Things to do at Christmas - Christmas Traditions

I want to thank everyone who has taken part in my Christmas Traditions guest posts over this month, it has been lovely finding out all the things families do at Christmas. The common theme was that Christmas is a time for friends and family to come together, to forget the day to day tasks and to enjoy their time together.

I think that is what we have to remember, that Christmas for all of us when you take away the glitter is about love and sharing that love. There are so many of us who pin too much to Christmas Day, it is a day where everything is expected to be perfect and just like in the movies. Many think of Christmas to just be the 25th December and come the next day there is bitterness over an argument that spoilt the day, sadness that a family member wasn't there to celebrate with you, disappointment over a dry Turkey.

Christmas isn't just the 25th of December though. Christmas is a feeling, it is advent and going to the panto and everything you do as a family, decorating the tree, making mince pies or going to a carol concert. That warm feeling you get whilst thinking about all the fun you can have together, *that* is Christmas. And so with that in mind, here is a list of things that you might want to do every Christmas.

1. Make Christmas Biscuits/Cookies
2. Ice Christmas Biscuits/Cookies
3. Make the Christmas Cake
4. Ice the Christmas Cake
5. Make Mince Pies
6. Get Children to decorate their own tree and room
7. Choose a Christmas tree together (or just take a look at real trees)
8. Decorate a tree with your family
9. Take part in a Carol Concert, or sing Carol's together at home
10. Go to a Carol Concert
11. Go to a Nativity performance
12. Make your own Christmas Cards
13. Write your own Christmas Cards
14. Create your own Wrapping Paper
15. Wrap up gifts together
16. Make a Christmas decoration
17. Make Paper Chains
18. Watch Christmas Movies everyday (or weekend)
19. Go Christmas Shopping
20. Circle everything you want to watch over Christmas in a TV Listing magazine
21. Watch a Christmas special (or two)
22. Write a Family Christmas Letter
23. Write a letter or make a list for Santa
24. Visit Santa in his Grotto
25. Read Christmas Stories to each other
26. Make a gift for another family member
27. Write a Christmas themed Poem, Story or Song
28. Make something for the Christmas Meal in advance
29. Create a Table Decoration or place names
30. Make your own Advent Calendar
31. Burn a countdown candle
32. Have and Advent Wreath
33. Make a Gingerbread House
34. Make Tree Biscuits
35. Make your own Chocolate Tree decorations
36. Create the ultimate Hot Chocolate
37. Track Santa at NORAD
38. Watch a PNP Santa Video made for you
39. Make a Christmas Music Playlist
40. Listen to a Christmas Radio Station
41. Watch the Christmas Lights Twinkle with no other lights on
42. Go for a moonlit walk to see Christmas lights locally
43. Go on a Christmas Light hunt in the car
44. Go on a Santa hunt in the car
45. Go to the turn on of your local Christmas Lights
46. Donate a gift to a local Charity
47. Donate food to a local food bank
48. Donate pet food to a local animal shelter
49. Go to a Panto
50. Put on your own Panto
51. Go to see a Ballet performance
52. Go Ice Skating
53. Go to a Christmas event at a theme park or a Christmas theme park
54. Go to a Christmas fayre or market type event
55. Make your own Christmas Stockings
56. Make your own Christmas Crackers
57. Visit with Friends and Family
58. Open a gift on Christmas Eve
59. Have matching PJ's for the family
60. Eat Chocolate for Breakfast everyday in advent
61. Plan a special Christmas Breakfast
62. Take an annual Christmas photo
63. Make a list of who gave which Christmas gift to who
64. Read the Christmas Story together
65. Buy gifts following the philosophy one thing you want, one thing you need, one thing to eat and one thing to read
66. Buy a new Christmas Decoration for your tree
67. Leave out Reindeer food with glitter to help guide Santa to your house
68. Open gifts together
69. Do something unique to your family that appeals to your own sense of fun and family (Christmas Day Car wash anyone?)
70. Remember Christmases of your pasts but enjoy the time you are having now
71. Visit a Nativity Scene, or make your own
72. Have a Christmas Party as big or as small as you like!
73. Make Christmas Eve as special as you like
74. Go to the Cinema and watch a Christmas film
75. Have a special take away or dinner one evening (or on Christmas Eve)
76. Combine traditions from other cultures, religions and countries to make it special to you!
77. Leave a Snack out for Santa and his Reindeer
78. Put Scratch Cards on the Tree
79. Spread out opening gifts during the day to prolong the excitement
80. Bring Nature in and make some Nature decorations
81. If there is no Snow go to a Snow Centre and go sledging
82. Go for a Boxing Day Swim in the Sea
83. Deliver a secret gift to a Neighbour
84. Try traditional Christmas foods (you might like them!)
85. Offer to help an Elderly Neighbour with their Christmas shopping or decorating
86. Write thank you letters
87. Tell each other Christmas jokes
88. Make a Christmas Window Display
89. Buy a special Christmas Day Outfit
90. Take a Christmas Day Walk
91. Have a Secret Santa gift exchange
92. Go to a Church Service (you could go to one at midnight and open your gifts when you get back!)
93. Take part in a cookie swap
94. Have a Christmas Elf on the Shelf to visit
95. Have a Christmas Meal that is your favourite dishes, not what tradition dictates
96. Have a gift to open on Boxing Day (we once opened gifts all the way to Top Ender's birthday!)
97. Start a Christmas Tree Ornament exchange
98. Having a special meal on Boxing Day
99. Do a Christmas Stocking Exchange
100. The most important suggestion though was ENJOY the time together as a family.

So from our home to yours have a very merry Christmas.