What do you do to create a 'Christmas-y' atmosphere in your home?

[freshlysharpenedpencils]

I'm not going to lie - I am obsessed with Christmas. I love the atmosphere of it all and want it to last as long as possible this year. Just curious at what you all do to create a magical christmas atmosphere in your homes?

I want to do something different this year than just the same old same old.
Do you do anything a bit different?
Music that isn't the obvious?
Food that isn't the obvious?
Decor? Etc...

I only know my 'own' Christmas traditions - would love to know yours.

We have a very old Advent Tree (it's about 14" high, on a musical stand , plays "Oh Christmas Tree", with 24 tiny hooks . There's a little handpainted cupboard with compartments holding tiny tree decorations)
That goes up on the 1st.

My DS Birthday is early December so we don't put any decorations up till after. But I have Christmas Bedding for them which will go on 1st Dec.
Then there's the fleece blankets that they've had since they were toddlers. (Usually go on once they finish school)

Christmas candles (Yankee) for gorgeous Christmas smells as soon as we walk in the house.

DS will be 15 (so of course is a typical teenager, not impressed ) DD is 12, she loves all the Family Days Out (shopping ) an trips to theatre, cinema.

This year we're going to the Harry Potter Experience (it's hopefully a bit Christmassy but not in a Santas Grotto way)
DD and I are going to see The Little Matchgirl (and afternoon tea for two)

oh how lovely!

DS 1 has his birthday at the start of December, DS2 on 16th so we keep Christmas minimal until after the second birthday which also coincides with the end of the school term. Up 'til then it is just the boys' tree in their playroom (which goes up on 1st December) and cards from school friends on their bedroom door, and of course the Advent calendars. We have a wooden one which we usually put chocolates in (as DS2 is only going to be three, we usually put the choc in the night otherwise he'd eat them all!).

Once term ends, we decorate the rest of the house. We always up fairy lights up the stairs and tend to use them instead of the overhead lights for the whole of Christmas. And we have big Ikea cream felt star lights in the upstairs windows which go on as soon as we get home, which also feels special. We also make sure the library (sounds grand but is the spare room which we shleved for all our books and is usually the dumping ground) is completely tidy so it is a lovely retreat (it's decorated in reds and creams so feels very Christmassy anyway).

We've started a tradition with DS1 of going to a Christmas matinee on 23/23 when DS2 is still at nursery.

We also are rather stuck in our ways for some meals: bagels with smoked salmon scrambled eggs and bubbly to drink on Xmas morning, a cheese and pate board for lucnhes, porridge with cream and brown sugar on Boxing Day morning, 8 Jewel Rice on the 27th for dinner that everyone looks forward to.