8 Fun Christmas Traditions Your Family Will Love
There’s something magical about family Christmas traditions. They create an anchor in the whirlwind of the season, offering moments of togetherness and a sense of belonging. Over the years, our family has cultivated a handful of traditions and ideas that make the season feel extra special. Here are some of our favorites that bring us joy every December.
1. December Box
Kicking off the season, we open our December Box on December 1st. This box is filled with items to set the festive tone: Christmas books, holiday movies, Christmas pajamas, and even a new ornament for the tree. It’s a simple way to signal that the Christmas season has begun and ensures we’re savoring the joy all month long. I wrote a full blog post about our Christmas box, so if this sounds fun to you, find out everything we do here!
2. Christmas Eve Appetizer Dinner
Instead of a traditional meal on Christmas Eve, for many years we have opted for a family appetizer dinner. Everyone brings their favorite finger foods and dips (Trader Joe’s, Sam’s Club, and Costco are a great place to start!), and we enjoy a buffet of goodies. From mini meatballs to charcuterie boards, it’s the perfect relaxed solution to enjoy family time before the big day. Paper plates means no dishes, and appetizers mean no work for anyone. This is a family favorite for sure!
3. Christmas Tree Campout
This is a tradition my husband and I started the first year that we were married! On the night of Christmas Eve, we sleep under the Christmas tree. Even though the quality of sleep isn’t always the best, the memories we make talking under the warm lights, snuggling as a family, and giggling about rolling into each other certainly makes it worth it. I’ve also found this is a sweet time where our kids ask us all kinds of questions about life, about Christmas and why Jesus came to earth for us as a baby, and more. And of course, this happens in our Christmas jammies!
4. Stockings First on Christmas Morning
When Christmas morning finally arrives, the first thing we do is open our stockings. There’s something exciting about these small treasures—from chocolates and trinkets to practical gifts like socks or lip balm. It’s a fun way to ease into the morning before tackling the pile of presents under the tree. One hack that I learned from my mom is to wrap most the items in our stockings. While this does take more time, it encourages our kids to slow down—they can’t just pull everything out of their stocking in 1 minute! By doing this, our stockings last 20-30 minutes at least, and it creates beautiful Christmas morning memories for our family.
5. Family Breakfast Smorgasbord
Once the stockings are opened, we head to the kitchen for a breakfast of warm, gooey sourdough cinnamon rolls. The smell alone is enough to make the morning feel magical, and it’s the perfect sweet start to a day full of celebrations. Alongside the cinnamon rolls, we cook up cheesy scrambled eggs and make a fruit board with festive fruits like oranges and pomegranates. There’s always fun drinks too: lattes for mom and dad, and hot chocolate or apple cider for kids!
6. Reading Luke 2 Together
Amid all the excitement, we take time to focus on the reason for the season. Before diving into gifts, we gather as a family to read Luke 2, recounting the story of Jesus’ birth. It’s a grounding moment that reminds us of the heart of Christmas. I’m always amazed at the new facts that I pick up while reading a story I must have heard 1,000 times (did you know the Bible never actually says Jesus was born in a stable?!).
6. Our Gift Tradition
I think even if we didn’t buy our children a single thing, they would still get an overwhelming amount of gifts—we are very blessed by our extended family! Early in our marriage we adopted the gifts of “something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read.” The wear and read categories tend to have multiple items in them. As homeschoolers, we don’t tend to do too much back-to school shopping, so I make this our big “new clothes event” of the year. And then, I simply can’t control myself when it comes to giving good books to our children! They would end up on our shelves anyways, so Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate that. And of course, the kids love to pick out gifts for each other. We like to take things slower and have one person at a time open a gift. It is so beautiful to see your children excited for their sibling about what they received!
7. Christmas Dinner with Extended Family
Later in the day, we host (or travel to) a family dinner with extended family. This meal feels extra special, with everyone contributing their favorite holiday dishes. My dad usually makes a prime rib, and everyone else contributes side dishes, desserts, and festive drinks. There’s even MORE gift opening (I’m not kidding when I say my smaller kids get exhausted by the number of gifts they’re given), outside play time if the weather cooperates, and lots of snuggles and joy. The laughter and stories shared around the table are a reminder of how blessed we are to have each other.
8. Family Game Night
To wrap up the day, we gather for family game night. Some years, this is with our immediate family and we play games like Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders that everyone can participate in. If we’re with extended family, it ends up being a competitive round of charades, a new board game (Scythe is a recent favorite), or a classic card game. This gives us a chance to unwind and enjoy each other’s company. The friendly competition and shared laughter are the perfect way to end the holiday on a high note, remembering the true joy of Christmas.
These traditions have become the heart of our Christmas season, filling our home with warmth, laughter, and love. They remind us that Christmas is about much more than gifts — it is about Jesus, the joy and hope that He brings, and the people He has given us who matter most.
What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions? I’d love to be inspired!
