When you think back to Christmas as a child, what are some of the traditions you remember most? Maybe it’s a Christmas movie marathon or listening to carols. While you might have traditions you continue with into adulthood, there’s plenty of room to make new ones with your family.
What better way to get the most out of Christmas time than creating a few decorating traditions your family will carry out for years to come? You might even find your kids continue them on with their own children! From looking at neighbourhood Christmas lights and picking out a tree, to getting crafty and doing some festive baking, here are some ideas for Christmas decorating traditions your family will cherish year after year.
H2: Looking at Christmas lights around the neighbourhood
An oldie but a goodie, driving (or walking) around your neighbourhood to check out the Christmas lights is the perfect way to get in the swing of the festive season – and it might even inspire some decorating ideas for your own house! Make a night of it with a movie afterwards to really get into the festive spirit. It’s a simple tradition with a lasting impact.
H2: Picking out a Christmas tree
Another quintessential Christmas-time activity is picking out a Christmas tree. Of course, traditionally this would involve choosing (and even chopping down) a real fir tree, but these days plenty of people opt for the ease of artificial trees, which not only involve less mess and maintenance, but can be re-used year after year. If the latter option applies to you, you can still make it an activity for the whole family by letting your kids help pick out the tree (or perhaps some new decorations if you already have one), and getting everyone involved when it comes to assembling it each year.
H2: Getting crafty with decorations
Get out the pom poms, paint, ribbon and plenty of glitter, because there is no shortage of ideas for DIY Christmas decorations that will not only get the whole family involved, but also save money – a win-win situation! Some ideas include a Christmas angel for the top of your tree, a wreath, or even a miniature Christmas tree. You’ll be surprised what you can make out of paper and pipe cleaners, and even random household items like toilet paper rolls can prove to be great materials for crafting decorations. You can even personalise pre-bought decorations – like painting your own patterns on baubles – which will give them an extra touch.
H2: Making a gingerbread house
A fun and creative way to get your hands dirty in the kitchen, there’s a reason why gingerbread houses are so popular. If you want a no-fuss approach, there are some great gingerbread house kits you can buy. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also make one from scratch using a recipe. Get the kids to decorate the gingerbread house with icing, candy canes, gummies and other sweet treats – the best part about this Christmas decoration is you get to eat it!
H2: Christmas baking
Continuing with the cooking trend, Christmas baking is a great way to create festive decorations that are both tasty and fun to make. There are plenty of cakes you can bake, from a Christmas cake to a Bombe Alaska or a carrot cake (this one has Rudolph’s tick of approval!). Cookies are another great option, whether you opt for classic gingerbread cookies or purchase Christmas-themed cookie cutters to get creative with your shapes. It doesn’t have to all be sweet either – a pie is another classic Christmas-time dish, or you can combine savoury and sweet and make a mince pie!
H2: An advent calendar
Advent calendars are a fool-proof way to build that Christmas excitement – not that your kids will need any encouragement. There are plenty you can buy (you won’t be able to escape them at the supermarket!), but they’re also incredibly easy to craft at home, making them a great Christmas decoration activity that can very easily become an annual family tradition. Get started early and create your own countdown with small little gifts or sweet treats!
H2: Homemade Christmas cards
Cards are so expensive these days and homemade cards always have that extra bit of charm, so why not make your own Christmas cards? Sit the kids down with craft materials and you’re sure to get some creative results that will be all the more meaningful to the recipient than a generic store-bought card.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to ideas for Christmas decorating traditions. Whether you choose something on this list or come up with your own ideas, these activities will not only get the family together and save some money, but the decorations you create will be all the more meaningful and you’ll find you have plenty of memories to cherish for years to come.