10 Fun Family Traditions to Start This Christmas
Every family has those little things that make Christmas feel like Christmas: the hot chocolate before decorating the tree, the late-night wrapping marathons, and the same film you all quote by heart. If you don’t have many traditions yet (or fancy adding a few new ones), now’s the perfect time to start.
These simple, affordable ideas will bring everyone together, no matter if your “family” means a full house or just a few special people.
A Christmas Eve Box
Fill it with cosy pyjamas, a festive film, and a sweet treat to share. It’s a lovely way to slow down and get into the Christmas mood.
A Family Movie Marathon
Pick a few favourites. The Muppets Christmas Carol is non-negotiable, and make it an annual event, complete with snacks and blankets.
Bake Something Together
Cookies, mince pies, or even a gingerbread house. It doesn’t have to look perfect; it’s all about the laughs and the mess.
A Christmas Lights Walk
Bundle up and head out after dark to see the local lights. Take a flask of hot chocolate and rate your favourites along the way.
A Morning of Giving Back
Donate toys, food, or clothes to a local charity or food bank. It’s a lovely way to remind everyone what the season’s really about.
The “Kindness Advent Calendar”
Instead of chocolates, write one small kind act for each day, from complimenting someone to sending a thank-you note.
Family Game Night
Dust off old board games or find new ones to try together. The sillier the better, it’s about laughter, not winning.
The Annual Decoration Swap
Each year, everyone picks one new decoration to add to the tree. It’s fun to see how your collection (and memories) grow.
A Cosy Reading Tradition
Pick a festive story or book to read together every night. This can also be the perfect way to wind down after a busy day.
Gratitude To End The Day
Before bed, everyone joins up to share one thing they loved about the day. It can offer a calm, grounding way to finish the day in a season filled with chaos.
Final Thoughts
Traditions don’t need to be big or expensive; in fact, the best ones are the moments you repeat simply because they make everyone feel closer, happier, and full of festive joy. Start small this year and see what becomes a family favourite.
Competition
Would you like to win a lovely bundle of festive goodies for all the family? Well, Modern Guy UK have put together a fantastic one, including something for him, her, a child and pets! So why not enter below?
Win a Family Present Bundle.There are two mandatory entry options in this competition, which have been set by the prize sponsor; all other entries are optional. However, entering via multiple methods gives you more entries into the final draw.
Open to UK residents only. Giveaway closes 23/11. The winner will be chosen at random and contacted by email. Good luck!
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We always have a family sort-out before Christmas. We look through toys and clothes my kids have decided they’ve outgrown or no longer want. We then donate these to our local domestic abuse support charity.
Decorating the tree is my favourite tradition!
our family has a few traditions, but Christmas Eve in the pub for a good catch up is my favourite! These days it is hard to find time to see everyone, so it’s usually a lot of fun!
Sharing the magic and excitement with our grandchildren then afterwards enjoying the peace and quiet relaxing with hubby and counting our many blessings.
We go for a long walk across the fields for a pub lunch with freinds, family, kids & dogs.
Up to 50 of us some years.
Leaving out milk and carrots for Santa and the reindeer
Making the Christmas pudding with my daughters on stir up Sunday x
I love a good family tradition. We have one that I started by accident. We always have hot chocolate with marshmallows when we put the tree up.
Putting the tree up as a family with the Christmas music playing and box of chocs on the table
Leaving out carrots for the reindeer on the doorstep. They get used in Christmas dinner too!
Christmas on Christmas Eve, it started when my partner’s children were young, so they got Christmases with both parents, they still call it their first Christmas Day, and they’re in their 30s now
decorating the christmas tree on Christmas eve
how refreshing that you are celebrating Christmas at Christmas not in November
I will definately try some of these , I particularly like going for a christmas walk looking at the lights.
Thank You
I adore laying out the cookies and milk still to this day. Got to make sure santa is fed 😉
We love watching Santa Claus: The Movie on Christmas eve. Reminds me so much of watching it in the 80s with my Nan.
Fab giveaway
Watching the film Last Christmas on Christmas Eve. George fan and do it as a tribute to him plus it’s a great movie.
The advent stockings with something to do evsryday. Old traditions and new traditions give the grandaughters something to do and learn about other than presents and cihocolate.
I love doing all the Christmas baking. I also get a new bauble every year for the tree. we now call the tree our Special Memory tree I have got a few baubles that are know 35:years old from our first Christmas and one for every year since. some hold some very special memories.
I’d be over the moon to win this lovely lot. good luck everyone.
I’m sad I can’t really participate in this giveaway not being part of Elon Musks tribe.
I’m so sorry 🙁 this isn’t one I am running myself so the entry options are a bit different to my normal. Back to either no mandatory or just a comment for the next one.
you have lots of great competitions running at the moment so I should not complain!
Thank you! It’s suddenly gone a bit competition crazy over here haha, good luck with them all!
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without
A nagging child or two,
Can I have this Nerf Gun mum,
Or a trip to Timbucktoo?!
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without
A sumptuous feast or five,
The diet starts the New Year Friend,
You say, as you see your thighs
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without
Family near and dear,
You love them all,
And work so hard,
To bring them Christmas cheer!
Always do Christmas Eve boxes every year
one of our best traditions is making turkey broth the day after bixing day with the left over turkey bones etc.
Our tradition is to put the tree up on the first Sunday in December, aided by liberal quantities of mulled wine and Lebkuchen.
Watching my fave Christmas film on Dec 1st /24th and New years eve
Me eating as much cold turkey as I can
we cook xmas dinner on xmas eve – that way we have all the left overs for buffet the next day and we can play with new toys and do all the things with the family rather than 1 or more persons stuck cooking all day. makes more sense to do this and cold roast potatoes are the best!
Every year we each buy a bauble and add it to the tree, each decoration now has a great memory
AMAZING GIVEAWAY!
On Christmas Eve we all have new pjs and open one present each
I like to go on a family Christmas light walk
I love to put out a mince pie for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph on Christmas Eve
Putting a fairy on top of the Christmas tree, which has been passed down through the generations. She was given to my mum from hers, and she’s been on the tree ever since.
Bucks Fizz in the morning whilst opening presents
My favourite tradition is Christmas dinner, I always look forward to it!
Singing carols at the carol service
Going for a nice family walk on Christmas Eve and seeing everywhere lit up!
Hanging up Christmas stockings on Christmas Eve
Going to the Christmas Eve Carol service with the family
all the family putting up the decorations