16 Easy Family Christmas Traditions

Family Christmas Traditions. Over the last eight years, we have developed a list of family Christmas traditions that the boys love to do during the Christmas season. In fact, they often ask now when we are going to do things and if we forget one quickly reminds us! With both of us working full time our traditions have to fit around busy family life and are designed not to be labour-intensive. Or break the bank in the process. Since it can be such an overwhelming and expensive time of year. Here are our Family Christmas Traditions for the Holiday Season.

16 Easy Family Christmas Traditions

That darn elf!

Part of me really regrets starting elf on the shelf! But the boys absolutely love it running downstairs each morning to see what ‘Elfie’ and Chocolate have been up to. It simply wouldn’t be Christmas without them both.

I try to make my life easier by planning in advance all their antics so that I have a little timetable of activities on the 30th of November. Anything that needs to be brought or arranged is already done, so I a not scrambling around for ideas. This is essential when we are both working. Last year I didn’t get organised beforehand and it was so much more stressful. I also make sure that I have the camera near to wherever in the house the elves may be, so I can capture their reactions.

Christmas Photo Shoot

I love taking festive pictures of the boys. We always tend to have matching Christmas outfits of some kind. Of course, as they have got older they may not be as cute as they have been. But they still do some lovely jumpers which I can just about convince them to wear.

When the boys were younger I use to take them myself. But as they have got older we go to a local photographer that does a mini shoot which keeps the cost low. And means we always have one decent photo for the Christmas cards. Normally our photo shoot is done in early November. So we have to get those outfits sorted early!

Advent activities and calendars

For both the boy’s first Christmas, we brought them each a wooden advent calendar. Each year I plan the contents of the little boxes along a theme that is particularly relevant to them at the time. In each box, there will be small toys, chocolate and an advent activity or fun ideas. The advent activities are designed to make sure we make the effort to do all the little things that mean so much this time of year.

Including donating unwanted toys, good deeds, Christmas crafts and photos I want to capture on festive days out. As its all too easy to get caught up and forget the little things that really matter. Many of the activities are fun Christmas traditions that make it a lovely way to count down the days of Christmas. If you are looking for advent activities then I have several posts which may help and that I have linked at the bottom of this post for you.

Cutting down our Christmas tree

This is one of my most favorite Christmas traditions. We have a specific Christmas Tree farm which we visit each year to cut down our own tree. After we have picked one we have tea and cake on a double-decker bus which is one of the main features of this particular Christmas tree farm. I find it really builds the magic of getting the tree and it is something that the entire family enjoys.

I have so many photos of the boys picking out the tree dressed in their Christmas outfits. Although as they have got older they seem to want a bigger and bigger tree which can lead to a few issues. We have been known to cut off a good foot when we got home as it wouldn’t fit into the front room. Consequently, it can take a very long time to pick out a tree. We all have a great time though and that’s the main thing.

Seeing the Christmas lights

As a child myself it was a real treat to go and see the Christmas lights and I still remember those visits now as an adult. We try and get into London to see the lights and look in the windows. Seeing all the effort that has gone into the window displays and the stories behind them is such a nice day out. This normally means that we spend a weekend in London.

Recently light walks have become a lot more popular and we have been very fortunate to visit a number in the South over recent years. Nothing gets us more in a festive mood than visiting a light trail. They are so much fun and there is now such a wide selection to choose from. Some of which have ice skating.

Visiting a Christmas market

We have been lucky and visited the Edinburgh Christmas Market in the last couple of years. It is definitely one of our favourites. Although we have only ever visited markets in the UK but hope to visit some abroad in the coming years once the boys are a little bit older. There’s something special about walking between the little wooden huts, sipping mulled wine and looking at all the bright colours of the decorations for sale. If you are lucky with a band or festive music in the background adds to the Christmas magic. And of course, the food is always really good. It is also a good excuse to start Christmas shopping, looking for unusual and thoughtful gift ideas.

Christmas Cake & Puddings 

We do try to make our own Christmas Cake and Christmas Puddings each year. The boys love helping out stirring the mixture and making wishes. Not to mention hiding the sixpence and then finding it on Christmas Day. We tend to make extras to give to a family member for Christmas presents. I can still remember the smell of the ingredients as a child and making these treats with my mum. I hope that the boys will do the same.

Making hampers for the grandparents

I think it’s difficult to buy something for grandparents from the children. A personalised gift is so much more valued so for the last couple of years we have been putting together little hampers. With a selection of goodies, we have made or brought on our travels. Each grandparent has their favourites when it comes to food, drink, sweets etc. So we incorporate some of these mixed in with handmade items such as jam picked from blackberries. Maybe a photo item such as a key ring or a little printed book of photos and something the boys have made.

Making Christmas decorations

Each year we make a new ornament either ceramic paint on your own or a handprint made out of salt dough. I also order a little wooden decoration each year with the top five things on the children’s Christmas list. Up until now, these have not been very commercial it will be interesting to see how they change. I also try to buy new Christmas decorations from our travels. It has become a bit of a habit!

Visiting Father Christmas

This goes without saying, we now have a collection of photos of when we visited the big man over the years. In years gone by we have been lucky enough to visit Lapland UK which is still one of our most favourite Santa Claus experiences. 

Visiting the National Trust 

We do love National Trust, it’s by far one of the best-value annual passes we have ever had. Over the years we have visited many different properties and gardens. I do really like them at Christmas time as they are always so prettily decorated. Standen is one of our favourites since it always has such wonderful handmade decorations. Another favourite although not National Trust in Blenheim which we have visited several years in a row. Both inside and out it is stunning and bound to get you in a festive mood. 

Christmas Cheese Shop

We started this tradition with Charlie when he was three years old. We always have a cheese board after Christmas dinner and into Boxing Day. Charlie is a big lover of cheese and so we go specifically to buy it from a cheese shop. He loves going to try different types and we always discover something new. 

Gingerbread House

Is Christmas even Christmas if you don’t decorate your own gingerbread house? The boys love it. I must admit I tend to buy a kit on the basis that I don’t have time to bake cookies from scratch. But they don’t mind and love it all the same especially if we stick some Christmas music on in the background, after all it is about the holiday memories.

Sending Christmas letters up the chimney

We have tried other ways but always end up coming back to the idea of sending Santa letters up the chimney to the North Pole. The boys really enjoy it. Although I have been known to photocopy them before they do it so I can keep copies of them over the years. This fun family Christmas tradition is a great way to make sure your wishes arrive at their destination.

The Christmas Pickle

We have a Christmas decoration which is a cucumber or gherkin. The idea is that on Christmas Eve an adult hides it on the Christmas tree. Whoever finds it first is allowed to open a small gift under the tree. Of course, what really ends up happening is that both boys open Christmas gifts as it would not be fair for one to do it and the other not. But it is a great way to cool down the excitement in the lead-up to Christmas Day! Especially if the small gift is something to keep them entertained such as some board games, for a family game night or Christmas books.

Christmas Eve Boxes

For the last few years, we have had the tradition of putting together a Christmas Eve box for the boys. It is a trend that seems to be growing in popularity with many pictures appearing over social media in the run-up to Christmas. Each year our Elf on the Shelf delivers the boys as a goodbye before going back to Father Christmas to help him get ready. The contents do not have to be extravagant.

Many of the items are things you already have such as a Christmas movie, hot cocoa, a holiday movie such as polar express, a new book or Christmas story, Christmas pajamas etc. As the boys get older we will include things for the whole family in our Christmas Eve traditions.

Christmas Bath Bombs

This is a new Christmas tradition which we have recently started. Th boys like to choose a sparkly and glittery bath bomb with a Christmas theme. It is a fun way to get ready for bed before Christmas Day,

Reindeer food & treats for Santa

We make our own reindeer food by mixing edible glitter with oats and sprinkling it out in the garden on Christmas Eve. Of course, we also leave out the brandy and a mince pie for Father Christmas and a carrot for Rudolph. If we are really lucky not only does Father Christmas tuck in he also leaves some snowy footprints on the hearth ready for Christmas morning!

What are your family’s Christmas Traditions? I would love to hear about them in the comments below as we are always on the lookout for new traditions.

Related Content – Family Christmas Traditions

If you have enjoyed this blog post about Christmas traditions then you may find some of the below posts of interest. These are all linked o our own family traditions.

• As much as the boys love their elves I need ideas which are Quick & Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas for when we are juggling working and parenting. Especially as we tend to get into bed and then think… oh no the elf!!
• Elf on the Shelf Ideas for a 2-year-old some extra ideas for the younger members of the family. Charlie was only two when his elf arrived from the North Pole
• Our traditional wooden advent calendars are often filled with advent activities as they are a great way to introduce all your family traditions. Here are some for the younger members of the family – 25 Advent Activities for a 2-year-old  and 25 Advent Activities for a 3-year-old 
• If you are thinking of including advent activities too in your holiday traditions then these posts also include a free printable 25 Advent Activities for babies, 25 Advent Activities for a 4-year-old, and 24 Advent Activities for Kids using Lockdown
• Are you living with Harry Potter fans? We are! Try some of these ideas to bring the magic to life 24 Advent Activities for Harry Potter fans. The post includes a free printable.
• If you are looking for th best light trails to visit then this will help – The best Christmas light walks in the South
• Thinking of putting together a Christmas eve box but not sure what to put in it? Then his article has you covered with lots of ideas that do not have to cost a fortune 26 ideas to put in your Christmas Eve Box

 

 

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