21 Family Christmas Traditions to Start This Year
Christmas is a magical time of the year, filled with wonder, love, and cherished memories. And while gifts and glittering decorations are wonderful, it’s the timeless holiday traditions that truly bring families closer together. Starting your own Christmas traditions not only strengthens family bonds but creates lasting memories your children will carry into their own families someday.
Below, we've shared creative and heartwarming traditions you can start with your family this year. Whether you’re looking to create magical moments or teach meaningful values, there’s something for everyone!
1. Create a Family Advent Calendar
Make the countdown to Christmas extra special by designing a custom advent calendar filled with meaningful and personalized surprises for your family. Instead of the usual chocolates, include unique ideas like family kindness challenges, handwritten compliments for each other, small crafts, or exciting activities for the kids. For example, one day could feature a family game night, while another could include making Christmas cards for loved ones. It’s a wonderful way to bond and keep the excitement alive all December long, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
2. Host a Christmas Movie Marathon
Pick a cozy December weekend and plan a Christmas movie marathon with the whole family! Create a list of holiday classics like Home Alone, Elf, The Polar Express, The Grinch, or Miracle on 34th Street. Transform your living room into a winter wonderland with soft blankets, fairy lights, and a pillow fort. Don’t forget the festive snacks—peppermint hot cocoa, holiday-shaped cookies, and buttery popcorn will add to the magic. The marathon is a perfect way to relax, laugh, and spend quality time together during the holiday rush.
3. Bake Christmas Cookies Together
Baking as a family is one of the most heartwarming holiday traditions. Gather everyone in the kitchen to bake classic sugar cookies, gingerbread men, or even try new recipes like peppermint pinwheels or chocolate crinkle cookies. Let creativity shine by decorating the cookies with colorful frostings, edible glitter, and plenty of sprinkles. Make it extra special by turning it into an annual tradition—everyone can decorate cookies to exchange with neighbors, send as gifts to friends, or simply enjoy as a family treat while sharing stories and laughter.
4. Write Letters to Santa
Keep the magic of Santa alive by writing letters as a family. Younger kids can share their wish lists, drawing pictures of their desired gifts, while older kids can use the opportunity as a journaling exercise to reflect on the past year, sharing what they’re grateful for or their hopes for the future. Parents can join in too, writing letters of encouragement to their kids or even creating a letter “from Santa” to surprise them later. Save these letters in a keepsake box to cherish in the years to come, watching how everyone’s wishes and reflections evolve over time.
5. Decorate a Mini Christmas Tree for the Kids
Let your little ones feel extra special by giving them their very own Christmas tree to decorate. Choose a small tabletop tree and provide a variety of kid-friendly decorations, such as felt ornaments, paper crafts, or even their handmade creations. You can add a string of battery-operated LED lights to make it glow. This simple activity not only sparks creativity but also gives children a sense of pride and ownership over their festive space. Let them add a new decoration to their tree each year to build a collection of memories.
6. Plan a Family Giving Day
Teach the importance of generosity and kindness by dedicating a day to giving back during the holiday season. Plan activities like volunteering at a food bank, donating toys to a local drive, or delivering baked goods to an elderly neighbor. You could even create care packages for those in need, filled with essentials like socks, gloves, and snacks. Involve your kids in the process, explaining how their actions make a difference in the lives of others. This tradition not only spreads joy to those in need but also instills the value of compassion in your children.
7. Start a “Christmas Eve Box” Tradition
Add an extra layer of excitement to Christmas Eve by surprising your family with a festive “Christmas Eve Box.” Fill it with cozy holiday pajamas for everyone, a Christmas-themed book to read together, and packets of hot cocoa mix with marshmallows. You can even include a small puzzle, a holiday movie, or some handmade treats to make the evening even more special. Gather the family to open the box together, snuggling up for a cozy night that builds anticipation for the magic of Christmas morning.
8. Go Christmas Light Hunting
Take a magical nighttime drive as a family to admire the twinkling beauty of Christmas lights. Load up the car with blankets, play your favorite holiday music, and explore local neighborhoods decked out in festive decorations. Some cities even host light festivals, drive-through displays, or holiday parades that are worth checking out. Make a game out of spotting the most elaborate displays or your favorite color combinations, and enjoy the wonder of the season together.
9. Craft Homemade Ornaments
Create a lasting tradition by making homemade ornaments as a family each year. Gather simple supplies like salt dough, popsicle sticks, felt, or colorful beads, and let everyone craft their own unique decoration. Personalize them with names, dates, or special messages. Hang these handmade ornaments on your Christmas tree, and over the years, your tree will become a visual story of your family’s memories and growth. This activity is not only creative but also a wonderful way to bond during the holiday season.
10. Read a Christmas Story Every Night
Make bedtime extra magical in December by reading a Christmas-themed story together each night leading up to Christmas. Choose from holiday classics like The Night Before Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or The Polar Express, or explore new stories that capture the spirit of the season. Gather around the tree or snuggle up in bed as a family to enjoy the warmth and wonder of these tales. This simple tradition encourages togetherness and lets the holiday magic shine through every evening.
11. Hold a Family Talent Show
Encourage everyone to showcase their unique talents with a festive twist. Sing a Christmas carol, perform a winter-themed dance, play an instrument, or tell some funny holiday jokes. You can even dress up in holiday costumes to make it extra fun. It’s an evening full of laughter, creativity, and memories that will bring the whole family closer.
12. Make a Christmas Wishlist Jar
Instead of a traditional wishlist, have everyone write down their hopes, dreams, and goals for the upcoming year on small pieces of paper. Decorate a festive jar together and place the wishes inside. Next Christmas, revisit the jar and read the wishes aloud to see what came true, sparking stories and reflections from the year.
13. Build a Gingerbread House
Let your creativity shine by decorating a gingerbread house as a family. Gather candies, frosting, and sprinkles, and make it as elaborate or as silly as you like. You can even turn it into a friendly competition to see who builds the most creative design, or collaborate as a team to create a masterpiece. Either way, it’s an activity filled with fun, laughter, and plenty of sugar.
14. Capture a Family Christmas Pajama Photo
Find the coziest matching pajamas for everyone and set up a fun photo session. Add props like Santa hats, reindeer antlers, or even a backdrop of holiday lights to make the pictures extra festive. These snapshots will become cherished keepsakes to look back on year after year, reminding you of the fun times you shared.
15. Create a Holiday Playlist
Gather the family and curate a playlist of everyone’s favorite Christmas songs. Include a mix of classic holiday hits, newer festive tunes, and any songs that have special meaning to your family. Play it during tree decorating, baking sessions, or while unwrapping gifts. This playlist will become the soundtrack of your holiday season, adding extra cheer to your celebrations.
16. Designate a “Tree-Trimming” Night
Turn decorating the Christmas tree into a special family tradition. Pick an evening where everyone comes together to hang ornaments, string lights, and place the star or angel on top. Play holiday music in the background, sip hot cocoa, and reminisce about the memories attached to each ornament. Make it an official event you look forward to every year.
17. Secret Santa with a Twist
Put a creative spin on the classic Secret Santa gift exchange by focusing on handmade gifts instead of store-bought ones. Encourage the family to craft meaningful items like personalized artwork, baked goods, knitted scarves, or heartfelt letters. It’s a thoughtful way to show love while making the gift-giving process unique and memorable.
18. Set Up a Nativity Scene
For families who celebrate the religious significance of Christmas, take time to set up a nativity scene together. Use it as an opportunity to talk about the story of Christmas and its meaning. You can even make it interactive by having children create their own figures for the scene using craft materials. This can become a reflective and meaningful tradition for everyone.
19. Dance to “Snowball Santa” Freeze Songs
Turn up the Christmas music and let everyone dance around, but with a twist! Whenever the word “snow” is heard, everyone must freeze in place like a snowball. You can make it more challenging by adding different actions for other holiday words, like “Santa” or “reindeer.” It’s a hilarious game that kids will love and adults will enjoy just as much.
20. Build a Christmas Village
Get creative by building your own mini holiday village together. Use cardboard, paint, lights, and craft supplies to design houses, shops, and snowy landscapes. You can start small and add new pieces every year, growing your village into a treasured family keepsake. Display it somewhere special in your home to bring extra holiday cheer.
21. Reflect Around a Christmas Fire
On Christmas evening, gather around the fireplace, or use candles if you don’t have one, to create a cozy and reflective atmosphere. Share what you’re most grateful for this year, your favorite memories, and your hopes for the next year. It’s a peaceful, heartfelt way to end the day, connecting with loved ones on a deeper level.
Make This Christmas Your Most Memorable Yet
Family traditions aren’t just about celebrating the season—they’re about creating bonds and memories that last a lifetime. Start one, two, or many of these traditions and make this Christmas truly magical for every member of your family!
For more holiday inspiration check out these popular Christmas lists:
