This is not because of all of the shopping I have to do, or all of the celebrations we could possibly attend.
It's because of the memories we make as a family.
I can think of no other time during the year that's filled with so many fabulous traditions in our house.
For our adopted daughters, the holiday season is very difficult. It is filled with very painful traumatic memories and PTSD episodes.
Our family Christmas traditions help to heal their hearts.
Christmas traditions are filled with joy, happiness, and most importantly, safety.
Each year we continue family Christmas traditions adding more ideas over time.
If you're looking for Family Christmas Tradition Ideas this holiday season, we hope you enjoy this list of our traditions.
We hope they inspire!
Family Christmas Tradition Ideas
1. Christmas Dates with Mom
When the kids were little, I would take the kiddos out individually to do their Christmas shopping each year.
They were each given money to buy gifts for their siblings, parents, and grandparents.
The kiddos would get so excited about these dates.
Prior to their special day they would ask siblings for ideas.
When they were unsure what to give Mommy or Daddy, they would ask about our interests.
The process was so precious to watch.
We would use our Christmas shopping planner flip books to help stay organized and on top of things.
Christmas shopping dates with Mom took place early in the holiday season to avoid the crowds and chaos of holiday shopping.
Now that the kids are older and online shopping is much more of a thing, each kiddo shops for everyone online, most often using Amazon wish lists that have been created throughout the year.
We still make the experience special, with alone time with Mom.
2. Christmas Ornaments
On Christmas Eve, after the kiddos have changed into their pajamas and brushed their teeth, we gather around the Christmas tree and open one special gift.
Everyone receives a new ornament for the Christmas tree.
The ornament each person is given represents a passion, hobby, or interest from the year. In a way, this is how I document our most precious memories from each year.
.png "Family Christmas Ornament Tradition")
Decorating the tree each Christmas season is quite emotional because of all of the memories attached to each ornament.
Only ornaments attached to memories hang on our tree.
Everyone helps decorate the tree, hanging their special ornaments up each year.
Starting on our honeymoon, my husband and I have purchased an ornament for every vacation we've ever been on together.
As our family has grown, we've continued to do this. Each place we visit, I pick one up.
Each year we add new ornaments to the tree and reflect back on the memories we have made as family.
3. Christmas Movie Countdown
On our first Christmas Eve together, my husband insisted that we had to watch a Christmas movie.
One of his favorite traditions from growing up, was counting down the days until Christmas with movies. Each year our family purchases a new Christmas movie and add it to our collection.
A Christmas Movie Countdown
After the kiddos go to bed, we would cuddle on the couch, admiring the Christmas tree lights, and watch one each night, finishing with our favorite on Christmas night.
Once the kids caught on to what we were doing, they wanted to participate.
While they were young, we would use a child friendly Christmas Movie Countdown.
Christmas Movies for Kids
As they grew older, we would introduce movies from the original Christmas movie countdown.
Each year we continue to add a new Christmas movie to our collection.
To make our favorite movies extra special, we add a dinner experience to them.
5 Christmas Dinner and a Movie Ideas for Families
Even as teens, our kids look forward to our movie countdown every year.
Last year they invited friends to participate in one of our dinner and a movie nights!!
They had an absolute blast!
4. The Nutcracker Ballet
I have always loved the story of the nutcracker. When in college I always tried to make a point to go and see the ballet. As I started my own family, I knew I wanted to make the story a special part of our holiday.
Each year we dedicated learning time to the study of the story of the nutcracker and the music from the ballet.
Those who are old enough and would like to go, also attended the Nutcracker Ballet.
Preparing Children for Their First Fine Arts Experience
We spent a lot of time preparing children to attend a live performance of the Nutcracker Ballet.
It was so worth it!
Due to Princess' trauma and PTSD related issues at Christmas, the story of the nutcracker has replaced the celebration of Santa in our house.
Christmas wouldn't be the same without the story of the nutcracker!
Now that we have teens with very busy schedules, we watch our favorite version of the Nutcracker Ballet at home, making it a special night.
5. Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol
Great literature has definitely become a huge part of our holiday traditions.
A Family Christmas wouldn't be the same without reading A Christmas Carol. The version of the book varies, depending on the ages of the kiddos at the time, but the story is still the same.
When we first read the book to our children, we introduced it through Montessori-inspired learning activities.
I loved to go to a nearby town where they had a Dickens Christmas when we lived in NY. People, dressed in character, are roaming the streets visiting and mingling. They play their parts well, with accents and all.
There were quartets of musical instruments playing Christmas Carols on almost every corner. Carolers were everywhere. Horse drawn wagon rides were free. All of the local shops were open filled with the holiday aromas.
Now that we live and Virginia and have teens, we set aside Christmas Eve to watch our favorite movie version of A Christmas Carol.
Our teens look forward to this every year the story is attached to so many happy memories from years past.
6. Random Acts of Christmas Kindness Countdown
When the kids were little we always tried to perform random acts of kindness at Christmas time.
A Random Acts of Christmas Kindness Countdown seemed to be the easiest way to pull this off.
Random Acts of Christmas Kindness
It was always a HUGE hit and was one of the very first things the kiddos mentioned doing each year.
Now we participate in daily Light the World challenges.
7. Winter Solstice Party
On or near Winter Solstice, we gather with friends or extended family at their home for dinner and a special evening celebration outside.
All of us prepare edible ornaments for wildlife (birds, deer, etc.) and hang them on conifer trees in our front yard or in a forest on a relative's property.
We enjoy a bonfire and hot cocoa while singing Christmas carols.
This tradition was inspired by the children's book, Night Tree by Eve Bunting.
It's so much fun to enjoy the darkest day of the year in this way.
8. The Nighttime Holiday Parade
A few days after Thanksgiving, our city hosts a Nighttime Holiday Parade.
All of the floats are decorated in lights. The kiddos have always loved going to parades.
Since it's a guaranteed successful event, we invite friends and extended family to join us.
After the parade we head back to our home for hot cocoa, hot apple cider, and desserts. It's such a great kick off to the holiday season.
9. Happy Holidays to our Neighbors
When Jason and I were first married, I listened to a woman speak about a family tradition they had.
Each Christmas season her family would bake treats for ALL of their neighbors.
No matter who they were, or how scary they may be, their family would go together and deliver these treats.
The woman talked of the relationships and friendships formed as a result of this simple act.
I knew I wanted to do the same with my family.
So, year after year, we've done this.
Operation Christmas Cookies
When we couldn't make treats, I would bake loaves of bread or give simple Christmas ornaments.
The kiddos joined in from the minute they were born and look forward to it every year.
I can honestly say, the tradition has worked miracles for us in our neighborhood. Friendships have been made and we're always greeted with a smile on the street.
10. Holiday Wish lists
The first Christmas after Bulldozer's adhesive allergy was discovered was rough.
Not only was the act of unwrapping gifts life threatening for him, but the toys themselves posed a threat to his health. So many toys have stickers on them.
If there weren't stickers, then the toy packaging was dangerous.
After many tears of frustration, I came up with a bunch of ideas that would help Bulldozer be safe during the holidays.
One of those ideas was putting together wish lists for each of the kiddos for grandparents and others interested in giving gifts.
If you're looking for gift ideas for someone in your life, you can see all of the kids' wish lists from years past if you click the link below.
Gift Ideas for Family
The wish lists include toys and other items the kiddos want, ones that are safe to have in our home with Bulldozer's crazy adhesive allergy and other special needs.
Extended family members embrace these lists and can't wait to receive them. They have helped so much when accommodating sensory needs, trauma triggers and so much more.
The master list is kept on the blog. Each item is linked to where the gift can be purchased. As items are purchased, I mark them off, so everyone can see what's left. It's quick and easy.
Now that the kiddos are older, they make their own lists. The lists are updated on a regular basis and used for birthdays too.
I also find these lists extremely helpful when I shop for my teens. Usually they prefer to put their wish lists on Amazon, which is perfectly fine with me. I then share here on the blog with my readers.
11. Giving the Gift of Christmas to a Family in Need
Each year we've been able, we have selected a family in need to shop for at Christmas time.
We purchase gifts for each family member, include treats and other items.
On Christmas Eve Night, we dress in black, deliver the packages on the family's doorstep, and run to hide before anyone sees us.
We have been "caught" only once, but the family chose to play along and accept the gifts.
12. Christmas Eve Dinner
Our family has made the decision to stay at home on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
All extended family functions occur before or after those days.
Christmas Eve day the kiddos and I spend our time preparing our Christmas Eve Dinner.
If my husband doesn't have to work, he joins us.
.png "Christmas Eve Dinner")
Our big holiday dinner with dessert is served that Christmas Eve night, followed by the exchanging of sibling gifts, ornaments, and our Christmas delivery to a family in need.
Jason and I clean up the kitchen as we wait for the kiddos to fall asleep, and then get everything ready for Christmas morning.
On Christmas day, I don't cook or bake at all. Instead we all spend the day relaxing, playing, eating left overs and finger foods.
This has been the best tradition yet, as it takes all of the stress out of Christmas Day!
13. Icelandic Tradition of Books and Chocolate on Christmas Eve
I am all about finding ways to keep my kids upstairs in their beds on Christmas Eve so that my husband and I can put out gifts and go to bed as early as possible.
When we learned about the Icelandic tradition of giving books and chocolate on Christmas Eve, we immediately embraced it!
My kids LOVE receiving a new book on Christmas Eve to read until they fall asleep.
The book makes such a difference with their anxieties!
Chocolate is an added bonus.
My biggest advice when it comes to chocolate is to only give as much chocolate as you want your child to eat in one sitting. Lol.
14. Holidays Around the World Celebration
Even as teens, my kids look forward to these family Christmas traditions each year.
We kick off our holidays around the world celebrations at Halloween and go all the way through Lunar New Year.
If you'd like to know how we celebrate some of them, be sure to check out the links below.
Each year it seems we add more holidays to our Christmas around the World celebration.
15. Family Experiences for Christmas
Now that we live in a very small home in Virginia, we have thoroughly enjoyed embracing family experiences as part of our Christmas celebration.
Each year we're able, we take a Christmas vacation around the first week in December.
The vacation is filled with fun experiences the kids look forward to.
Experiences change based on their age.
Giving Family Experiences: Our Minimalist Christmas Tradition
Our love that we are able to embrace minimalism through family experiences during the holiday season.
The memories last a life time.
All of our family Christmas traditions help to keep the kids grounded.
They know what to expect during a time of year that can be very anxiety ridden and chaotic.
What are your Christmas traditions? I'd love to hear about them!
If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy the resources below.
.jpg "Family Christmas Tradition Ideas")
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