Merry Almost Christmas.
We DID IT.
Yep.
Can you even believe it?
We have spent the last 11 days getting ready for Christmas.
When my friend Leslie first proposed the idea to me I was excited and a little nervous. Just between us? I wasn’t sure I was going to make it. I thought somewhere around Day 9, I might forget to post because I was so busy watching Christmas movies.
But here we are on DAY 12.
The most wonderful day of all.
Why?
Decorating and baking and singing and organizing and planning and decking the halls is amazing. But the most important thing this holiday season?
Spending time with family.
Here are 7 Christmas Eve traditions to start this year.
1. Take a drive-through tour of Christmas lights with hot chocolate and Christmas music
Not sure where lights are in your neighborhood?
Here’s an app that helps you find Christmas lights in your neighborhood.
It goes live in two weeks.
You can see it here.
2. Have a Christmas carol sing-along
We do this every year and my husband plays the guitar.
Set up a family hot chocolate bar with sprinkles and marshmallows and whipped cream.
And pass out Christmas carol books so everyone can sing along.
3. Read “Twas was the Night Before Christmas”
We do this every Christmas Eve.
My mother has a vintage book from when she was a child.
She sits in a chair and our family all gathers around and tries and recite it together.
Those reindeer on the roof always trip us up.
4. Decorate a gingerbread house together
You can even have a gingerbread decorating contest with prizes.
Then let everyone snack on the gingerbread houses and open up one present on Christmas Eve.
Our present that we open?
Matching Christmas jammies.
5. Take a family photo together
After you open those jammies?
Put them on and take a family photo all together.
Set the phone or camera on a timer so everyone can be in the photo.
Then schedule a holiday movie marathon of everyone’s favorite movies (we love Winter Wonderland on Hallmark).
6. Schedule a group video chat with friends and family that are out of town
This year so many of us are unable to be together.
Even though we are far apart, celebrating together on ZOOM or Facetime is so special.
Set up a call and invite family that can’t be there in person.
7. Attend a midnight Christmas Eve service
This is one of our family traditions.
And one of my favorites.
It’s the most amazing celebration to walk outside after church and it’s Christmas.
Thank you for celebrating “12 Days of Getting Ready for Christmas” with me this year.
I so appreciate you.
May your holiday season be warm and welcoming and Christmasy.
And full of hot chocolate.
And laughter.
And seasons greetings.
And full of joy….
…with extra merry on top.
And now?
Be sure and stop by Leslie’s and see even more ideas for traditions for Christmas Eve.
12 Days of Getting Ready for Christmas
(what you might have missed)
- DAY 1: What You Should Be Shopping for Christmas Now
- DAY 2: How To Choose a Christmas Theme
- DAY 3: 17 Ways to Make Last Year’s Christmas Decor Look Like New
- DAY 4: 7 Simple and Easy Christmas Centerpiece Ideas
- DAY 5: Gift Guides For All the Hard To Buy For People On Your List
- DAY 6: 21 DIY Gift Wrapping Ideas
- DAY 7: 25 Gifts Under $25
- DAY 8: 17 Unique Handmade Gifts
- DAY 9: Christmas Dessert Ideas
- DAY 10: 20 Stocking Stuffers under $5
- DAY 11: 14 Creative Ideas for Your Christmas Tree
Here’s what Leslie has been sharing
- DAY 1: How to Shop for Seasonal Decor
- DAY 2: A Cranberry Christmas Theme
- DAY 3: 11 Ways to Repurpose Last Year’s Christmas Decor
- DAY 4: Christmas Dishes and Table Decor Ideas
- DAY 5: Holiday Gift Guides for Everyone You Know
- DAY 6: Gift Wrapping Ideas
- DAY 7: Gifts Under $25
- DAY 8: Gifts Handmade With Love
- DAY 9: Make Ahead Christmas Desserts
- DAY 10: Stocking Stuffers for Christmas Morning
- DAY 11: Decorating a Farmhouse Christmas Tree
It has been so fun to follow along with you and Leslie these past 12 days! I love Christmas and it is never too early in my book to start getting ready for it. Traditions are so special, my family already does many the same that you listed, you are never too old for hot chocolate and lights, or reading the Night Before Christmas. How wonderful that your mom reads the book she had as a child! I love that.
This has been so fun. Christmas makes me very happy and cheerful. Your red and white is merry and bright. I want to thank you and Leslie for all the ideas and info.
Going to do some of these for sure!!!
Love the bells on the wreath SO MUCH!!! xoxo
Those felt houses! Did you buy them or make them? I think I'll show them to my daughter and have her recreate them for me. Thanks for all the fun ideas.
I got them years ago from Kirkland's! Happy day! KariAnne
How fun! Will have to try them!
Love your door decorations Where did you get your bells hanging from the wreath?
I got them from a downtown boutique in McKinney. Here are some super similar (affiliate): https://amzn.to/3nde377
With so many changes in my family’s lives lately, we need some new traditions. Thank you so much for sharing so many great ideas!
We walk the dogs in the weeks leading up to Christmas. We see the lights and hope for snow. We love Christmas Eve mass. Every year looks a little different, but when we hold on to the important stuff it always feels calm and bright! Thank you for a fun week! laura in Colorado
My favorite time of the year and celebrating with you and Leslie has been the best! Bring it all on!! Can you just keep going daily for a few more weeks? …asking for a friend!
For all of the snow lovers out there...we got several inches of it last night in Grand Rapids MI. It's still on the grass, but luckily the roads are clear. Winter is just around the corner. As our kids started to marry and have another family that they also needed to celebrate with, we decided to do our family Christmas on Christmas eve. We start our celebration early enough, so everyone can go to a later church service or get the little ones to bed. This way they have Christmas day for their families and their in-laws' celebrations. There's never any confusion or upset as to how to divide their holiday time.