Christmas Tradition Ideas/Suggestions

[LilaLilac]

We have a Christmas tradition where every year on the 1st of December we go to the lanterns at Chester Zoo. We have done this since they started and always had a lovely time but have felt a bit disappointed the last year or two.

DS is now 10 and the magic is kind of lost on him. He has said he doesn’t want to do it again this year and that he thinks he’s too old for it. For the price we pay, I’d rather do something that we’re all going to enjoy! It’s always been the thing that “kicks off” our Christmas and I don’t want to lose that.

Can anyone share what they do this time of year suggest anything else that we could do to start a new little Christmas tradition? It can be an event or something to go to or just a simple thing that we can do at home together!

I always go to the cinema screening of Elf at the Prince Charles Cinema (London.) Some years it’s a recite-along screening, other times just the movie, some years I’ve managed to get 20+ friends to join me, some years it’s a couple, some years it’s jus me. It’s a bit of a ritual.

I’ve had a tradition for many years of taking my goddaughter to Kew for the light path walk. She’s now approaching 12, and the past two years wasn’t so enthusiastic. We now go to an evening Christmas baking workshop at my local Adult Learning Centre and learn how to make something together, do my neighbourhood high street’s shops late opening so she can pick out some little presents, and then go to one of the lovely decorated pubs and have hot chocolate or a mocktail: I think she’s reaching an age where the “feeling grown up” excitement of being out in the evening in a grown up place with Auntie Comtesse who isn’t like Mum feels very festive.

What are DS’s interests? Would he enjoy baking at home? Ice-skating? A local theatre show or Christmas movie cinema screening that isn’t aimed at younger children?

Outdoor carol concert

Christmas tree festival at local church

Panto

We love a panto. We go to the Jason Manford one every Christmas Eve.

Thank you so much for the suggestions.
I’ll look at local pantos and maybe see about ice skating. I might be awful at it though!! DH suggested maybe a Christmas market but not too sure what DS would get out of that. He doesn’t do mocktails or even hot chocolate, literally just drinks water at the moment or sometimes a bit of apple juice. I might have a look to see if there are any Christmas craft type things near us or maybe see if there’s anything we can make at home.