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Family Christmas Traditions shared and Cherished by families everywhere
Christmas has a way of bringing people together. It is a time when homes are filled with warmth, joy, and cherished memories. It is a time when families can gather to create new memories and hold fast to beloved traditions. Some family Christmas traditions become more than just holiday activities. They are the threads that weave together the fabric of family life, celebrated year after year with love and excitement.
If you’re looking to add to your holiday traditions. Or if you want to celebrate the beauty of togetherness. Either way, here are some of the most beloved family Christmas traditions shared by families who hold them dear.
1. Baking Cookies and Sharing the Love – Family Christmas Traditions
There’s something magical about the aroma of freshly baked goods, like cookies wafting through the house during Christmastime. Many families spend a day or two baking their favorite Christmas cookies together. We enjoy baking a variety of treats besides cookies, including fudge, caramel popcorn, star bread, and peanut brittle.
After all the baking is done, why not take this special tradition a step further?
I was so pleased to learn that we are not the only family. Other families also enjoy gifting all those baked goods to their neighbors and friends. What better way to share the love of Christ to neighbors? Packaging freshly baked treats in red and green tins. Then, deliver them house by house. It’s a delicious way to spread joy and teach kids about the spirit of giving.
My family has been doing this for more than a decade in our neighborhood. I’m pretty sure at least a handful of our neighbors have to come to love our visit. They enjoy all the treats we bring. And I love chatting at their doorstep.
Delivering freshly baked goodies is such a beautiful way to show love and kindness to your neighbors. This gesture goes a long way in today’s world where neighbors are more often strangers than friends.
2. Riding the Polar Express – Family Christmas Traditions
If your community offers a Christmas-themed train ride, like the Polar Express, hop aboard!
We have a highly anticipated and popular Polar Express experience in our community. While we have ridden on the Polar Express a handful of times, we don’t typically ride every year. Nevertheless, a friend and neighbor recently shared that she takes her family on this wonder-filled train ride year after year.
These experiences are often filled with cookies and cocoa, Christmas bells, caroling, and a visit from Santa himself. Many families with smaller children enjoy wearing their pajamas for the experience.
The Polar Express is a magical experience. It is especially enchanting for children who are still young enough to believe in the wonder of Christmas. The experience brings back to life the magic of Christmas. It truly does have the potential to awaken any lost hope, even if for just one more year. The Polar Express is truly a memory that sticks with kids (and adults) for years to come.
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3. Making a Birthday Cake for Jesus – Family Christmas Traditions
Another tradition that was shared with me is baking a birthday cake for Jesus. This beautiful gesture is a meaningful way to redirect the focus back to the true reason for the season. On Christmas morning, the family gathers to sing “Happy Birthday” to celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus, the Messiah.
There is so much about Christmas that has admittedly been commercialized. Even some of our most sacred traditions, like celebrating advent, have recently become so heavily commercialized. Many have been made into games that play up Santa Claus, Elves, and North Pole shenanigans.
And please don’t get me wrong – As a mother, I’ve enjoyed some of these elements myself. But, my heart is just amazed as I ponder the truth of why Christmas exists at all.
God, the Son. In human form. Coming to Earth, not as a man, but as a baby. Sweet. Innocent. Helpless – as babies are. And yet, still God, the Son. Having to mature. Growing into His destiny. 100% God, and at the same time, 100% man.
I mean, what believer doesn’t marvel at this!
I love the idea of baking a special birthday cake just for Jesus. What a wonderful way to celebrate Him as we share gifts.
4. Attending Christmas Eve Church Service – Family Christmas Traditions
Many people also cherish attending a Christmas Eve worship service. They consider it one of their most treasured family Christmas traditions. They believe Christmas Eve isn’t complete without gathering for a candlelit church service.
I agree with this tradition. Since my very early childhood years, I have attended Christmas Eve services. I’ve attended through some of my crazy twenties and to this day.
Gathering with other believers who want to celebrate in the same spirit can add tremendous meaning to Christmas. It’s a time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the hope and peace that Christmas brings.
When all the hustle and bustle of shopping and preparing for Christmas Day is done and over, you can take time to meet with others. Worshiping together is a family Christmas tradition that many believers commonly cherish.
5. Family Shopping Day at the Mall – Family Christmas Traditions
One mother shared one of her most beloved family Christmas traditions. It is a shopping trip to the local mall. They shop, and they eat at the mall’s food court. And they enjoy quality time together as a family.
A shopping trip can become an adventure when the whole family participates in picking out gifts for one another. It’s not just about the presents—it’s the laughter, creativity, and shared excitement that makes this tradition so special.
6. Christmas Movie Night – Family Christmas Traditions
Another favorite tradition that gives off all the warm, cozy, and cuddle vibes – Family Christmas Movie Night. Grab your coziest blankets, whip up some hot cocoa, and settle in for a Christmas movie with your family.
When I was twenty-something and single, a friend of a friend of mine had an annual Christmas movie night. All his friends and their children gathered for a night in December. We mingled, ate festive food, and watched a movie. We always watched the same movie, year after year, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It didn’t matter to us how many times we would watch it. The movie never got old (even though it is a 1946 classic).
One friend said Christmas movie night is one of their favorite family Christmas traditions. They don’t watch the same movie every year like I used to do with friends. But, they are so fond of the time they spend as a family. They typically add some themed snacks to make it extra fun. Whether it’s “Elf” “The Polar Express” or “It’s a Wonderful Life,” this tradition is a hit for all ages.
7. Handmade Gift Exchange – Family Christmas traditions
When I heard about this next tradition, I instantly fell in love with the idea. This particular mother participates in a gift exchange with her son and their extended family members.
Yet, it isn’t an ordinary gift exchange. To personalize the exchange, they draw a name. They then craft handmade Christmas gifts for one another. This creative tradition encourages thoughtfulness and time spent making something truly special for a loved one.
8. Attending a Christmas Concert or Show – family Christmas traditions
While I believe that any time of year is a good time of year to see a good show. But for those who aren’t the biggest fans of the fine arts, there is no better time to see a show than at Christmastime. It’s a great opportunity to partake in the festive spirit.
From community choirs and local productions to major theatrical tours, there are always a variety of options at Christmastime. Whether The Nutcracker Ballet, A Christmas Carol, or a production of White Christmas. Or you can choose the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, or a local singing Christmas Tree. There are also plenty of other candlelit or otherwise intimate acoustic concerts.
Christmas performances allow you to go out into the community. They let you soak in the holiday spirit with family and friends.
9. Building a Lego (or other) Winter Village – family Christmas traditions
One friend of mine shared one of her top three favorite family Christmas traditions. This is one she does with her son.
She and her son work together to build a Lego Winter Village each year.
For families who love Legos, building a Winter Village each year is a creative way to spend quality time together. Plus, it doubles over by adding to your holiday decor.
And it doesn’t have to be Legos, by the way. (Although in my Lego-loving opinion, why would it not be Legos)? I know there are other Christmas/holiday village kits available. These include train sets, puzzles, and even paint-by-number kits. Choose whatever calls to your desires. Creating the perfect winter scene is a wonderful way to enjoy a project while spending quality time with your family.
10. Hanging Sentimental Ornaments – family Christmas traditions
When a handful of friends shared this favorite Christmas tradition, my heart filled with joy. I too have fond memories of my family upholding the same tradition.
Decorating the tree is a tradition in and of itself.
For some families, it’s a walk down memory lane. Collecting ornaments brings people together. Sharing the stories behind each one as they are hung on the tree strengthens bonds.
Types of Ornaments to Cherish
I know one family that travels a great deal. She shares her travels on her blog. They pick up tree ornaments from all the places around the world where they have been. Every year as they decorate their Christmas tree, they get to relive the memories they collected during that trip.
Another family occasionally puts family photos into ornaments that can be personalized. It allows them to talk about that particular year and see just how much growth they have undergone. This is especially memorable for families of smaller children who are growing at a rapid rate.
For us, we have somewhat of a combination of it all. It begins with ornaments from my husband’s childhood. This includes things he handmade through his primary years. It continues leading right up to now. We also have ornaments from special moments.
Our first ornament is from our wedding venue, which was on a historical river boat. We have another one celebrating the year we had our baby. There’s also one from when my husband got his job as an IMET. We also have a collection of ornaments from the many places in the U.S. and around the world where we have traveled. Since we had our son, we have collected a handful of DIY photo ornaments too. In recent years, we have collected several DIY ornaments that have been handmade by my son.
Altogether, these ornaments showcase a history we have forged together as a family. They are a collection of warm memories that we get to recall with great fondness year after year.
11. Cutting Down a Christmas Tree – family Christmas traditions
I have a friend whose family has a long-time tradition. They go cut down a Christmas tree in the Santa Cruz mountains. On the Friday after Thanksgiving, they bundle up in warm clothes. They take a saw and ropes in hand. Then, they drive up to cut down their Christmas tree.
They park on the side of the forest road and follow freshly made footpaths into the forest. Then they search for their grand tree. The tree had to be perfect. It had to be large enough. Of course, it needed just the right amount of lush foliage. Once they all agree on the prized tree, one of them uses the saw. They cut it down and leave only a short stub.
Borrowing Ideas & Making It Your Own
Years later, we began doing the same thing after getting married and settling down into my husband’s home. We’ve done this when it was just the two of us. I went while I was pregnant. I helped my husband carry a tree through about half a mile of thick, snow-packed forest. We’ve carted our son up to the forest with us. We allow him to join in choosing a tree. He also sometimes helps with cutting it down. And we’ve done it with friends.
We buy the permit and bundle up. We pack the hand saw and the ropes. Then, we head up north to the higher elevations. There are years when we find the perfect tree. And there are other years when we end up with a tree that has slight imperfections. Still, every year is an experience and a memory.
There’s nothing like heading into a snowy national forest with a permit. Cutting down your own Christmas tree is a unique, adventurous experience. The smell of pine is unforgettable. Bringing home your tree provides immense satisfaction. Together, these elements make this the most cherished of our outdoor family Christmas traditions.
12. Advent Calendars: Counting Down With Joy – family Christmas traditions
Finally, a blog about family Christmas traditions isn’t complete without mentioning one of the most fun, and also sacred long-standing Christmas traditions of all. That is the Christmas advent calendar.
Christmas advent is a way to celebrate Christ’s coming to Earth. Traditionally, advent has been a way to retell the story of Christmas in anticipation of Christ’s birth on Christmas morning.
Advent calendars include daily devotions that allow families to remember the reason for the season. In recent years, advent calendars have also included fun games for children. These games can include a variety of Christmas candies and toys. Puzzle pieces and even elves are also part of the fun as children anticipate a visit from Santa.
Counting down to Christmas is half the fun, and advent calendars add excitement and meaning to each day. Below are a few of my favorite family Christmas advent traditions shared by friends. Some of these has been enjoyed by us over the years. Others were shared with me by friends and have been enjoyed by their families over the years.
DIY Felt Trees or Garland:
Every day, your children get a new ornament to add to the tree. This advent countdown can be simple. You can buy a kit like this one from Personal Creations. Alternatively, you can opt for this one from Benzie Designs. If you use a garland, you can create DIY ornaments. Make them from cardstock, wood, or beads. Hang them on the garland with ribbon and hooks. The Otto House blog has a beautiful DIY garland ornament advent calendar. Also, check out this gorgeous paper origami diamond garland ornament advent calendar by Satsuma Designs.
Acts of Kindness Advent:
Each day features an act of kindness to bring joy to others. This advent presents a unique and beautiful way to teach kindness and generosity to others we see in our daily lives. A simple pocket advent calendar can hold cards that have a daily act of kindness written or typed on it. The goal is to finish one act of kindness each day. These can be completed together as a family or have each member of the family complete them individually. At the end of each day, allow everyone to share their experiences.
Story-Based Advent Calendars:
My personal favorites of all the family Christmas advent traditions involve focusing on Jesus during the season. I am a sucker for anything that brings the focus back to Him. There are plenty of advent calendars that have meaningful stories from the Bible read with your children. Here are three of the top favorites for my family.
The Jesse Tree Advent:
“A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots, a bud shall blossom.” – Isaiah 11:1. This is the verse that forms the foundation of this beautiful advent tradition.
We absolutely love The Jesse Tree Advent! The stories are so rich in the history of Jesus’ ancestry. They chart the lineage from Jesse, the father of King David, all the way to the birth of Jesus. These stories trace the divine lineage. They celebrate God’s very purposeful plan to redeem mankind from death through one single and final sacrifice. That sacrifice is Jesus.
How to Set It Up
A garland, a small tree, or even a simple wooden stick (about three feet in length) can be used as the tree. The ornaments, hook, and ribbon can be hidden in a pocket advent calendar. Alternatively, they can be placed in small envelopes labeled with the date on the front.
Each day, your children open the envelope to reveal the ornament and the story. Read the story together as a family. Then allow them to put the ornament together and hang it on the garland, tree, or stick.
For the first couple of years, our family completed The Jesse Tree Advent with ornaments. I purchased them from this Etsy shop. They can be downloaded on cardstock. I used jute to hang them on hooks. Then, I attached the hooks to a Christmas-decorated stick that I found at Hobby Lobby.
Later, we purchased these more durable wooden tokens that come with front and back stickers and jute ribbon. On the front is the picture. On the back are the corresponding verses from the Bible. The kit also comes with a devotion book. It includes all the scriptures and their corresponding stories. This makes it a lot easier to dive right into the Word each day.
We still use the Christmas stick to hang the ornaments.
Goodkind Advent Blocks:
Another wonderful advent calendar that celebrates the significance of Christ’s coming to Earth is the Goodkind Advent Blocks. Like The Jesse Tree, this advent is rich in stories from the Bible, primarily Old Testament. However, the theme that ties these stories together reflects on the purpose Christ came – to redeem mankind from sin and death and restore our relationship with God.
Each of these twenty-five stories reminds us of God’s great plan of salvation, reconciliation with God, and His plan to give us everlasting life. That is why the first story we read on December 1st is the story of God’s great creation quickly followed by mankind’s separation from God because of sin.
We love this advent calendar because it is the gospel, the good news, told through the stories of the Bible from the beginning up to Jesus’ birth.
The Goodkind Advent Blocks come with a set of twenty-seven wooden blocks, numbered from 1-25, a star block, and an Earth block. Each day, your children move the block from one to twenty-five (Christmas morning). On Christmas morning, the star sits on top of the Earth block, resembling Christ’s coming to Earth. There is a devotional for each day as well. There is also a separate devotional for adults.
The Christmas Star from Afar:
This heartful wooden advent countdown is steeped in the tradition of the Christmas story, starting with the new, bright star leading the wise men directly to Jesus. It is a twelve-day advent countdown.
My son loved The Christmas Star from Afar when he was a toddler and through his preschool years.
The Christmas Star from Afar comes with a simple book that tells the Christmas story from the perspective of the wise men. It also comes with a wooden nativity scene and each of the characters from the nativity.
To make it fun for younger kids, hide each character in a pouch or envelope in the following order: Star, wise man 1, wise man 2, wise man 3, Mary, Angel, Joseph, Shepard, sheep 1, sheep,2, baby Jesus. Each day, your children get to reveal one of the characters and work to build the nativity set, preferably under your tree. Also, every night the star is hidden somewhere in your home. In the morning, your children wake up and search for the star. Once they find it, they move the wise men to the star, showing that the wise men are following the star to the baby Jesus.
On Christmas Eve, hang the star on your Christmas tree, just above the nativity scene. On Christmas morning, your children reveal baby Jesus and add Him to the nativity (signifying Jesus’ birth). Then your children find the Christmas Star hanging on your tree and move the wise men to the nativity to complete the entire scene.
This is an incredibly powerful moment that brings to life the birth of Jesus. It can be incredibly powerful to bring the Christmas story to life as they participate in this historical and life-changing event in the days leading up to Christmas.
Book Advent:
My sister-in-law did this with my niece and nephew when they were very young. It seems to have been one of their favorite family Christmas traditions, and I fell in love with it too. So naturally, I decided to do it for my son. Admittedly, it does take some time to get all the books and wrap them each year. But when you see your little readers excited and eager to see what book each new day will bring, it is so worthwhile. In the first year, I purchased twenty-five Christmas-themed books for my son.
How to Set it Up
Most of the books were fun books, some of them were touch-and-feel, or light-up books. Others were books about Jesus’ birth. And a few were just simply funny books about Christmas.
After the first year, I used mostly the same books every year after, with only a few being replaced as he got older. Once I had all the books, I wrapped each one individually, put a label on them, and numbered them. I placed them in a basket and put them under the Christmas tree. Then, each year, starting on December 1st, he could wake up, unwrap the corresponding book, and we would sit down and read it together.
He loved sitting on my lap and listening to me read to him while he looked at the pictures. I also really cherished this time. It brought me so much joy to see the gleam in his eyes as he got to unwrap a new book each day.
Keep it Going even When They’re Older
Since he is older now, I no longer wrap these books. Nor do I make them an advent countdown activity. However, he still really loves these books, and some of them have become favorites to read during the Christmas season. So, I still put them in a basket under the tree, allowing him to freely pick and choose books to read in his free time through the Christmas season.
Lego Advent Calendars:
In addition to celebrating the sacredness of Christmas by remembering the birth of Christ, advent calendars can also be just about having fun and letting your children do something they love to do. That is why last year I got my son a Lego-style (not Lego brand) advent calendar. Each day, he revealed a new, relatively simple, but still fun, Christmas-themed build.
In this twenty-five-day advent calendar, there are several mini-Christmas train cars, a couple of gingerbread-style houses, reindeer, wreaths, a few different Christmas trees, and even Santa Claus. When he had revealed and built all of them, it was like a display of a tiny Christmas village, complete with houses and characters that were all Christmas-themed.
He loved it so much that I had to repackage it and do it again this year. So far, he is enjoying it just as much as he did last year. Also, check out this brick-build nativity scene that is also an advent calendar.
Family Christmas traditions are about more than what you do—the moments shared, the memories made, and the love that deepens within your family. Whether you try one of these family Christmas traditions or stick to your favorites, the best part is doing them together, wholeheartedly.
What are some of your favorite family Christmas traditions? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear what makes your season special!