Christmas Traditions

Take inspiration from around the world or start something completely your own.

Baking of Christmas cookies, watching festive films every weekend, singing your favorite Christmas carols, December is certainly filled with endless Christmas fun.

And although we know that you’ll be busy running around buying Christmas gifts for everyone in the family, it’s also important to take a minute and gather with loved ones to partake in Christmas activities. After all, it only comes but once a year! We have listed out some of our favorite Christmas traditions for you to try with your family and friends this year.

If you’re looking for classic ideas, you can’t go wrong with ice skating or chopping down your own Christmas tree. Outdoors not your thing? Keep warm with cozy indoor activities like making hot chocolate and taking an annual picture in matching family Christmas pajamas. You can also take inspiration from Christmas traditions that are celebrated around the world to create something completely new just for your family.

However you spend Christmas, here are a handful of fun Christmas activities and traditions that will create lasting memories with your loved ones for years to come.

1
Watch the Tree Lighting Ceremony
The holidays wouldn’t be the same without dazzling Christmas trees. From festive lights to colorful ornaments, plan to go see your community’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony! And no matter where you are, you can always stream the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting.

2
Visit Festive Holiday Restaurant
Make a reservation with the people you love at a decorated restaurant full of lights and ornaments galore. Rolf’s in NYC is a classic place to eat and drink during the holidays because of their spectacular Christmas décor!

3
Start a Cookie Exchange
If you want to forgo the gifts and white elephant exchanges, try having a cookie exchange where everyone bakes holiday cookies and swaps!

4
Go to a Holiday Market
Get ready for Christmas by visiting a holiday market! Check out the festive shops, sip on hot chocolate, listen to Christmas music and more all in one place. This can be a great place to get some shopping done, while participating in all the Christmas fun.

5
Go Ice Skating
There is no activity quite like ice skating to get you in the holiday mood. Make it a tradition every year to lace up your skates for a fun outing with the family. Plus, you’ll likely get to see a grand Christmas tree and listen to festive music while hitting the ice.

6
Make Hot Chocolate
Skip the instant hot chocolate packets and make a decadent hot cocoa that is extra special for the holidays. Kids will love sipping on this sweet treat and adults can make a boozy hot chocolate with bourbon or rye.

7
DIY an Advent Calendar
Sure, you can buy an advent calendar based on your kids’ favorite activities and watch with joy as they get a new goodie each day. But it’s even more fun to make your own. Try this: Fill 24 advent calendar bags, boxes or drawers with love notes, candy, small toys or ideas for good deeds they can do that day to spread good cheer. Or, keep special ornaments aside in a box and add a new one to the tree each morning!

8
Host a Christmas Movie Marathon
There’s a Christmas movie out there for every personality. Do you like romance? Hallmark Christmas movies have you covered. Action? There’s always Die Hard or Batman Returns. Kids at home? There are tons of Christmas movies for kids to choose from. “My family is obsessed with National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

In December, have every person in the family pick a favorite, then either take a weekend to binge them all, or watch one a week leading up to Christmas. You can even design a bingo card to keep track of movie tropes.

9
Decorate the Tree With Special Ornaments
When it comes time to trim the tree, find a way to commemorate a milestone or memory from the past year. One of my favorite holiday traditions is adding to our ornament collection.  Making handmade ornaments together is another way to sneak some bonding time into a busy time of year.

10
Make Christmas Breakfast
Opening up all those presents sure whips up an appetite. If you can tear the kids away from their new toys for a minute, have everyone help out in the kitchen and make breakfast. (Put the little ones in charge of the toast.)

11
Visit a Christmas Tree Farm
Some tree varieties are known for their scent, others are celebrated for their shape, sturdiness or needle retention. But choosing a real tree helps support a farm — and a trip to go get one is always a fun family outing.

12
Spread a Little Magic With Elf on the Shelf
No doubt, come December your feeds are filled with elves that get up to mischief in the night. But whether you commit to an Elf on the Shelf or find another way to bring enchantment into the house — like hiding and “discovering” a Santa Key that lets Santa into the house on Christmas Eve ~ do something that keeps them guessing about the nature of Santa’s magic.