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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

How to make your own Christmas traditions?

64 replies

mogkat · 21/12/2021 19:42

How did you or do you make Christmas traditions as a family?

This time of year I'm always reading about peoples traditions around Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day etc.
They all sound so fun with food and games.

We have no traditions and it makes me a bit sad.

My son is 4 so this year I would say is the first year he's been excited and understanding Christmas more.

My husband is a bit of a bah humbug Christmas type of person and he's just looking forward to a break from work. So it's down to me!

As a kid growing up we didn't "do" anything other than the standard turkey dinner. Small family so not lots of people.

What new traditions have you started since having kids of your own?
I'd love ideas on how to start some for us as a family of 3.

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
evilharpy · 21/12/2021 23:11

I don't think you always realise something is a tradition, it just sort of becomes a habit. We always do at least one Christmas light safari that started off as a way to kill time. I make a Christmas cake every year but one year I had a bit too much mixture so baked it separately in a little 4" tin and let my daughter decorate it all by herself - she's had her own mini cake every year since. Daddy makes pancakes for breakfast on Christmas morning and nothing else will do.

When I was a child we had a few like everyone had a scratchcard under their placemat at the table when we sat down for lunch, or I always got a Beano annual until I left home for good at 24.

Some things just sort of stick.

UndertheCedartree · 21/12/2021 23:20

We just did things and some became traditions over the years as they were things we enjoyed and repeated. Some things change. You don't need to plan loads of things just try a couple of things this year and next year you could try something new and repeat anything you want from the year before.

Ideas for things you could do:
A light 'safari' where you walk around looking at all the lights on people's houses. To make it more fun you could have a list of things to spot like a Santa or coloured lights
Take your DC to see Father Christmas (we go to the same place every year as DC love it)
Play a board game after Christmas dinner
Go to the pantomime
Decorate Christmas biscuits with your DC

Erictheavocado · 22/12/2021 00:33

The thing about traditions, IMO, is that they develop over time. You do something one year and the next year the children ask to do it again and in the following years. So for us, the drive round the area where all the fancy houses go to town with the lights, the carol service at the local church, the sort of presents that you put in the stocking etc.
We didn't realise we were starting traditions at the time. Our two DC now continue the ines they liked best with their own families and will, I'm sure, realise one day that they have also developed their own.
So, my suggestion would be to just do something because you like it and if you are lucky, it will grow into a tradition.

MrsMurdstone · 22/12/2021 00:39

So many!
Going out on a snowy evening to cut/bring in the tree (we were rural)
Making Christmas cake together and baking cookies
Watching Scrooge on Dec 24th
Midnight Mass
The family punch bowl!
Letters to and from Santa (when children were young). Wish we'd kept them all.
Dimming the lights and listening in silence to O Holy Night on the hi fi after the tree is decorated

MrsMurdstone · 22/12/2021 00:42

My mum always put an orange in the toe of our Christmas stockings as oranges were considered a real luxury when she was a child. My siblings and I always laughed and put it straight back into the fruit bowl. She never gave up doing it though!

(Oh, what I wouldn't give to find an orange in my stocking this year!)

FearlessSwiftie · 22/12/2021 07:40

Not sure if this is a tradition but my nephews enjoy doing Christmas smartshow 3d slides and video cards. They literally do a ton of this vids and some aren't even going anywhere, they just love the process of choosing the pictures, adding songs, playing with effects, etc.
We also follow Christmas movie lists for family movie nights and try out new recipes throughout December (which doesn't always come off as a huge success but it's fun). Handmade Christmas tree ornaments had been a tradition for some time, too, but now we don't do that as there is already plenty of decorating stuff.

OhdearOhdearOhdearIndeed · 22/12/2021 09:27

We didn't really have any traditions as a kid that I remember, but the weirdest one was one year my sister wrote a Christmas message to the family on the decorations box that often included a lot of insults, so we all joined in each year. It was hilarious reading them back as an adult and seeing my mindset as a child.

My usual traditions have gone out of the window this year. Normally I make a massive festive sausage roll on Xmas Eve and a big chocolate trifle. We do leave out stuff for Santa. I do plan to take my eldest to look at the Christmas lights, watch a movie and have a mini disco and dance to some music with some glow sticks. Traditions with minimal effort! After spending so many Christmas Eves doing nothing but prepping food and stressing out, I just want to have some fun and spend time with my kids this year.

GettingStuffed · 22/12/2021 09:30

I don't think you choose traditions, they choose you. Gradually over the years you find yourselves doing things because you want to do them each year, if you try choosing they may lose their specialness because they're forced. Do things because they're fun and the family enjoy them.

languagelover96 · 22/12/2021 09:33

This year we have started some new traditions in addition.

A list
Candy canes in a bowl
A night time drive in order to see the lights
Advent calendars
Poems
Gift cards
Party on Christmas eve with drinks and food etc
Present opening competition
Christmas art and craft activity box
Christmas baking lesson
Christmas wreath making workshop
Christmas church service
Christmas read aloud contest
Christmas toast
Holly on the banisters
Christmas tree
Christmas tea and drinks
Christmas movies and music
Christmas quizzes
Christmas photo shoot
Christmas hats

KupoNutCoffee · 22/12/2021 09:38

We don't have children yet, and have only carved out our own Christmas in the last 2/3 years - I figured buying our own house was a good 'we're doing own Christmas now' moment as opposed to rotating between parents. So we're in the establishing phrase.

It's certainly more me than him but I just pick up things I fancy doing. Somethings happen naturally- with a little thought - what did you do last year, that you enjoyed, do it again. 5 years later, you'll be doing it every year, and it's now a traditon. With other things, like doing a Christmas Eve box feels a bit un-genuine to start with, because you start it, hoping it will be a traditon but it's not really a tradition till its been done a few years. There's definitely an element of just because it's been done two years in a row does not mean it's a 'traditon' but it will eventually, if its something everyone enjoys. Likewise, you'll discard activities you find a chore and feel forced.

I like buying things to paint, and so have an advent calender and Christmas eve box. And it's nice to fill both of them.

I like carols, and always feel a bit bah humbug until I force myself to get the tree out, and play carols then I'm much more festive.

A little personal thing for me has been writing a Christmas menu. I put far to much thought and effort into it, but I love looking up nice things to try. Eventually I'll probably settle on my perfect plan, and no longer do it, already I don't really plan breakfast- we do brie and prosciutto croissants so probably won't change unless I see something else I want to try.

DaisyDozyDee · 22/12/2021 09:44

Just focus on the things you like and the things that matter to you. Don’t worry about other people’s traditions. Have pigs in blankets for dinner; share books on Christmas Eve; build a gingerbread Death Star; listen to Muppet Christmas songs; watch Old Bear Christmas episodes; decorate your tree with dinosaurs.
A tradition is either something someone enjoyed enough to be worth doing again or it’s a pain in the arse pressure you’re putting on yourself for no reason.
Try stuff. If it works, great. If it doesn’t work for your family, try something else next year.

RosesAndHellebores · 22/12/2021 09:45

@MrsMurdstone Flowers that resonated. >>>>unmumsnetty hugs

onedayoranother · 22/12/2021 09:49

We started a tradition of going to a 'cut your own tree' farm. First weekend in December and off we went. My husband did it first few times then passed away so my adult step son did it, then we moved where there was no place to do it but now we are back and my sone is old enough that he wields the saw. Not a great selection this year so may have to go further afield. The kids enjoy it and it's our family thing now.
We also try and go skating every year at the Natural History Museum or similar.

mamaduckbone · 22/12/2021 09:52

We have a set of advent stockings that I made when ds1 was tiny that are filled every day - it used to be little toys and a chocolate, now it's a note and sometimes directions to some food item hidden around the house (they decided they didn't want them this year but by day 12 had changed their minds so we just did it for the second half of December)

Christmas Eve has always been church at 5 (3 when they were little) then drinks with friends, but all the teenagers have put their collective feet down and said they won't do it any more so the drinks are happening without the church I think, unless I can win them round.

Boxing Day always involves a big walk then telly, games and chocolates and turkey and chips for dinner (that's one from my childhood)

I always make mince pies and Christmas biscuits - the same ones every year. The dcs usually help. I'm having to accept that as they get older I can't force them to join in...they still crawl out of the woodwork to decorate biscuits though, even the 16 year old.

InconvenientPeg · 22/12/2021 10:32

Christmas Eve box, this was started for my benefit because Christmas Eve had turned into a gallop towards bedtime so we could wrap presents, and I wanted to slow it down and do something nice. So new PJ's (or bed socks or a new (much needed) dressing gown, one year DS got a furry blanket, so basically just something snuggly), a dvd (or more recently a handmade voucher for streaming something!), A hot choc sachet and a pack of marshmallows. It worked perfectly, and after a couple of years, it was clear that they were as, if not more excited about the Christmas Eve box, than Christmas day! At 12 and 17, they're still loving it.

Eating as much chocolate as you want for breakfast, the only rule is you mustn't eat so much you're sick. It's DD12s favourite thing, and she checks every year that the rules haven't changed (she checked with me last night 🤣)

Christmas Eve buffet, again done for my convenience when they were younger, and apparently now it's 'tradition', and there was uproar when I suggested we might do something different this year!

So nothing complex or time consuming or expensive, but dearly loved (completely by accident).

And never put too much effort in, so even on the worst of years, you can still cobble the right elements together!

Boogaloony · 22/12/2021 10:44

@TwoBigNoisyBoys

This year it's not just the wise men that have lost their hands, Joseph's hand snapped off after unpacking. You can see donkey Kong and a few dinosaurs in this. We loved them so much we decided to keep them. It's a huge tryptic nativity, and very detailed. But it's like 4ft wide when it's set up so plenty of scope to hide things. I'm going to raid the craft box later to see if I can find Googly eyes for the camel 😁

How to make your own Christmas traditions?
BiddyPop · 22/12/2021 11:16

We spend the afternoon (or an hour of it anyway) working together in the kitchen, with the radio or music on, preparing for turkey feast. Peeling veg, making stuffing, making herby butter for under turkey skin, etc. And baking cookies for Santa (which might be made from scratch if we have the time and energy, but I also make a batch and freeze half the dough earlier in December to just slice and bake if that's needed).

Our dinner on 24th is a lot of tasty (mostly cold) things put in the middle of the table and everyone helps themselves. There is always some favourite of everyone, so they won't be hungry, but also things they may not like but others do and they are allowed to taste and then decide not to eat it. (Basically, DD hated things like cooked prawns, olives, cured meats, hummus etc but DH and I loved these and rarely have them - so DD could try them but we didn't make her eat them, unlike the rest of the year when she was expected to eat everything on her plate - and now she loves lots of things she "hated"). But it's about a relaxed meal that there is little or no prep needed - maybe a few extra carrots peeled and made into sticks when doing earlier veg prep etc.

After dinner, we are on a wind down. DD (as the youngest) lights the Christmas Candle, an Irish tradition to show that there is "room in our Inn" for any weary travellers who need it. Our candle goes on the mantle over the fire, and we take the time to reflect on the year finishing, remembering the good and bad about it and to remember those no longer with us to celebrate, finishing with a family prayer (we are not a very religious family, but this is a very peaceful and meaningful ritual to us).

We then pull out the box that normally holds DVDs (a cardboard storage box with Christmassy decoration), which now holds a new pair of winter PJs for everyone (DH, DD and I), nice hot choc for everyone, lush festive bath bombs for DD and I, DD's stocking, her plastic plate and glass with Santa on them and the family edition of "Twas the night before Christmas". Plastic crockery were a second set from toddlerhood that we have kept with the Christmas decorations since DD grew into normal crockery - her everyday set covered in flowers went in the bin years ago. But they are still well loved through the Christmas season.

DD lays out her stocking, and milk and cookies for Santa, checks the santa tracker online then heads up for her festive relaxing bath and new PJs. She comes back down for hot choc, before going to bed to hear the book as her bedtime story and relax for sleep. (Well, until she was a teen she did).

Christmas morning is about the stocking and a nice breakfast - fresh OJ, freshly baked croissants (from a tube or freezer), (large cafetiere of coffee for DH and I). DD is allowed to eat any sweets or fruit from her stocking if she wants.

We used to go to mass after showers and getting dressed in nice clothes - but not last year with covid and not this year again. But we are still able to go for a walk. Most years, we have also had some extended family visits to make, but as older relatives have died and with Covid, again that is gone.

We don't open presents under the tree until we have got home from the walk (and anything else), and organised getting the turkey into the oven. As we get in, we light the fire, turn on the oven and throw in a pack of M&S party nibbles, organise the turkey, pour a drink for everyone, (may change into more relaxed clothes if we feel like it), and then all sit down together with a drink and snacks, to open presents and relax.

Dinner is about 5 or 6pm. Then DD went to bed at a normal time when younger, now just watches a movie with us after clearing up.

We try to go for a walk on 26th as well, but we also normally hold an "open house" for neighbours and family in the afternoon. Some come early for an hour, while others have family obligations but stay late into the night when they get to us. We didn't do it last year and won't again this, but in more normal times will go back to it. Drinks, easy nibbles (bowls of crisps, M&S party food or very easy snacks, not chasing around making beautiful canapes), cheerful fire and background music - and enjoying each other's company.

I have visions of playing games, but that doesn't usually work out as people can get competitive here. I got "Exploding Kittens" this year though, as something DD might enjoy as well.

Xtraincome · 22/12/2021 11:23

We have DD4 and DD7 and have a few simple traditions, but it's all movable as they get older of course.

  • choosing your own favourite meal for Xmas day
  • mince pies out for Santa
  • Santa fills Stockings and buys 1 small present, the rest is from family and friends and presents go under the tree as they arrive at home.
  • Bible Stories on Xmas Eve
  • hot chocolate and a movie on Xmas day or boxing day so kids can decompress

Don't force it. Choose what you want for yourself and go with that. Christmas is meant to be fun and relaxed.

DreamingofGinoclock · 22/12/2021 11:26

Christmas Eve walk when it's dark /.before bed .... Take bells with you (hidden).or get bell sounds from you tube .... Use them.on walk without children seeing and ask them if they can hear Santa's sleigh

Mybalconyiscracking · 22/12/2021 11:26

We always have Chinese food for lunch on Christmas Eve. It’s actually a real pain sourcing it some years.. but it’s a tradition do the DC would be unhappy if we didn’t do it.

Be careful what you wish for OP?

DropYourSword · 22/12/2021 11:32

I’ve only done this for two years but it’s been very successful for my son who is around the same age as yours:

My mum is a great knitter and made me a gnome by knitting a Christmas patterned jumper/body and a Santa hat. It’s got a toilet roll tube inside. It arrives on December 1st, stuffed with a small toy (a balloon, mini bubble wand, Lego figure, crayons etc), a miniature piece of chocolate and a cotton wool ball.

The cotton wool ball is a puff of Santa’s beard, which he sticks to a Santa’s Beard Advent Calendar (which you can make or print out for free)!

He’s so excited every morning that Santa’s been, he’s totally able to stick each beard piece on all by himself this year (needed help last year at 4 years old!) and it’s infinitely easier than pissing about with elf on the shelf! It doesn’t have to be expensive if you get little Christmas trinkets in the January sales either.

steppemum · 22/12/2021 11:37

think about what you like and what you would like to do?

So for example, on Christmas Eve when kids were little we all curled up on sofa and read the Christmas story. We also have a nativity scene, and on Christmas morning, before presents we added baby to the nativity. Obviously those are particular to our faith, but they created a nice tradition.

How about new pjs and a Christmassy story on Christmas Eve?

Think about Christmas morning, what do you want? Some people do rip all the presents open as soon as you get up, some do stockings in bed and then presents after breakfast. Or whatever.
My kids used tp bring their stockings on to our bed to open, and my teenagers still do this.

We like to do a carol service/ christmas eve nativity service as a family.

Every year I buy the kids a new christmas tree decoration and put the date and their name on it. They open that on Christmas Eve too.

The week before Christmas we do some crafts (make presents for grandparents) and some baking.

Idroppedthescrewinthetuna · 22/12/2021 11:43

A tradition we adopted and love is a £5 per person present. Opened on xmas eve. This is more for the children to learn about giving. No hints to be given. So for example I would give your son £10. (Less if money is tight) and ask him to buy mummy and daddy a present. Take him round poundland, home bargains or something.
You may receive a gift that is totally weird for an adult but all the same your child learned about giving.

The first year we did it, my youngest bought my eldest a learn to read book. My eldest is an avid reader and is 8 years older than her. But she did try to put thought behind it.
As the years go on the presents get more thoughtful and useable. It is always exciting to see what the children think their siblings would like.
The children love doing it too.

Another tradition is buying 1 special bauble a year for the tree. It may just be a bell, a robin or in my case a hedgehog. We make a day of it, or lockdown last year we made them.

mumonthehill · 22/12/2021 11:44

We have Christmas traditions but the one tradition we started as we were always travelling over Christmas Eve and day was a pj day on New Year’s Day. The kids can do what they want, eat what they want and DH and I just potter about with no plans at all. We eat the last of the food and just relax.

TeenMinusTests · 22/12/2021 11:47

Traditions grow slowly in my view.
year 1 - you try something new and enjoy it
year 2 - you think, oh that was good last year, let's do it again
year 3 - you are actively looking forward to doing it - tradition

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