20+ Memorable Ways To Celebrate Christmas With Family This Year (2024)

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Christmas Celebration Ideas & Christmas Activities at Home

There are so many different ways to celebrate Christmas. What are your favorite ways to spend time with family & friends over the holiday season.

We love getting some Christmas themed , making Christmas ornaments, and decorating a gingerbread house while singing along to Christmas music.

Go through your photos and have each family member pick out a few favourite photos of this years travels and events. Even if you stuck close to home you can celebrate the fun you had.

for your year in review. Make it a tradition and pull out the past years books each year.

🎄Make planning your dream Christmas easier with your Happy Holiday Planner

👉 If you aren’t feeling crafty check out my favourite travel themed Christmas ornaments.

Diwali – Festival of Lights

Diwali, the Hindu festival from India that celebrates the triumph of light over dark, good over evil. Light candles, or lanterns and make sweets like gulab jamun which are delicious fried balls soaked in rose-water syrup or barfi, flavoured squares made of condensed milk and sugar.

St. Nicholas Day, Netherlands

Legend has it that Sinterklaas, comes to Holland by steam boat, all the way from Spain. Once in Holland he rides a white horse to deliver toys to good children.

Children leave traditional clogs, (or regular shoes) by the fireplace or door and shoes filled with hay or carrots for Sinterklaas’ white horse in hopes small gifts will be left in place.

Tu B’shevat – Jewish New Year for Trees

Tu B’shevat, known as the Jewish New Year for the Trees is celebrated by on the 15th day of the month of Shevat. Depending on the Hebrew calendar this usually falls in either January or February.

Its purpose has been adopted as an ecological holiday, a reminder of our connection to the earth, and our role in caring for it.

Jewish people will often plant trees ( or pay for trees to be planted). Fruit, or food is eaten from the Seven Species abundant in Israel; wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates (or honey).

ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH FAMILY

6. Give Back To Your Community

The holiday season isn’t always the easiest for people. Finding ways to give back to your community can be rewarding, and help teach your children to consider and support others.

Donate your time or money. There are many organizations doing amazing things out there that could use money or volunteers year round.

What are you and your kids passionate about? Maybe it’s animal rescue, or saving the whales. Maybe you want to support refugee organizations or artists coalitions. Make a donation on behalf of your family as part of their gift.

Or maybe you prefer more hands on volunteering. Here are a few ideas:

• Bake some treats and deliver a baked goods care package to health care workers, fire fighters, the elderly or people who are homeless in your community
• Cook meals, and hand them out
• Create care packages of essential toiletries, snacks, socks and a few dollars and drop them off to a shelter
• Donate lightly used winter clothes, jackets to shelters

🎄 Make delicious food with 40+ Kid-Friendly Holiday Recipes From Around The World

Scavenger hunts are fun for the whole family and “kids” of all ages can join. Even the grumpy adults who want to duck out of the fun.

Choose your holiday. Drive, walk, bike around town or your neighbourhood in teams, or as individuals. Invite family members or friends. Check off as many as possible.

For extra incentive, come up with a couple of small inexpensive holiday themed prizes for the winners.

⭐️ Grab your free kids printable Christmas scavenger hunts here

7. Photo / Selfie Scavenger Hunt

Grab a camera or cell phone and head out on the town. The goal of the Photo / Selfie Scavenger Hunt is to take photos with as many items on the list as possible, within a certain time frame. An hour is a good length of time.

Make a time and place to meet back up. Have a photo show and tell. The team who has checked off the most items wins.

Pick a holiday themed prize; baked goods, peppermint hot chocolate, or a small gift would all be great choices. Or choose categories of prizes; the most creative photo, the most festive etc. to expand the fun.

8. Christmas Movie Scavenger Hunt

Tie your Christmas Movie Scavenger Hunt in with your movie marathon, and you’ll be ahead.

It would be fun to challenge another family to the game.

Give all players a deadline. The month of December would work well. Everytime you watch a Christmas themed movie check it off from the list. The team who has watched the most Christmas movies wins.

Or if you are familiar with the movie, create a list of things, scenes or phrases you have to check off while watching the movie.

Pro Tip: Google is your friend here if you need a short cut.

“You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out Kid.”

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

Bonus points if you get the Holiday movies those two quotes are from. No cheating. Let me know in the comments below.

9. Christmas Riddles Scavenger Hunt

Extend present time, by having your kids figure out riddles to find their present(s). Most kids love searching out the clues, and answering the riddle. A fun idea for teens, or children of reading age.

Check out these cute printable riddles.

10. Have A Travel Or Christmas Movie Marathon with Global Snacks

If you were planning on travelling somewhere exciting over the holiday season, and are now stuck at home, you may (or may not) have lots of time on your hands.

Find a few destination themed movies and have a movie marathon. Even better if they combine the holidays & places you’d like to visit. Be sure to pull out some tasty snacks to nosh on during the movie.

Or make a movie bucket list of all the family favourites, and see if you can watch them all in December.

We loved our Universal Yums Christmas Snack Box, with Christmas themed snacks from around the world.

You can check out our complete review & unboxing here.

So many ideas.

Every December we would get in our pj’s, buckle in the car, and head down to Candy Cane Lane. This one particular street was so well known for it’s lights and decorations, there would be cars lined up and down the road for blocks.

Take it to another level by blasting carols, bringing some snacks for the road, then heading back to the house for some hot cocoa (with marshmallows & candy canes of course).

16. Create a Museum Experience At Home

A lot of vacations involve a trip to a museum, or an educational experience. If your plans were deferred, try out a virtual visit with your kids. Choose a couple they are most interested in, and make it an at-home virtual field trip.

These museums etc. offer Free Virtual Tours:

• The Louvre
• Metropolitan Museum of Art #Metkids

• National Parks (USA) Virtual Tours
• San Diego Zoo
• National Aquarium, Baltimore

These are just a few options, as many places now offer virtual tours and experiences online.

Choose some of your favourite travel photos, then find or make some funky frames and put your pics on the walls. Invite your family or friends over, to listen to some of your favorite tales of previous adventures.

If you are feeling a little artsy, have a family art day. Go free form or choose your favourite artists and recreate their masterpieces. Hang your works of art on the walls for all to see.

So many options for a photo gallery.

Invite friends and family to participate and do it as a fundraiser. Sell the works to raise money for a family in need, or for your favourite charity.

18. Write a Christmas Wish List or Letter to Santa

There is something magical about writing a letter to Santa. Make a special time of it. Make some special Christmas treats, pull out your favourite pencil crayons or pens and write up a storm.

Grab your Santa Claus Letter templates here, or click on the image above.

19. Celebrate Locally

Celebrating locally can be a fantastic way to get in the holiday spirit. Are there any festivities happening in your hometown?

Keep an eye out for Christmas Markets, craft fairs, or window / light decorating competitions.

I like ice skating in the winter time, particularly in outdoor rinks. See if there are any outdoor themed activities being offered this year, such as sleigh rides, ice skating, or tree lighting ceremonies.

Add a few family favourites to your calendar so you won’t miss out.

20. Get Your Craft On

To me, the holidays are synonymous with crafting, whether my own or other peoples.

Get creative with some Christmas or holiday themed crafts. Choose an online course, or free DIY tutorial, then gather round the childers and make an afternoon of it.

Looking for some ideas, try wreath making, salt dough tree ornaments, or an advent calendar. Creating some homemade gifts for grandparents also is a nice touch, and something much appreciated.

My motto: crafting, not just for kids.

DIY ideas:

• Try these 3 ingredient cinnamon ornaments ( my favourite & they smell so good).
• Easy Kids Christmas crafts
• Easy Adult Crafts

21. Plan Your Next Vacation

While it may seem a bit premature, there’s never a wrong time to begin planning your next trip.

While the key may be flexibility for the next couple of years, you can still keep the dream alive.

Make a vision board. Dream wildly and write down all your ideas. Do some research. Encorporate your kids ideas. Write out a plan for how you will save money for travel.

Consider a vacation closer to home. A road trip or a camping trip to a National Park you’ve always wanted to see, but never managed to get to.

Happy Planning!

Celebrating Your Holiday Season At Home, Can Be Fantastic.

No really!

Ok, so your home holiday may not be as tropical or winter like. It may be more familiar, and less wild. But, celebrating can be fun and memorable with these unique ways to celebrate Christmas & the holiday season.

Take a chance and try something new. You never know. You may end up with some new family traditions, or hilarious memories you end up reliving each year.

Do you have any unique or special ways your family celebrates Christmas at home? Any tips to share? Let us know in the comments below, or connect with us on social media.

We’d love to hear from you!

LOOKING FOR SOME FUN FAMILY GIFT IDEAS THIS HOLIDAY?

Try one of these special gifts.

FOR EVERYONE (ALL AGES)

• Ultimate Gift Guide for Beach Lovers
• ​45 Epic RV Gift Ideas: Gifts for RV Owners they’ll use and love​

​KIDS

• ​12 of the Best Travel Backpacks for Kids (and Toddlers)​
• Cool Camping Gifts for your favourite outdoorsy kid!
• Gifts & experiences for the adventurous tween they’ll adore​

​TRAVEL FROM HOME

• ​25 Amazing Subscription Boxes to Inspire Wanderlust (in all ages)– Great last minute gift
• ​Universal Yums – World Snack Tour from Home – The Holiday Box is our yearly favourite
• ​30+ Gorgeous Travel Christmas Ornaments to hang on your tree this holiday

Unique Ways To Celebrate Christmas (When You Can’t Travel)