Over 39 of the Best Christmas Family Tradition Ideas

I love Christmas Traditions. It just wouldn’t be a Family Christmas without yearly Family Christmas Traditions to look forward to doing together. Whether you’re starting a new family or have celebrated together for years, these Christmas Family Tradition Ideas will inspire you.

39 Christmas Tradition for family

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For many of us, the perfect Christmas holiday includes Christmas recipes, finding the perfect present for family and friends, holiday parties with loved ones, delicious and amazing appetizers, and holiday games to play. Most important is the time we spend with our loved ones, whom we call our family. No matter how family looks to you, they are the ones that really make Christmas special.

Of course, those are all important traditions to keep, but it’s the little things like enjoying a cup of Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate, while watching Christmas Movies in matching pajamas that mean the most.

However you decide to spend Christmas with loved ones, building memories together through Christmas traditions is an important part of any holiday.

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Let’s take a look at 39 Christmas Family Tradition Ideas to get you started

homemade eggnog

1

Make Homemade Eggnog

Homemade Eggnog is so simple. It’s less expensive than the store-bought eggnog, and it’s not nearly as sweet. It’s a nice, simple, and easy tradition to start this year. 

Reindeer Food recipe and printable

2

Make Magical Reindeer Food

Make up a batch of magical reindeer food to spread out on the lawn for the reindeer. The glittery sprinkles will help guide the reindeer to your home.

Christmas Sugar Cookie

3

Bake Christmas Cut Out Cookies

. Here is my family recipe for the very best sugar cookies ever! People request it constantly, and now I’m passing it on to you so that you can fill your home with the delicious smells of this cookie dough.

diy snowman hot cocoa kit

4

Make a Gift for Others

This Snowman Hot Chocolate Kit is the perfect gift to make and give out to your friends and family at Christmas.

Christmas Minute to Win It Games

5

Play Christmas Games Together

These Christmas Minute to Win It Games are perfect for a fun-filled game night with family and friends. They are easy enough for young kids to play and challenging enough for teens and adults.

Christmas memory matching game

6

Make a Homemade Christmas Game to Play

Everyone loves a good game of memory match. This one is a fun homemade memory match with a fun Christmas Theme. This Hershey’s Kiss Christmas Memory Match Game can be fun to play and enjoyable to eat afterward

whipped cream melting snowman

7

Make Melting Whipped Cream Toppers

Make up a batch of melting snowmen whipped cream toppers and freeze them to enjoy on a cold winter’s night with a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

Christmas tree farm

8

Visit a Christmas Tree Farm

Most tree farms have complimentary hot cocoa and a gift shop. Some tree farms even have horse-drawn carriages. So Fun. If you’d rather not use a cut tree, many farms sell trees with the root ball wrapped in burlap. When you are finished using it for Christmas, you can plant it in your yard. Here’s a link to find a tree farm near you – click here

Over 31 Family Christmas Tradition Ideas to Start Making Memories This Year! - Sentimental ideas to make your holiday special - with recipes, resources and craft ideas - www.kidfriendlythingstodo.com

9

Making Gingerbread Housed Together

We always love to make ours out of graham crackers like those in the photo. This is a fun and easy family Christmas tradition to start. Find the “how to” on The South Carolina Homeschool Collection

Christmas tree cones

10

Making Christmas Tree Cones

Lately, Christmas has been so busy that we decorate sugar cones, and I buy mini gingerbread houses at the Dollar Tree for a Christmas scene. Here’s how you can make a Sugar Cone Tree – found on The Frugal Girls 

reindeer in snow

11

Watch a Live Reindeer Feed on Reindeer Cam

See what Santa’s reindeer are up to at any moment. Here’s a link to the Reindeer Cam – Click Here

Advent Calendar Ideas for Christmas

homemade advent calendar

12

Make Your Own Advent Calendar

I love this simple advent calendar made from an over-the-door shoe rack. I found on Chica and Jo

Countdown to Christmas Paper Chain

13

Make a Countdown to Christmas Paper Chain Christmas Craft

This is such a cute and simple countdown to Christmas idea – Found on From ABCs to ACTs

Blessings advent calendar

14

Make a Blessings Advent Calendar for Christmas

This Advent Blessing Jar is full of blessings to read each day as you countdown to Christmas found on Thirty Handmade Days

Baby Jesus Advent Calendar

15

Print Off this Religious Advent and Craft

Let the kids color their own religious advent and turn it into a Christmas craft – found on Sunday School Crafts

Make Hot Chocolate Together

Nothing is more creamy and rich than a homemade cup of hot chocolate. Slow cooker hot chocolate is easy to make and enjoyed by all.

Fun Gift Exchange Ideas for Family Parties

gift exchange idea for Christmas

16

Make a fun Game out of Gift Exchanges and Host a Party

White Elephant Gift Exchange Ideas are so much fun to play and a great Christmas tradition to start. Kids, teens, and adults love to fight over fun Christmas Gifts in a fun way. This Christmas Gift Exchange Idea is found on Play Party Plan

Over 31 Family Christmas Tradition Ideas to Start Making Memories This Year! - Sentimental ideas to make your holiday special - with recipes, resources and craft ideas - www.kidfriendlythingstodo.com

17

Play the Right Left Gift Exchange Idea

I love this Christmas gift exchange game idea. It looks hilarious and a great way to make Christmas memories you will look back on. This Right Left Exchange is found on Christian Camp Pro

Over 31 Family Christmas Tradition Ideas to Start Making Memories This Year! - Sentimental ideas to make your holiday special - with recipes, resources and craft ideas - www.kidfriendlythingstodo.com

18

Start a Sock Exchange

Host a small party for your kids to exchange socks as a new Christmas tradition. At a sock exchange party, the socks are a bonus gift. This Sock Gift Exchange Idea is found on Stockpiling Moms

Let the kids open up their Christmas Morning PJs on Christmas Eve 

kids in pjs at Christmas

19

Open up Christmas Pajamas on Christmas Eve

My grown-up kids still expect pajamas on Christmas Eve. It’s a Christmas tradition they look forward to each year.

Christmas family photo

20

Make a Family Photo

Make memories with a traditional family Christmas photo that you will cherish forever.

Over 31 Family Christmas Tradition Ideas to Start Making Memories This Year! - Sentimental ideas to make your holiday special - with recipes, resources and craft ideas - www.kidfriendlythingstodo.com

21

Get an Elf on the Shelf

This is not a Christmas tradition that I ever started, but I love seeing the mischievous elf photos on Facebook. Find Elf on the Shelf Ideas on Handbags to Change Bags

Over 31 Family Christmas Tradition Ideas to Start Making Memories This Year! - Sentimental ideas to make your holiday special - with recipes, resources and craft ideas - www.kidfriendlythingstodo.com

22

Elf Your Neighbors and Friends

Like Boo-ing your neighbors at Halloween, Elf-ing someone is leaving a stocking full of fun presents at someone’s door. Knock on the door and run. When they open the door, they will find a stocking full of presents to make their day. Find printables on Organized Christmas 

Santa footprints

23

Leave Santa’s Footprints on Christmas Eve

I learned this trick from my brother-in-law; it has been a family Christmas tradition ever since. My kids are in their teens and twenties, and my husband still loves doing this. Here’s how to make Santa Footprints. Grab a large baking pan and pour cornstarch in the bottom. Push a pair of boots into the cornstarch. Use the cornstarch-covered foot soles to make footprints on just about any surface. They will last until you vacuum them up.

Christmas Eve candlelight service

24

Find a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

We do this every year. Seeing people come together and worship at Christmas in a candle-lit room.

Over 31 Family Christmas Tradition Ideas to Start Making Memories This Year! - Sentimental ideas to make your holiday special - with recipes, resources and craft ideas - www.kidfriendlythingstodo.com

25

Sing Happy Birthday to Jesus on Christmas Morning

Make an overnight breakfast cake for a birthday cake to Jesus. Find the recipe for this overnight coffee cake on Plain Chicken

Over 31 Family Christmas Tradition Ideas to Start Making Memories This Year! - Sentimental ideas to make your holiday special - with recipes, resources and craft ideas - www.kidfriendlythingstodo.com

26

Write Letters to Santa

 

If you write a letter to Santa and place it in the mailbox with the flag up, chances are – he will write back. Find this free printable on It’s a Mom’s World

Over 31 Family Christmas Tradition Ideas to Start Making Memories This Year! - Sentimental ideas to make your holiday special - with recipes, resources and craft ideas - www.kidfriendlythingstodo.com

27

Watch Christmas Movies Together

Snuggle up for a Christmas Movie Marathon with the family. Find a list of the Most Loved Christmas Movies on Let’s Lasso the Moon

Over 31 Family Christmas Tradition Ideas to Start Making Memories This Year! - Sentimental ideas to make your holiday special - with recipes, resources and craft ideas - www.kidfriendlythingstodo.com

28

Have a Themed Breakfast Together

Kids always love a themed meal. You can easily find breakfast ideas on the internet for Santa pancakes, Rudolph Pancakes, and Christmas Tree Pancakes. Find this Snowman Breakfast on Hoosier Homemade

Over 31 Family Christmas Tradition Ideas to Start Making Memories This Year! - Sentimental ideas to make your holiday special - with recipes, resources and craft ideas - www.kidfriendlythingstodo.com

29

Have a Family Polar Express Night 

The Polar Express is an old book filled with colorful illustrations. Recently, the Polar Express movie has become a Christmas classic. Having a Polar Express night is the perfect family Christmas idea to start. Find the “how to” on Teach Mama

Over 31 Family Christmas Tradition Ideas to Start Making Memories This Year! - Sentimental ideas to make your holiday special - with recipes, resources and craft ideas - www.kidfriendlythingstodo.com

30

Give the kids a Christmas Eve Box filled with traditions – pjs, reindeer food, Twas the Night Before Christmas, etc.

Make a Christmas Eve Box as a Christmas Family Tradition to start. I found this adorable Christmas Eve Box on Growing a Jeweled Rose

Over 31 Family Christmas Tradition Ideas to Start Making Memories This Year! - Sentimental ideas to make your holiday special - with recipes, resources and craft ideas - www.kidfriendlythingstodo.com

31

Give Kids A Small Christmas Tree to Light up Their Room at Night

Each of my kids has their own tree to decorate for their bedrooms. It’s so magical to go to sleep to the lights of a tree. Find out how to decorate a mini tree on Living Montisorri Now

Over 31 Family Christmas Tradition Ideas to Start Making Memories This Year! - Sentimental ideas to make your holiday special - with recipes, resources and craft ideas - www.kidfriendlythingstodo.com

32

Donate Toys

Donating to a needy child is a great way to ensure your kids are filled with the Christmas spirit. You won’t believe how much joy it will bring to the recipient and the giver. This is a great family Christmas tradition to start. Find this printable on Living Locurto

Christmas light display

33

Drive through the neighborhood to see lights, or find a local park that has a Christmas Light display.

Looking at light displays is a Classic Family Christmas Tradition. Here’s a Christmas Light Display Finder Link 

Over 31 Winter Themed Crafts and Fun Food Ideas

34

Make Homemade Christmas Ornaments

Homemade ornaments are the most Sentimental Ornaments and a great Christmas tradition to start this Christmas.

Over 31 Family Christmas Tradition Ideas to Start Making Memories This Year! - Sentimental ideas to make your holiday special - with recipes, resources and craft ideas - www.kidfriendlythingstodo.com

35

Make a Christmas Craft Together

Christmas crafts and Christmas Food Ideas are great ways to make memories, and you get to keep most crafts as a reminder from year to year.

volunteering to feed homeless

36

Volunteer Together

We used to volunteer at Merry Meals. My kids got such joy out of helping others shop for their food. Check out Wheels for Wishes to find a local soup kitchen near you.

child with a thank you sign

37

Fill a Shoebox for Operation Christmas Child

I used to take my kids shopping for a little girl or boy each Christmas. They loved filling the shoebox with the requested items from Operation Christmas Child.

pickle Christmas ornament

38

Hide a Pickle Ornament

Hiding a pickle in a Christmas tree is an American-German tradition. The person who finds it first on Christmas morning receives a reward or a blessing for the new year.

reindeer illustration reading a book

39

Read Classic Christmas Books Together

Reading Christmas books will only last while your kids are young, so do it often and enjoy the memories you make with this Christmas tradition.

Santa ringing bell illustration

40

Volunteer together to ring the bell for the Salvation Army.

Here’s where you can sign up to ring the bell during the Christmas season together. A wonderful Christmas tradition to do with your family.

That’s it for Now! I hope you’ve found at least one Christmas tradition that will fit just right for your family.

Merry Christmas! 

~Melissa – Kid Friendly Things To Do

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This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Christian Camp Pro

    Thanks for the Right Left Game feature in this post! We love playing “Last Minute Family Christmas” too!

    1. Melissa

      My pleasure! Thank you for posting such a fun idea. I can’t wait to give it a try.