Depends on the ages of your children, but a lot of people have a Christmas Eve tradition of new pyjamas (some people do specific Christmas pyjamas but for teenagers/adults I would just get everyone a nice, new set of comfy cosy pyjamas), a special but simple dinner (some people do takeaways, we do a buffet dinner with lots of ‘picky bits’ such as blinis, voul a vents and other canapés, along with some of the Christmas ham, with something nice to drink (prosecco if you drink alcohol, otherwise whatever you fancy). Later, watch a Christmas film and drink hot chocolate with candy canes to stir into it to make it minty.
My favourite Christmas film is It’s a Wonderful Life, but that won’t keep children’s attention. There are lots of fun Christmas films.
I also love going out for walks and looking at the lights on the houses and the Christmas trees in the windows. It’s so lovely. We try to do this at least once a week throughout December.
You could go to a Christmas market. Or pantomime (but that’s really not my thing). Carol service at a church.
Everyone can pick one new decoration for the tree or the house every year (or even better, make one!).
Watch Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas, and as many Christmas cookery programmes as possible.
I always light candles in the evening (not just for Christmas, I keep this going right through the winter).
Maybe decorate a gingerbread house together? You can buy the houses readymade quite cheaply in supermarkets (especially in Aldi or Lidl). I would add extra sweets though because that’s fun. If it turns out looking halfway decent it would make a lovely centrepiece for the Christmas table. It’s harder than it looks, though, but even if it turns out wonky and a bit messy, it’s fun to do and you can’t help being in a good mood after.