Christmas traditions to make the season special
For me, the real joy of Christmas comes from the holiday memories that are made with family and friends. Dec. 25 is still several weeks away, but now is the perfect time to start planning fun activities and traditions to enjoy with the people you love.
Of course, food is the centerpiece of many holidays, and Christmas is no exception. Since evenings are busy this time of year, consider hosting a brunch or going for out for lunch. Potlucks, gingerbread house decorating parties and cookie swaps are also wonderful options.
Pairing food with a simple activity is also fun. Consider setting up a hot chocolate bar to enjoy after a night of caroling or setting up a buffet filled with movie-themed goodies to pair with a Christmas movie viewing party. Investing a bit of time making the food special will make ordinary holiday activities special and memorable.
In addition to partaking in the traditional holiday activities, it’s important to make room for new traditions. My husband’s family lives in another province, meaning we aren’t able to get together in December. So, rather than missing out on spending Christmas together, we celebrate “fake Christmas” in November. We get together
to do a gift exchange, enjoy a meal together and watch Christmas movies. This year, I even made everyone their own “fake Christmas” ornaments that they can take home and hang on their trees. Our whole family is grateful for this special tradition.
November is also a fantastic time to engage in holiday activities that embrace the
magic of the season. Some of my favourites magical Christmas activities for kids include: taking a ride on the polar express (aka driving around looking at lights with hot chocolate and Christmas carols), finding a way to give to charity or spread kindness, enjoying an Elf on the Shelf, writing letters to Santa, and attending a Santa Claus parade. And it’s not too early to start planning activities and traditions for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. If you prepare now, you’ll have more time to relax and enjoy time with family later.
Start shopping for Christmas PJS, find your copy of
The Night Before Christmas and prepare magic reindeer food to sprinkle on the lawn on Christmas Eve. Our favourite recipe is: 1/3 cup Cheerios, 1/4 cup oats and 1 tsp magic dust (red sugar crystals). You can also get some Christmas baking done and pop it in the freezer to enjoy when you need it. Don’t forget to make some special cookies to leave out on a tray for Santa on Christmas Eve.
I truly believe that traditions (the things we do over and over again) are the building blocks of memories and that Christmas is the perfect time to continue old traditions and start new ones. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to do too much. Pick a few things that mean a lot to you and your loved ones, and enjoy spending the holiday season together.