Need new Christmas traditions

[Toastandstrawberryjam]

So this year everything will be different in the Toast household. Christmas used to be my "thing", by now I would be starting to write lists and think of ideas of things to do as a family etc.

This year DH has gone (and isn't planning on coming for lunch). I have had to go NC with my family so no fun family get togethers. We are stuck in a house we don't want to live in. And my middle DD is very ill and it's unlikely she will be up to much at all.

We have lost every family tradition we had and I'm struggling to think of new ones. Had considered taking the DC away but DD won't be well enough.

The only advantage I can see is how much cheaper it will be but other than that..... I want it to be the kind of Christmas the DC look back on and think was the start of a whole new life.

All ideas gratefully appreciated.

Board games
Christmas themed floor picnic for lunch
Christmas eve movie marathon
Everyone gets Christmas pjs and stays in them all day

Chocolate for breakfast

Think my DC might be a bit old for a floor picnic (eldest will be 18!)

Def the pj thing. They were never allowed to do that by DH!!

I'm thinking ditching all the old Xmas decs and starting again. But not sure if they will be liberating or upsetting!

We used to go to the cinema and a lovely dinner out every Xmas eve. So will need to find something to replace that. I had my own traditions with DH too, a long day Xmas shopping, our presents at midnight on Xmas eve. All of that will need changing.

Cinema visit on Xmas eve , to see a Xmas movie followed by pizza ( in restaurant or supermarket cook at home if cost is an issue) is something we've started as DC's are teens , which they love.
Depends a bit on how old your DC's are ...

Pre-Christmas baking - biscuits or little buns
Making decorations - decorating the tree

Are there any christmas tree farms by you? We stumbled across one last year and dd and myself had a great morning walking through this field of christmas trees and picking out one to buy then going back a few weeks later to get it. This year DD is going to make a sign to put on our tree this year (rather than my sock which I used last yr cos did t think to take anything) to show it's ours

Oops cross posted but same good idea

Will look for Christmas tree farms. We usually have two artificial trees but I love real ones so would like one of those now I can!

When we got that bit older our Mum used to let us stay up until midnight on Christmas Eve to open a present - which was usually a silly jokey one
New PJ's and a fancy bath set on Christmas Eve
Go out to a garden centre on Christmas Eve and pick a new decoration
Board games after dinner on Christmas Day

We go for afternoon tea on Xmas Eve. It really starts the holidays off for us.

Have a Christmas movie bingo day. There are loads of cheesey Christmas movies on channel 5 and sky you could record.
Our bingo cards have things like
Orphan
Being sacked on Christmas Eve
The real Santa masquerading as a normal person
A dog/ bunny who saves the day
Etc
We get shots or chocs for everything we cross off during the movie.

Boxset day on boxing day. Pick a new boxset to watch on boxing day and just power through episode after episode while eating cheese and biscuits, chocolates and left overs.

Some kind of epic Christmas quiz.

These are all lovely but I especially need non food-related ones as DD probably won't be eating much at all.

Christmas cracker joke making up? The most groan-worthy gets a token prize.

Making popcorn garlands for the tree (rather than eat it).

If your eldest is 18, involve him or her in devising some new traditions for the younger ones.

I know you said you don't need food-related ideas, but what about some Christmas mocktails (non-alcoholic cocktails). They could search the Internet for some good recipes - or invent them. If you don't have fancy glasses to serve them, you should be able to get some plastic ones quite cheaply. Obviously oldest DC can have some alcohol.

If your dc are older, check with them what they would like to do - there may be some traditions they would really like to keep if possible, or there may be things that their friends do that they would like to.

What about making new Christmas decorations?

Buffet/party food and quiz night on Xmas eve - allows Dd to pick at what she likes without being over faced by a full meal out.

Listening to carols from kings on Christmas Eve by candlelight always makes me feel festive.

If your dd is up to it, maybe a couple of close friends popping in and a games night?

A hot chocolate station set up in the kitchen.

I feel for you - our christmas will be totally different this year due to bereavements to and to be honest I could skip the whole thing. And I'm normally the most Christmassy person going!

Elf on the shelf is good - doesn't have to be the 'real' elf, as they are stupid expensive (although if you've used it for years like we have, not so bad) Any crimbo related toy you already have. Ditch the 'watching over you to check you've been good' bit if not appropriate for ages, and just go on pinterest to look up different situations they find him in each day when they come downstairs for brekkie. Can work on lots of levels - for our teenagers we had the elf in a compromising position with an old Barbie, younger children find him at the bottom of the stairs having rolled down inside a loo roll (think Andrex puppy). Depending on ages, they could take turns to set it up each night. My children can't remember what presents they got last year but can remember what the elf did. With the best pranks he pulled we took photos

Start early, advent calendars. One each or share, make them, mixture of edibles and non.

Bake some Xmas tree decos.

Bring back the stockings, with little funny or useful things.

Carols from Kings on Xmas Eve ( I always chopped the veg or peeled the sprouts then, before putting them into bowls of cold water).

Have a who said what quiz, invented by you, but with suggestions from the others, famous and family...

Work out screen time and non screen time, and watch one thing all together.

Can DD be left at all? A Boxing Day walk for some or all?

18 year old takes youngers to film, dd and you do a pamper session, you and her. Facial, pedi and manicure.

Christmas Eve buffet, with scary film thereafter.

Sorry about dd.

Our christmas tends to run this way: (usually just the two of us grown ups, no kids and I work the xmas season so we don't get to go home to parents)

Visiting a festively decorated NT or EH property to marvel at the decorations the weekend or a couple of days before christmas.

A daytime trip to the cinema to see the big half term blockbuster, sometimes on the 23rd, sometimes the 24th (this year will be Star Wars vii)

On Christmas eve we do dinner at pizza express followed by Christmas carol service at the cathedral, then home to watch a christmas film with a glass of champagne and some lovely chocolates.

Christmas day we don't really eat a proper christmas dinner, we pick a theme for food and go with it, (one year it was tapas, another year it was italian) we also go for a walk at the local country park, as long as its not piddling it down with rain.

We do puzzles and play board games and watch a lot of crappy tv.

Thank you all.

Have just realised I will be having Boxing Day on my own. So no preparing for the usual big family party that day!!
Is anywhere open on Boxing Day? Other than the shops, although that might be better than sitting at home alone.

Be careful with choice of Xmas films as a few years ago our Christmas Day was just me and my DC and every sodding film was about a dad struggling to get home for his kids!!! Why don't you book a panto for Xmas Eve - even teens enjoy it! Or a show at a local theatre, so do more grown up Christmassy shows. Either a takeaway or fave meal when you get back. On the day itself do what eases you all. nice food for those who can eat it, games, books or a big walk. Going out for a meal is probably not an option but could you think of something you all enjoy doing and do that - all help with dinner or something? A Christmas present you need to make so you spend time doing that? Ask your DC, this is a special one and one to make your own! For Boxing Day could you book a spa treat or just promise yourself a day in pjs reading a book and eating leftovers - I would love that!! Big walk along a beach/in a forest with a friend who would probably love to escape for a bit? Or volunteer somewhere if you don't want to be alone. I have always said I'll do this when my d. Are older. Have fun and enjoy - hope your dd is well enough to enjoy it.

Oh, re advent calendars, someone kindly posted on here that the Superdrug make up advent calendar far is down to £8 at the moment - 24 make up minis . Your dd might like that.

Have you checked if your dc are happy to not do any of your old traditions? Maybe you could keep or adapt some of them?

Any local lovely villages/ towns where you could combine a shopping trip with going to see the lights.

Maybe an afternoon tea in a nice hotel.

You and your dc could have an evening writing down ideas, mix them up and put them in an advent calander and do something once a week?