There is just something about a holiday tradition that really brings family together. And there’s no time quite like Christmas Eve that amplifies that excitement.

Since getting married, my husband and I have been trying to split Christmases between our families. We always love having that time with our loved ones but it has inevitably left us at a point where we haven’t made traditions of our own. I think others may be able to relate, especially pre-children couples. When that time does come, however, we will want to create traditions that are meaningful to us as a unit and create lasting memories for our kids.

Whatever you do to celebrate, I encourage you to find traditions that involve everyone and encourage quality time. And if you are finding yourself in need of some last minute ideas, I’ve got you covered.

1. Christmas Eve Box

If you are like my family, then you probably wait until the magical time that is Christmas morning to open your gifts. But a fun tradition to consider is creating ONE fun gift box for your kids to open on Christmas Eve. Throw in some holiday themed pajamas for them to wear along with crafts and other activities to do that night, and a Christmas book to read together. Other ideas include movies, coloring books, ornaments, ingredients for cookie baking or hot cocoa, and a Christmas light scavenger hunt form. Which leads me to number two… 

2. Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt

A special tradition to do as a family is to drive around and look at Christmas lights. If you are in a city, you can typically do some research to find the best spots for festive displays. And a creative way to add a little extra interest is to have a scavenger hunt. I have included my own print-out for you to use this year below.  

3. Christmas Eve Service

You do not have to be a member of a church to attend a Christmas Eve Service. My own family always used to visit a quaint little church out in the Missouri countryside for Christmas Eve. It was a church house that my relatives going back several generations used to attend as members. The congregation only consisted of about 30 people and sweet Louise, the pianist, struggled through the same three Christmas songs every year. Santa even visited at the end, bringing gifts for the handful of kids and paper sacks full of hard candy and oranges for everyone else. The best part: it was called Bethlehem. It doesn’t sound like much, but it was always so special and we have unforgettable memories from our visits there.

What special traditions does your family celebrate each year for Christmas?

Scavenger Hunt Printout