Page 3 | New Christmas traditions to keep the magic alive for tweens and teens

Jinglejinglejingle7 · 2026-09-26T21:19:09+00:00

First Christmas of no Elf, no believing in Santa . I need to start new traditions for the tween/teens. Any ideas on how to keep the magic?

HorseandHeron · 27/09/2026 17:29

Family films. Even as tweens/teens they still loved the excuse to sit and watch Paddington or Home Alone together.

Getting them to help decorate the house with fairy lights or to buy and put up the tree or lay the table in a festive way with candles and crackers .

Cooking together. Planning menus for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day.

Going to see a show or christmas cinema trip together.

We did family quizzes where everyone has to come up with 4 questions (maybe each have a theme - like Christmas food, Christmas Music, global Christmas traditions etc and then take turns doing your round. Always silly prizes, such as the winner gets a chocolate reindeer and the losers also get a chocolate reindeer because it's Christmas!

Silverbirchleaf · 27/09/2026 17:35

AlexFurbison · 27/09/2026 16:02

Oh yes you are!

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Oh no you’re not!

Pipsthegame · 27/09/2026 17:36

100% I do stockings

they are about 10x the price as when they were younger though! But I love ramming them full of treats (high end make up they’d never otherwise afford) Designer brand underwear, weird Japanese snacks, American sweets, premium hair care, the odd silly toy etc)

stockings will be something I do every single Christmas I ever spend with them, even if I’m in my nineties and on day release from my care home to spend the day with them!

Pipsthegame · 27/09/2026 17:37

HorseandHeron · 27/09/2026 17:29

Family films. Even as tweens/teens they still loved the excuse to sit and watch Paddington or Home Alone together.

Getting them to help decorate the house with fairy lights or to buy and put up the tree or lay the table in a festive way with candles and crackers .

Cooking together. Planning menus for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day.

Going to see a show or christmas cinema trip together.

We did family quizzes where everyone has to come up with 4 questions (maybe each have a theme - like Christmas food, Christmas Music, global Christmas traditions etc and then take turns doing your round. Always silly prizes, such as the winner gets a chocolate reindeer and the losers also get a chocolate reindeer because it's Christmas!

Chocolate reindeer for the winner
Chocolate reindeer poop for the loser

RadioWillNeverDie · 27/09/2026 17:52

Pipsthegame · 27/09/2026 17:21

Do either of your sons have partners?

We still film them hanging up their stockings for Father Christmas just like we always have

do you up load that to SM or send to anyone @RadioWillNeverDie ?

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I have never uploaded any part of my life on social media. And my sons are early twenties and are adorable, sweet, caring, thoughtful. I wish I had raised them to be wife beating thugs who don't pay attention to birthdays or the feelings of others but what can you do?

The point I was trying to make is that not every teen is a monosyllabic, selfish, grunting arsehole. They can still enjoy the Christmas spirit. All their friends are similar and my wider family is the same with my nieces and nephews. Everyone joins in Christmas games no matter how silly.

The adorable word is actually part of a fuller quote from a tv show we watched as a family. We still watch tv shows as a family when Ds2 is home from uni and we watch other stuff with Ds1 but they have their own life too.

Pipsthegame · 27/09/2026 18:02

I wish I had raised them to be wife beating thugs who don't pay attention to birthdays or the feelings of others but what can you do?

oh don’t be daft!

They have girlfriends / boyfriends?

JacknDiane · 27/09/2026 18:08

RadioWillNeverDie · 27/09/2026 13:25

The elf on the curtain was something we did as parents when the children were in primary. I don't want my sons snogging inappropriate girls or getting pissed. In case you missed it a lot of young people are not drinking, the body is a temple and all that. They are into fitness but not to an extreme where it is their whole personality. Ds1 stayed overnight at his girlfriend's last night.

We have a really lovely relationship with our sons, they definitely don't humour me because we have full discussions about what they want to do and they are honest. They like tradition and they actually say they love whimsy.

I have two lovely, caring, thoughtful, clean and tidy sons. Same as their Dad. They are sentimental and it is adorable.

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If you say so..

IntrinsicallyNavellGazing · 27/09/2026 18:25

Ophy83 · 27/09/2026 08:34

We still do Santa and no one expresses any doubts because Santa only comes to those who believe! (Though of course they know, and they sneak a stocking into MIL's room early Christmas morning before she wakes)

Part of the magic is tradition- particular biscuits or sausage rolls that only get made in December. Home Alone and Jingle all the Way. Christingle service followed by the pub on Christmas Eve. Seeing Christmas lights. Decorating the tree. Music.

Then add some surprises e.g. a special trip out to a show or restaurant or activity like ice skating.

An extra surprise/special present - I remember one year when I was a child I'd circled a few gifts in the Argos catalogue only expecting one of them, and mum got me the first but also got me the multicoloured Walkman that I was really hoping for but didn't think I was getting after opening the other.

This year if it's your thing you could all sit down as a family and watch the new Harry Potter series (that is my plan for Boxing Day! While eating leftovers and cheese)

Omg the joy and wonder of that first Walkman !!

Summergarden · 27/09/2026 23:10

RadioWillNeverDie · 27/09/2026 17:52

I have never uploaded any part of my life on social media. And my sons are early twenties and are adorable, sweet, caring, thoughtful. I wish I had raised them to be wife beating thugs who don't pay attention to birthdays or the feelings of others but what can you do?

The point I was trying to make is that not every teen is a monosyllabic, selfish, grunting arsehole. They can still enjoy the Christmas spirit. All their friends are similar and my wider family is the same with my nieces and nephews. Everyone joins in Christmas games no matter how silly.

The adorable word is actually part of a fuller quote from a tv show we watched as a family. We still watch tv shows as a family when Ds2 is home from uni and we watch other stuff with Ds1 but they have their own life too.

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Ignore the goaders. Your sons sound wonderful and I only hope my DS turns out similar 🥰

JacknDiane · 27/09/2026 23:22

@RadioWillNeverDie, are you saying if men in their early 20s dont enjoy playing along with pinning elf to the curtains then they are wife beating thugs or monosyllabic arseholes 😂

Stompythedinosaur · 27/09/2026 23:28

My two are teens now, and honestly we do pretty much the same as we did when younger. I'm still stuck doing the bloody elf, because they rush around looking for them in the morning. My two seem to like the nostalgia of doing the same things we always did.

So, we still drive the long way round the village to see the lights. We still have a baking day (admittedly with more advanced recipes now). They still get a hamper "from the elves" on Christmas eve, and it still has pjs in.

New things we've added are a mid December ice skating trip with friends. I get to drive and watch, but it's really quite lovely listening to Christmas songs and seeing them enjoy themselves. And we do a panto with the gps. And we've replaced the Christmas eve trip to soft play with crazy golf, but it still has the same feel!

Avie29 · 28/09/2026 07:15

We always have hot chocolates (with whip cream and marshmallows) open the Christmas nibbles and watch muppets Christmas carol every Christmas eve, this will be my first year in 16 years with no believers (i have a 2 yo but she still not quite understanding Father Christmas yet)
My eldest 2 haven’t believed for a couple years, i still do the stockings and will probably continue to do so.

Pipsthegame · 28/09/2026 07:16

I do pretty much everything the same with my teens

it’s just that now it is a little bit more tongue in cheek and funny. Just as fun but just different fun.

Pipsthegame · 28/09/2026 07:17

JacknDiane · 27/09/2026 23:22

@RadioWillNeverDie, are you saying if men in their early 20s dont enjoy playing along with pinning elf to the curtains then they are wife beating thugs or monosyllabic arseholes 😂

Something about the posts from @RadioWillNeverDie that remind me of a very creepy horror film I once saw . Trying to remember the name!

Krispycrem · 28/09/2026 07:59

Avie29 · 28/09/2026 07:15

We always have hot chocolates (with whip cream and marshmallows) open the Christmas nibbles and watch muppets Christmas carol every Christmas eve, this will be my first year in 16 years with no believers (i have a 2 yo but she still not quite understanding Father Christmas yet)
My eldest 2 haven’t believed for a couple years, i still do the stockings and will probably continue to do so.

Having a believer or a small child in the house makes all the difference - there is someone to play along for.

BluebellBeth · 28/09/2026 08:47

Stompythedinosaur · 27/09/2026 23:28

My two are teens now, and honestly we do pretty much the same as we did when younger. I'm still stuck doing the bloody elf, because they rush around looking for them in the morning. My two seem to like the nostalgia of doing the same things we always did.

So, we still drive the long way round the village to see the lights. We still have a baking day (admittedly with more advanced recipes now). They still get a hamper "from the elves" on Christmas eve, and it still has pjs in.

New things we've added are a mid December ice skating trip with friends. I get to drive and watch, but it's really quite lovely listening to Christmas songs and seeing them enjoy themselves. And we do a panto with the gps. And we've replaced the Christmas eve trip to soft play with crazy golf, but it still has the same feel!

Oh I like the idea of crazy golf. We used to do soft play, then progressed to a walk on the beach, but one year it was horrendously windy and they've refused to do it since 🤣.

housethatbuiltme · 28/09/2026 11:00

Words · 27/09/2026 07:39

Keep the magic alive ? Or which consumerist yet age appropriate trend should you buy into next? All so completely unnecessary.

It must be a sad life to only get joy from attacking other peoples happiness.

Pipsthegame · 28/09/2026 11:24

Words · 27/09/2026 07:39

Keep the magic alive ? Or which consumerist yet age appropriate trend should you buy into next? All so completely unnecessary.

I’ll take a wild guess that you spend Christmas alone @Words

FusionChefGeoff · 05/10/2026 12:37

We have an activity advent calendar and just upgrade / change out ideas as they grow up. So no more seeing Santa but more ice skating / shows / hot chocolates / eating out / movies.

Might add the Snowdome this year