Family Christmas Eve and Christmas Traditions

As realtors, we get to meet so many people from all walks of life. As we get to know our clients, we hear all sorts of great holiday traditions.

As a fun way to share all the wonderful ideas and traditions we’ve heard, we’ve put together a list of Christmas traditions for you to try out with your family!

These traditions include Christmas Eve meals, Christmas Morning Breakfast, and Christmas and Christmas Eve activities to try as a family!

Christmas Eve Dinner Traditions

Keep it light and/or easy!

Take-Out (Pizza, Thai, or a favorite local spot )

Fondue

Charcuterie

One Dish Casseroles (less dishes!)

Tamales (you know you’re a Texan when…)

Lasagna

Caprese Candy Cane

Appetizer Dinner – Bruschetta anyone?

Christmas Morning Breakfast Traditions

Themed breakfast ideas– Reindeer pancakes, Grinch fruit on a stick, etc!

Make-Ahead Breakfast Casseroles (Here’s Some Easy Ideas)

Cinnamon Rolls – Make a Christmas Tree out of all the rolls, or Decorate your Own Christmas Tree Cinnamon Roll!

Crock Pot French Toast (here’s one recipe but there are many variations including apple cinnamon bake, berry french toast, egg nog, etc!)

Mimosa Bar – This one’s for all the mama’s out there who stayed up until the crack of dawn wrapping presents!

Hot Cocoa Bar (Check out this Slow Cooker Cocoa Recipe)

Family Traditions for Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Eve

Want to learn more about the details of the above activities? Check out the more detailed list below!

Christmas Eve Ornament Crafting (we have a few examples of gifts/ornament crafts here)

Open a Christmas Eve Box! Suggestions vary from variations of these combos:
- Christmas PJs, hot cocoa, a new Christmas movie, a new Christmas book, popcorn, and a new Christmas game

Christmas Eve Thank You Notes to your Elf on the Shelf (skipped out on this trendy holiday tradition this year? It can be quite a bit of work but we’ve found more positive reasons to incorporate the Elf in your traditions!)

Gingerbread House Competition – (or just some friendly building)

Christmas Eve Cookies – Make Santa Christmas Cookies from Scratch + Reindeer Food (here’s a glitter-free option)!

DIY Cookie Plate – Make Santa’s Cookie Plate with this DIY craft.

Holiday Song Karaoke – Let’s admit it – you know all the words and don’t need a monitor (if you do – YouTube is your friend). Try using a cord-free hand-held microphone like this one

Christmas Charades – (here’s some free printable Christmas charade ideas)

Christmas Board Games – Christmas Monopoly– it’s a thing!

Holiday Music Dance Party – Dance the sillies out or try a fun game of Freeze Dance (great idea for Christmas Eve to tire the kids out!)

Ugly Christmas Sweater Day – Instead of your Christmas best, wear your worst! Encourage the whole family to rock their best ugly sweater at the family Christmas gathering!

Christmas Tree Camp Out – watch a movie in a magical Christmas Fort!

Christmas Photos with Santa! – Many places have a Santa in place through Dec 24th! Dress up in your Christmas best or keep it casual with some Christmas PJ’s and a visit to Santa.

Christmas Lights – Drive Around Looking at Christmas Lights (Make it an Adventure and Print Out this Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt! )

Share Your Gratitude – Write Santa, Parents, and loved ones a Thank You Note (or draw a Thank You photo)

Present Gratitude – Unwrap presents one person at a time. Encourage the opener to say a few nice things about the gift in order to express gratitude. This is especially great for kids and slowing down the present opening frenzy!

Christmas Pickle – Do you know about the pickle ornament tradition? An ornament shaped liked a pickle is hidden in the tree, and the person who finds it gets a special prize!

Christmas Movie Marathon – A classic family tradition! And streaming services have made it incredibly easy to marathon away the day

New Year’s Predictions Jar – After Christmas dinner, have everyone write down what they predict will happen throughout the following year, and put them in a jar. Next Christmas, you can look through the predictions and see if they came true!

Christmas Eve…at an Amusement Park! While Disneyland is packed (yet a truly magical option if you can swing it!), other parks empty out. No lines and lots of rides!

Christmas S’Mores – Try Using Andes Mints for a more Peppermint Tasting S’More! Or roast marshmallows for your Christmas morning Cocoa

Give Back –Visit a nursing home with a Christmas Book and Christmas Cookies! Ask to be read to (or to read to) the elderly.

Christmas Minute to Win-It Games

Ornament Balance – This is a game where you put a yardstick on a paper towel roll and add ornaments to the yardstick without any falling, all in one minute.

Snowman Race – toilet paper and some simple construction paper decor

Christmas Tree Wrap – similar to the snowman race, use green streamer and bows to make your own Christmas Tree

Christmas Present Wrap – any leftover wrapping paper, bows, or ribbons? Give it a second life! Who can wrap up the best “present” I.e., person!

Shave Santa – It’s a race to “shave Santa’s beard”. Use shaving cream or make it sweet with whipped cream beards + a popsicle stick as the “razor”