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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:
BrendasUmbrella · 03/12/2019 23:47

My Dad takes the lead at Christmas, he loves it. He turns the conservatory into a grotto, and dresses up as Santa. This year he's built a sleigh to sit in the back garden! It's very exciting for the children.

Cheeseandwineisprettyfine · 03/12/2019 23:54

We make chutneys and fudge together to gift out, Christmas decorations for our tree, we go to christingle and have a after dinner walk the day before Christmas Eve to look at the lights at houses and then home for hot chocolate! Oh and each of my 4 children choose the breakfast for Christmas Day! They have what they order

Jade5093 · 04/12/2019 05:44

Magical naughty elves
Baking cookies for Santa Christmas Eve
Picking one present each from under the Christmas tree to open Christmas Eve
Saving one present each for Christmas Day night

These are all out Christmas traditions

DustOffYourHighestHopes · 04/12/2019 05:54

What makes our Christmas magical is to make sure we get time as a family amid all the visits and excursions and chaos. Quiet time over a board game with warm milk and biscuits, reading a Christmas book to the children in bed on Christmas morning, or helping to prepare vegetables all together with Christmas music playing. I hope the children will remember that feeling far more than any grottoes, wonderlands or toy shops.

snare · 04/12/2019 06:27

we see all the family at christmas and enjoy being together :)

eandoauntie · 04/12/2019 06:29

This is my first Christmas as a mum, so for me this year its all about making new traditions with my little boy. We are moving next week but then after that, we are going to have our picture taken in a snow globe and we are taking a trip to London to see all the lights. We have been listening to Magic Christmas since the 1st December. We will be spending Christmas with my parents as they want to share all our memories too.

piggypoo · 04/12/2019 06:41

The pets get involved in the festivities too! We sent cards and gifts from them to the kids, old and young, we all give each other a "silly" gift, which can't be more than £5.99, on Xmas Eve, everyone comes to ours in fancy dress, and we all sing round the tree in the living room, we've done this since the 1930's and still have our tree lights from then!

Bellroyd · 04/12/2019 06:45

Christmas is made magical in our house due to the fact that we have a Swedish daughter-in-law.She celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve, so we have TWO Christmases every year, each with its own very different traditions!

maursieq · 04/12/2019 08:05

Eating chocolate for breakfast. It's a Christmas must!

Borderkitt · 04/12/2019 08:11

Christmas is so special because it it one one the few times that the whole family are all together. It has always been a tradition for us to put our pyjamas on nice and early and snuggle on the sofa watching christmas movies to get us in the christmas mood.

villagefox · 04/12/2019 08:23

Christmas cheer starts here in the village on the first Friday of December when Santa rows across the village pond and the elves pull him on a sleigh to the village school for the Christmas fayre. I'm lucky enough to still live in the same village so I have taken part for over 40 years and for my son it signals the start of the festive season.

jrobbs · 04/12/2019 08:43

We set aside at least one day when the whole family can be together; this often isn’t the 25th or 26th but the sentiment of Christmas is not bound by a calendar day. We tend to do all the traditional things; eat lots, talk lots, drink lots. The main thing is, we are always generous to one another with out time and our words.

clauski · 04/12/2019 09:16

Right now the kids are loving the elf on the shelf thing - finding a new and ever more adventurous or funny place for the elf to be hiding each day!

J0K00L · 04/12/2019 10:39

My Husband works really hard so Christmas is all about chilling and watching tv. My children are grown up but we have a grandchild on the way so im sure next Christmas will be alot noisier in a good way.

CatCatDog · 04/12/2019 11:22

We use lots of string lights and feature lights to make living areas look magical! Baking winter spice cookies, mince pies and other goodies helps to make our home smell delicious!

molly57 · 04/12/2019 12:15

This Ikea gift card would make Christmas magical because Ikea has gift ideas for every age range from child to the not so young.

Dan35 · 04/12/2019 16:29

Go back to old-fashioned ways - no phones, no tablets, minimal tv, just the whole family around the table and a good conversation. The best day of the year!

myboycraig · 04/12/2019 17:12

I love Christmas eve when the kids are in bed, the excitement of getting all the toys out for the morning while having a glass of wine and watching a Christmas movie before bed. But the best part ever is the look on their faces in the morning, Then it's time for all the extended family to get together for Christmas Dinner...... I love it!

hannahlw85 · 04/12/2019 17:30

Having a nice tree is a big start, it makes sure theres that focal point in the house. We also watch Christmas movies and play Christmas music to get us in the spirit, on the morning I dress my dogs up so 1 is santa and the other is an elf (Both dog costumes so the dogs are happy to wear them), so the morning is started with laughter and fun. We also make sure there's no tech at the table when eating so the time at the table is spent talking to each other.

clarabella12 · 04/12/2019 19:24

on christmas eve theres nothing better than putting new pj's on, watching christmas films and drinking hot chocolate

Blondie1982 · 04/12/2019 21:25

Enjoying xmas dinner with the family then playing with kids new toys/games - love it.

eve394 · 04/12/2019 21:26

When I was little my parents would always tell me that whenever we saw a Robin that he was checking on us for Father Christmas. We have carried this tradition on with our boys too 😀

phillw · 04/12/2019 22:37

Baking goodies for when the family settle down to watch Christmas films.

tishist · 04/12/2019 23:54

We always go for a walk in the countryside to bring a little natural magic to yuletide!

malisa · 05/12/2019 00:27

I love Christmas and all festivities. My cherished Christmas moment was decorating tree with whole family and making gingerbread house. As a child I loved sitting by the warm fire and listen to the stories read by my grandfather. We could smell in the air scents coming from the kitchen when my mum baked spicy cakes. Lovely decorated tree and whole house made us realised that Christmas is here. I'm trying to make the same for my children. I make them Christmas as special and festive as possible. We bake, cook and sing carols together, watch movies and after all enjoy long walks on frosty mornings. My youngest children like to write letter to Santa and attach a long list of gifts. We write our wishes too and put in memory box and next year we will check if all was fullfill. Having the great time and enjoying a quality time with my family is very important for me.