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Christmas

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

Help! How do I do Christmas?

34 replies

SantasNewLittleHelper · 15/10/2025 08:06

So I was brought up in a faith that does not do Christmas which I got out out of as soon as I was able… and I have celebrated Christmas with friends and other family that have since. I’ve always felt like a bit of an imposter as I don’t really have any traditions from my younger years however I’ve been building on these year on year but those were mainly for an adult me.

This Christmas my little girl will be 1 and a little bit more aware of what’s going on, therefore I’ve booked her a visit to Father Christmas at a lovely NT near us to start.

However another thread got me thinking, how do I do Christmas with her, I’ve never had it as a child so what else should I be thinking of?
Tell me about how you make your Christmas’s magical for your children, with any traditions to make it special? How do tell them about Father Christmas etc I feel like I a Christmas fake and would like your help! Thanks in advance

OP posts:
MuggleMe · 15/10/2025 08:13

Not sure you want to do all of these with a 1yo, but we have done/do

  • Open advent calendar
  • Wrap up and walk around our neighborhood to see the lights
  • Bake something Christmassy like cookies with Christmassy cutters
  • Decorate the tree
  • Make handprint decorations
  • Visit a garden centre's Christmas section and choose a decoration for the tree
  • Put out cookies and milk for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph
  • Put out stocking
  • Watch a muppet Christmas carol or other festive film with hot chocolate and snacks
  • Read the night before Christmas
Offloadontome · 15/10/2025 08:15

Marking my place to come back later and give you some ideas as this will be an absolutely lovely thread, I'm sure! My littles love the elf on the shelf, and I absolutely love doing it too - but I have so much more... Kids don't need big things for it to feel magical I'll be back! X

MuggleMe · 15/10/2025 08:16

You could also look for local toddler groups that do a Christmas special.

I'd also recommend that you make the presents from Santa only the stocking and maybe one more. saves issues over budget discussions and disparity between friends/family children in the future.

Silvertulips · 15/10/2025 08:18

We have gifts under the tree -
Get a santa stocking for little bits - hair bobbles favorite sweets - when she’s older - maybe a dummy or what ever

Mine used to get new PJs to open christmas eve so they looked decent on photos in the morning.

Lots of free santa stuff about you can go to - light switch ins for example.

As she’s young you can build each year.

Decorate the house - tree lights etc and make it look different.

There no right or wrong!

Geneticsbunny · 15/10/2025 08:19

Do whatever you want to but I would be cautious about making too much of a thing of it or you can end up trying to out do yourself each year. At 1 she will might be terrified by santa and will probably love lights and tinsel and spending time with familiar relatives. Also at the age they often get overwhelmed by too many gifts on Christmas day so I would keep it low key and spread present opening out throughout the day.
Ours is mostly about family and time spent in the house doing things we enjoy like crafts and playing board games and watching films together and going for walks. It's a time to reconnect and to rest and to eat nice food.

clarrylove · 15/10/2025 08:20

Lots of Christmas themed story books. Read one every evening.

SantasNewLittleHelper · 15/10/2025 08:25

Thank you all so much, these are great suggestions.

For me it’s definitely about being with family and friends, being cosy with nice food and drink and films.

I definitely don’t want it to be all about the presents etc also love the idea of stockings only from Father Christmas with crafty things to do together as she gets older.

father Christmas visit might be too much for her I know but I just couldn’t help myself 😂 will see how that goes!

OP posts:
mumonthehill · 15/10/2025 08:27

Remember whatever you start now you might have to do for many years to come so start small!!! Advent calendar, we got a fabric one with pockets which still goes up now and dc are adults! Christmas eve put out reindeer food, mince pie for santa and stockings. We do stockings from Santa and all other gifts from us. Space treats out through december as it can be overwhelming. We do a book under pillow on Christmas eve but no Christmas eve box. Get some Christmas pj's its fun. We also get one new bauble each year to represent something special from the year so now our tree is full of different bauble's that each have a meaning. I also got a small nativity set when ds was little and he still puts this out every year if he is here, it is his role! Bake treats together!

Divebar2021 · 15/10/2025 08:35

I just wanted to say that you can make it whatever you want it to be. The Christmas I have now is not the same as the Christmas I had as a kid. We have a tree but we go to a farm and chop one down whereas as a kid we had an artificial tree. We do have some home made decorations but every year we go at the start of December to London and we go and choose a fancy tree decoration from Liberty. I then go to Piccadilly Waterstones and choose some books for presents ( I save my loyalty points all year). I make a door wreath from greenery foraged locally. My DH makes a Christmas pudding and Christmas cake. My mum hosts Christmas but DH and I split the cooking. I make a ginger & orange trifle because I don’t like Christmas pudding. We open presents after breakfast which offends DH who wants to wait til it’s dark because as a kid he wasn’t allowed to open them until after church and lunch. On Christmas Eve if we are home we eat Fishfingers chips and peas because one year we were up so late wrapping we ended up cooking fishfingers for a late night snack. It’s all ridiculous but it’s evolved over time. You don’t need to deliver this perfect package from year one… just pick a couple of things you think would be nice and see how it evolves over time. ( we did Father Christmas on our DD’s first Christmas but she’s never liked it and after several abortive attempts we abandoned it )

fourelementary · 15/10/2025 08:37

We don’t “do” Santa. He’s like a character so they know who he is muchbas they would peppa pig he’s not made out to be real- he is a story. This takes away the nonsense of trying to continue to prove something you know not to be true to your child for years. Instead you can create christmases that stay as magical from childhood to adulthood! A lovely tradition is to get a new Xmas book each year and bring them out at the start of advent. Maybe even 2/3 books for the first few years so you have a stock. Mogs Christmas, a first nativity etc.
Dont push too much to be the commercial Instagram type of christmasses though. Often overwhelming for little ones anyway.

Divebar2021 · 15/10/2025 08:38

Sorry for the long post - DH has an ancient copy of A Night before Christmas that he always reads to DD and we have a wooden advent calander we can put little treats in.

sodifficult1 · 15/10/2025 08:44

How exciting, you can build a new set of traditions with your new family knowing she will carry them on through the generations

as mentioned stick to simple repeatable ideas, but remember she’s young so what didn’t really work you can drop next year.

things we did -

tree - always had the main tree in the living room, but (and she’s a bit young for this ) but every year we would collect them from nursery/school on the last day and take them to buy a real tree which we put in the dinning room. This was their tree covered with things they made, they were able to touch it unlike the main one, it looked a mess but was loved

first chocolate off the tree Christmas Eve not before- they’re adults and still do this !

make cookies gingerbread house etc as and when we had time

one big thing they still talk about and my son still does with his. We lived near a stately home (Woburn ) and they had reindeer wondering about. We would drive through and look for Rudolph, this was normally a day or two before. Of course someone was always sure they saw him, but you always have the back up of he must have already gone to the North Pole. We would then go and have a hot chocolate somewhere a big treat !

we always hang a stocking Christmas Eve, which they open first thing, the main presents are opened later in the morning. Being so little it’s better to stagger the gift opening.

the stocking was always outside the bedroom door (so much easier ) then the living room door was sealed shut with a big red ribbon (I still tie a ribbon round the door though don’t seal it) we would go to church after breakfast then cut the ribbon and let them in to the presents !

we didn’t have a chimney so I got an old big key from an antique shop and tied a red ribbon on it, this was santas magic key, and was hung outside Christmas Eve, then he would leave it next to his mince pie plate ( lots of crumbs and a half chewed carrot)

TwoFatDucklings · 15/10/2025 08:45

Does she go to nursery or playgroups? They'll talk a fair bit there about it all and have craft sessions or little Nativity plays

Do you want to be involved in any of the Christian religious part of Christmas? Or just the secular parts? We're barely c/e but my DC always loved the christingle service at church and we've sometimes done a carol service or crib service

Have a think about what you want your father christmas to be responsible for and what you'll have the responsibility/ credit for in terms of gifts. Does FC just bring a stocking and the under the tree gifts are from family and friends? Does he bring a stocking and 1 main present for under the tree? Do you, family and friends buy everything and send it off to father Christmas to be delivered by him down the chimney on Christmas eve.

Do you want to do an advent calendar? A supermarket chocolate one? A one you can pop your own little presents/sweets in? A book advent calendar?

Do you want to do a 1st December box with christmas pj's a Christmas book, teddy etc?

Do you want to think about giving to others - a tradition of a before christmas clear out of toys to charity, or a donation to a charity that means something to you (and later to her). You can often donate toys to food banks for kids who would get very little for Christmas

Think about what you want your christmas eve traditions to be. What will you leave out for FC? In our house it was a mince pie, whiskey and donughts for the elves (cheerios we dipped in icing, and covered with spinkles) We also put out a bowl of porridge oats outside for the reindeer. Make sure these are eaten/drunk/scattered around by the morning as evidence!

We did so many other little things that made it magical, christmas lasted all of December when they were little...
Walks around the local area after tea looking for the best lit up house
Christmas disco baths with christmas music, the lights turned off and glow stick in the water!
Making paper snowflakes, paperchains, bunting from old christmas cards and decorating the house with them
Reading lots of christmas books
Watching christmas films. Mine loved the snowman when they were tiny
Any christmas themed baking, look on pinterest for ideas for toddlers
Making cards for friends and family
Give her a small budget (a few £) and freedom to pick any random (and often bizarre) gift from poundland for someone special to her.
Hunting for greenery in a local wood to decorate the house with, holky, ivy, conifer branches, pinecones etc
Put a small christmas tree in her bedroom and let her decorate it with all the glittery stuff in the world!

SJM1988 · 15/10/2025 08:52

I love Christmas and since having kids I just love it being magical for them (DS8 and DD4).

Our Christmas starts in October with tagging out Christmas tree at a Christmas tree farm. Neither me or DH had real trees growing up so I love a real tree tradition now. We make it an outing - tag the tree, have hot chocolate and cake or marshmallows etc.

When we collect the tree we make it an afternoon of decorating. We all go to collect it. Kids get to chose a new tree decoration for that year. We put the tree up, the kids decorate it (I do rearrange when they aren't around). Adults have mulled wine and mince pies. Kids usually have hot choc and mince pies. Usually afterwards we will do a Christmas movie.

Event type things we do (not all every year but this is some things we have done the last few years)
Local town light switch on
Santa Trailer (our rotary bring santa around on a trailer usually the day before Christmas eve for us)
Light up Tractor run - there are alot of these now
Local christmas market - usually they have lots of free activities and things for kids to do
Christmas light trail - this year we are doing the Silverstone Lap of Lights, usually we do a walking one.
Santa grotto - we do one usually with friends.

Other traditional things:
Stocking on Christmas morning - we also do the 5 present rule from santa. Which helps keep presents down.
Advent calendars
Elf on the shelf

Christmas baking
Christmas crafts - I try to plan one a weekend for the kids.
Christmas movie evenings - a couple over dec with popcorn, drinks and Christmas treats.

When its all written down....its alot! But its been a slow increase from when DS was a baby.

SantasNewLittleHelper · 15/10/2025 09:44

Thank you all. These are absolutely wonderful!

My partner is catholic and used to go to mass, for one reason or another we have never made it together. I’m not against going I am quite open to that but think she is a bit young currently so perhaps when she is older. I’d like to not push a religion on her though tbh.
I do however love carol’s and hymns as I find so so much joy through singing and think that is something we could do together.

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 15/10/2025 09:49

Look for the children's carol service at local church Catholic if your dp prefers but c of e if it is a nicer building !
But what does your dp remember and want to do from his childhood? Get him to propose something specific
Do something nice for adults like light trail.tgat dc can come along
Garden centre perfect for little ones they have nice displays
Keep it simple you can add more as they grow

gato21 · 15/10/2025 10:22

This is a lovely thread to read as most of the items are all about spending time with family/friends and building traditions.

As everyone else has implied, no matter what you choose to do it will be the right thing for your family. And if it doesn't work you can always change it up for next year!

middleagedandinarage · 15/10/2025 12:04
  • Decorate the house or even just the room you're in most. The kids love coming home to the house all lit with christmas lights and smells, really makes it feel special and christmasy.
  • We have a christmas Elf (something you might not want to start yet) it brings lots of fun and christmas cheer. It brings advent calendar, christmas pyjamas and jumper/outfit, christmas bedding and christmas books on 1st december.
  • We go to the local christmas lights switch on.
  • Christmas eve morning the elf brings a ginger bread house, the kids decorate it which they love and gives DH and I a bit of time to get some food prep done for the big day, then we go out to visit family in the afternoon and come home for special home made hot chocolate.
  • Christmas day we stay home, just DH, DC and I. Means DH and I can have a drink because no-one has to drive and DC don't want to be taken away from their presents.
  • Boxing day is a big get together with extended family
LastNameBeeswaxFirstNameNunnuyar · 15/10/2025 14:13

Like you I didn't grow up with Christmas, we started when DC1 was 7. We try new things every year and slowly made our own traditions but we make changes as the kids grow up and want/require different things/schedules etc

Don't worry about doing something one year and then not wanting to repeat it every year, put your own stamp on it

We've done the markets, lights switch ons, Centre Parcs/Legoland Christmas deals etc but we don't do the same each year unless that's when the kids want to do

We tried the 'something to wear, something to read, something they want, something they need' when funds were tight, other years we've been able to manage a bit extra as a treat or stuck to secret santa so all the adults can cut their budget

Nowadays we have a quiet Christmas on 25th and then a separate louder one for when adult DC can travel to us (or us to them) because their in laws feel they need 25th to celebrate, we don't care what day as long as we're together. I'm sure one day when their lifestyle changes we will do things differently again

VickyEadieofThigh · 15/10/2025 14:19

SantasNewLittleHelper · 15/10/2025 08:25

Thank you all so much, these are great suggestions.

For me it’s definitely about being with family and friends, being cosy with nice food and drink and films.

I definitely don’t want it to be all about the presents etc also love the idea of stockings only from Father Christmas with crafty things to do together as she gets older.

father Christmas visit might be too much for her I know but I just couldn’t help myself 😂 will see how that goes!

There's a famous family photo of my much younger brother, aged about 18 months, looking utterly terrified by Santa! I can remember it really well - he cried the most awful tears all the way home.

Do be cautious...

Laf90 · 15/10/2025 14:27

We've done lots of different things other the years but the only thing we do every year is go to the garden centre and my 3 children all pick a christmas decoration for the tree. They can pick whatever one they want. I love doing it every year, as do they and I love hanging all of the Dec's from the previous years. We've got christmas dinosaurs and sausage dogs and all sorts of other fun things. My 13 year old son wouldn't pick a dinosaur now but when he was 3 it was what he was desperate for - and it makes for a quirky tree full of memories

skyeisthelimit · 15/10/2025 14:31

Have a look at all the suggestions and then pick which ones suit you.

My own favourite, is that I have a tree decoration for every year of DD's life since she was born, with the year on it. These will be hers one day. I also buy decorations on stuff that we are both into, so Harry Potter, Disney, places we have visited etc. My tree is a riot of colour with various decorations including some from my own childhood.

I used to read The Night Before Christmas to DD every Christmas Eve. She won't let me do this now she is 17 Grin.

We always go to the panto on Christmas Eve, that is our tradition.

The tree goes up around 2 weeks before Christmas and stays up til the day it is supposed to come down.

We always did a Father Christmas visit at the school fair as the paid ones were always expensive and busy.

I never did Christmas Eve box or Elf on the shelf.

WrongSideOf · 15/10/2025 14:45

clarrylove · 15/10/2025 08:20

Lots of Christmas themed story books. Read one every evening.

We bought ours one Christmas themed book a year from tiny to 20(ish).
Gorgeous selecting a book each year, in our indie bookshop. A bit harder when they were older, but ‘Christmas cookie making’, ‘Christmas joke book’, ‘Christmas cocktail recipes’ etc.

We have a wooden crate to store them, brought out every year. Fantastic to see our grown DS’s reading and reminiscing over the ‘Jolly Christmas Postman’!

The book was a present from me to them, wrapped and on their pillow for bedtime on Christmas Eve. Great way to get them to bed and time altogether to share their new book.

Mallowmarshmallow · 15/10/2025 21:44

With regards to the singing, our local church has carols on the green on Christmas Eve. I live now in the same village I grew up in, and since moving back as a young adult have gone every year, despite not being church attendees.

It’s my most cherished Christmas event, even moreso since losing my mum a year ago.

It seems that each year we gather more neighbours and local friends to come along with us, and so many of the village attend that the children always get to see their friends on Christmas Eve.

Deliveroo · 21/10/2025 07:15

I think you’re letting yourself be intimidated unnecessarily. It sounds like you already have a lovely sense of what Christmas means to you, and all you have to do is let yourself dc experience the joy of it all, through you.

Be a little choosy about what you add. It can get very stressful, very quickly. Between hosting difficult family members, staying up late until dc are finally asleep to set out the Santa gifts, only to be woken a couple of hours later, or blighting the entire month of December with that fecking elf.

When the dc were small we just did a Christmassy version of what they usually did. Christmas crafts instead of normal crafts. Christmas baking instead of baking, Christmas story books. We collected pinecones on our walks or went to see the lights on the houses in the neighbourhood. I bought a nativity set that they could handle and as they learned more details in school we added extra figures (more sheep, shepherds, Roman soldiers and a weird cast of extra animal visitors)

Every year I bought a tree bauble to represent something about their interests, personality, development, or just the one they chose themselves. I pack them away in their own container, so we can take them out together each year. We also bring a souvenir from places we visit so that over the years the Christmas tree has become the story of our family.

Traditions will happen, without you realising. One year you’ll order pizza on Christmas Eve for convenience and boom! forever after it’s a thing you do! When ds was 2 he “helped” granny put up her tree and after 2 mins wandered off to watch cartoons and eat a chocolate biscuit. The following year, he was looking forward to putting up granny’s tree and eating chocolate biscuits. She’s still buying their special packet of chocolate digestives every year. Those kind of things persist long after they’ve given up the Santa visits.

We came across deer out on a walk one year and they ate some apples we had. So that year, I made a bit of a fuss about the fridge being full, and said I’d leave the veg in the garden instead, and then pretended that Santa’s reindeer had eaten up all our vegetables, Every year after that, we’d leave carrots somewhere different only to find they had caused mayhem (muddy hoof marks on dad’s clean car, sleigh marks on the lawn and mum’s prized plant squashed, furniture knocked over etc). Finding out what the reindeer got up to was one of the highlights of Christmas morning.

One year dd read Beatrix Potter’s Two Bad Mice on repeat, so that December, we put two little mice decorations into our doll house, and bit by bit across December they decorated the dollhouse.

On the practical side - when the time comes, get your dc to write a letter to Santa as it helps avoid last minute changes of mind. And buy two identical stockings, so that you can fill one and do a stealthy switch. Don’t ever buy a stocking with bells on!!!

But this is all a way off yet. For now, just enjoy it all.