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Read how Mumsnet users make their Christmas magical

382 replies

AbbiCMumsnet · 20/11/2019 09:48

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From picking out the perfect Christmas tree and hanging mistletoe above the door, to tracking Santa on NORAD, the Christmas period is full of magical moments for both parents and children alike. Whether you have certain traditions you do every year, or you want to try out something new this time around, IKEA want to hear the ways you make Christmas magical.

Here’s what IKEA have to say: “This season is about gathering your loved ones, being cosy and enjoying time together. Everyone has their own way of celebrating. Whether you put up a tree or simply light a candle, it’s easy to create a home that is designed for magical moments.
We love offering solutions to make it easier and more fun to interact at home, whether sharing a meal, playing games, or just having a chat. When guests are visiting there’s nothing like lighting candles to get the festive mood just right. Try some Christmas scented candles (out of reach from little ones), with the winter spices ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and nutmeg, to help you create a welcoming feeling of warmth and cosiness.”

Which Christmas moments do your children love the most? Do you write letters to and leave treats out for Father Christmas and the reindeer? How do you keep the magic alive as your children get older? Which magical Christmas moments were your favourite when you were a child, and have you tried to recreate them with your own children?

Share how you make Christmas magical on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where 1x MNer will win a £300 IKEA e-gift card.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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Read how Mumsnet users make their Christmas magical
OP posts:
OctopusNow · 03/12/2019 09:12

I like to make snowflakes and paper chains with DS, we are planning on watching The Snowman this year. It's lovely watching how excited he is about the dark and the lights.

I never did much at Christmas as a child so we are letting our own little traditions develop.
I'm just so blessed to finally be a mother, it's all I wanted. Smile

Callthemidwifeplease · 03/12/2019 09:20

Christmas starts on 2st December in this house when the decorations go up. DC' s normal books and DVD's get swapped for Christmas ones and their teddies too. Christmas arts and crafts box is also bright out. We wear Christmas jumpers as much as possible!
Normal candles/ napkins/dishes are replaced with Christmas ones.
We are so sad when Christmas and new year is over and we have to pack it all away!

MamaNewtNewt · 03/12/2019 09:42

We put the tree up on the first weekend of Dec listening to Christmas songs and eat Christmas snacks and drink mulled wine. We watch lots of Christmas films and have family round. We also have a few trips to the Christmas market.

katiefish · 03/12/2019 09:54

We celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve with family and the Christmas Day is pizza and video games day. We stay in pjs all day

campocaro · 03/12/2019 10:16

The weight of the stocking on my bed when I woke up on Christmas morning. Still do a stocking for my daughter now she's grown up and still put a tangerine at the bottom...

clareycat · 03/12/2019 10:21

Christmas Eve is a special family time for us. Both me and my partner take the day off work and take our little girl to the cinema to watch a family film. When we get home we ensure the elves have left a box with new PJ's and a new book & we have some xmas songs and hot chocolate before bed. We sprinkle our reindeer food on the grass outside and leave Santa his mince pie and a glass of milk. Then it's off to bed for storey time & endless questions about Santa Before checking the Santa tracker to see where he is on his journey.

zebedee01 · 03/12/2019 12:06

I make Christmas magical by keeping the santa thing alive! I still secretly place a christmas eve box on my sons bed, still leave a drink and snack for santa and rudolph, and still bring all his presents out when he has gone to bed, even though he is older now and knows santa isn't real! Its all a bit of fun isn't it :)

ThighThighOfthigh · 03/12/2019 12:50

Fangs for the sharks what you brung
We think they're a half hearted bung
Send us some more
Or we'll settle the score
We suspect you're a bunch of girls' blouses
And we're ready to burn down your houses

Merry Sharkmas xxx

Michellemm · 03/12/2019 13:25

First we write letters to Santa, then a day out to fetch the tree from ikea...bonus voucher back to spend next year. Then we decorate it together as a family. Presents from people go under the tree and they can be shaken and squished but must not be opened.

Jocelynne123 · 03/12/2019 14:04

We always decorate the tree together and then snuggle up together and watch the grinch. But our favourite traction is ourbchristmas baking day. My daughter can't eat gluten so we have a day baking lots of goodies, dancing and sing g to Christmas carols. Xx

mclarkie · 03/12/2019 15:23

Baking mince pies and listening to Christmas songs

DanglyNippleBaublesOnThigh · 03/12/2019 15:43

Lovely Thoetry Thigh !

That'll learn 'em!

KitMarlowesCodpieceOfThigh · 03/12/2019 16:00

Thigh Beautiful. Netty and Shane are visibly moved.

msemegs · 03/12/2019 17:27

We go for a walk on Christmas Eve to search for Santa in the sky... it is magical for the kids! Not gonna lie, its magical for the adults too!

alison991 · 03/12/2019 19:36

When my son was young we used to track Santa using the online tracker and he loved that. Now he is older we still have family traditions like starting the cake on Christmas eve for santa

jojo8208 · 03/12/2019 19:44

Everything was magical when I was a child, when I think back all my memories are filled with this lovely hazy atmosphere. We used to go to Midnight carols at church which I absolutely loved, it felt crazy being able to stay up so late!
I take my kids to the cinema on Christmas eve & the usual bath, Christmas box with books & DVDs & Christmas day is visiting family :)
We don't really write letters to Santa but we do the PNP & also track Santa on NORAD which is just so good!

maria08k · 03/12/2019 19:54

Ronan loves to help decorate the Christmas tree and pick out new Christmas jumpers for all the family.

myusername12345 · 03/12/2019 20:02

We all decorate the tree together whilst listening to Christmas music, and we write a letter to Father Christmas.

NicolaC82 · 03/12/2019 20:40

We start with a Christmas eve north pole breakfast for the kids and i give them gift bags with their new pyjamas and some small treats. Then its baths all round. Into our new pjs and watch a load of movies. Its my most favourite time

backfarblackcar · 03/12/2019 20:50

Christmas eve was always the special time when I was growing up. I find it quite hard to generate any sort of magic for my family now as I don't really have it in me to enjoy the whole thing that much. It starts too early and is overblown and wasteful to the point I feel pretty irritable just going to shops.
I try and make putting the decorations up fun and we see family so that's dum for the children to play with cousins etc. Some decent films we only watch that time of year are nice too. But I'd rather not make a massive deal about it all. The take home message can be achieved without buying in to all the rest of it.

Emmamaryd · 03/12/2019 20:50

Lots and lots of fairy Lights!

Mariobug25 · 03/12/2019 21:08

We have a tradition each Christmas of doing a huge treasure hunt for my sons Christmas eve box. The elf on the shelf leaves little clues all around the house! its so much fun and it such a magical experience for my son! he gets as excited for the treasure hunt as he does for santa visiting! x

BECKS7 · 03/12/2019 21:59

As it'll be our first Christmas as a family we want to start our own traditions which will include mixing some from both sides of our family and a couple of new ones too. Spending time together nowadays is so precious in an all too busy world so just being a family, no phones, no interruptions, just us all together

Redwinestillfine · 03/12/2019 23:12

A house full of Christmas cookery sents and smells in the day, followed by Christmas carols and a nativity service, in the evening, then hot choc with marshmallows and the night before Christmas before hanging up stockings and snuggling into bed hoping he'll come!

pinkspideruk · 03/12/2019 23:33

We go the whole hog - foot prints and hoof prints, half nibbled carrots, jingle bells on christmas eve once kids are asleep.