to the milk and cookies or sprinkle them on the front yard for the reindeer to graze on
- Cinnamon roll breakfast: every Christmas Eve I make homemade cinnamon rolls. I keep the dough in the fridge overnight and Christmas morning I put them in the oven while we are opening presents. They are delicious and pretty easy!
- Make a Christmas list for Santa: this will be our first year making a list for Santa. Of course, I’ll have to write the list, but I am excited to hear what my toddler wants Santa to bring him.
- Christmas jammies: I love to wear Christmas pajamas all season! I get the kids new ones, but we don’t necessarily do the matching family pajamas. That is always an option and seems to be easier than ever now that stores like Old Navy and Target have a family pajama section for every member of the family, including pets!
Every family’s traditions will be different and can even change year to year until you find what is “right” and what works for your family. It’s always fun to try new things and see what your kids like! Enjoy the magic of the Christmas season and maybe make some new traditions if you want to!
