10 Things to Do on Christmas Day as a Family

These Christmas Day traditions are fun and family-friendly.   While there are so many fun things to do on Christmas morning, these traditions will last a lifetime.   The day is filled with so much joy and when you have traditions that your family can remember (like these Christmas games that you play in the afternoon after opening presents), it just makes that day a little bit better (if that’s even possible). 😉

Ten Christmas Day Traditions for Families 

We love the Christmas season!  It starts with a Countdown to Christmas and it stays filled with fun activities: Christmas books, Christmas songs, crafts, movies & so much more.   However, our favorite things would definitely be our Christmas Day Traditions with our family.

They are so much fun.  These traditions are ones that your children will remember for years to come. I hope that they find a place with your family. 🙂

10. Have a family breakfast.

Here are a few breakfast ideas:

• If you want a dessert-type of breakfast on Christmas morning, make this amazing Cinnamon Roll Skillet Cake. 
• If you want something more filling, try this sausage casserole.
• We also love these Gingerbread pancakes. 
• Oh- and the kids like these maple bacon pancakes. 

9. Watch a Christmas Movie.

Within 30 minutes of being awake, at least one family member asks about watching A Christmas Story.  It’s on repeat on the 25th, so we just keep it on in the background.
Here are a few more movies you might like:

• Star
• White Christmas
• Elf
• Miracle on 34th Street
• The Santa Clause
• Rudolf

8. Look at Christmas Lights… and leave a note!

Number 8 on the list of things to do on Christmas Day is one of my favorites! We drive around, in Christmas pajamas, on the night before Christmas and again on Christmas night looking at lights.  You can listen to  Christmas music and drive to your favorite fun Christmas themed houses.

Our kids know exactly which ones to see every year (each of the kids has a favorite).  This tradition isn’t complete until we  put these notes about finding Jesus in their yard in their mailboxes.

7. Bake Cookies

I love to bake cookies and so do the kids. Baking is the perfect Christmas tradition. Here are some favorites:

• Three-ingredient cookies
• Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
• Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Softest-Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Snowman Nutter Butter Cookies

6. Call your family

Make sure to include calling family members as a Christmas day tradition.  Our kids like to Facetime with their cousins every Christmas morning.

5. Write Thank You Notes

Write a thank you letter to Santa and to your relatives, too (anyone that has given a Christmas gift).
Your kids can help you by just filling in the gift name and their name while you write the rest.

It’s easy when you make a printable that says “Dear ____, Thank you for my ______. Love, ______.”
If they are too young to write, let them draw a picture of the gift.

4. Have a Candy Cane Hunt!

Every year, my parents host a Candy Cane Hunt.  We usually have it a few days before the 25th, in the week leading up to Christmas, but you could always have it on Christmas day.

HOW THE CANDY CANE HUNT WORKS: 

•  Get multiple colors of candy canes.  We get enough for 6 per person.
  
• Each child will choose their color – they will hunt for ONLY their color of candy cane.
  
• Next, one person (adult) hides the candy canes.  My mom hides them outside if it’s not too cold (and if it’s not raining).
• When she is done, the kids then go outside & search for them, but they can only find their color.  If they find another color, they don’t pick it up or tell anyone.
  
• The hunt is over when they find all of their candy canes.
  
• The prize is… you can eat a candy cane before dinner. 😉

3. Hold the Elf! 

Yes, on Christmas day, our kids are allowed to hold our elf on the shelf.   Our elf leaves a note every year that gives them permission to hold him before he heads home to the North Pole for the year.

2. Write it Down… and Save it!

Everyone writes down their favorite things that happened this year, their favorite gift this holiday season, and one thing that they hope to accomplish by this time next year.
Put it in the Christmas Tree box and when you get the tree out next year, you can see your list and see if anything came true.

1. Relax and enjoy the day

Spend time cuddling on the couch, drinking hot chocolate and enjoying time together… relaxing and being together as a family.   My favorite part is just being together… watching the kids enjoying their new gifts, and hanging out with one another.  We have Christmas Story playing in the background ALL day long while we just enjoy our day, our company, and our time.

A few more fun ideas that make a great family tradition: 

• Sing your favorite Christmas carols and then make up your own song! Everyone picks a Christmas word out of a hat and they have to start a song using that word.
  Example: If my word was “Tree”, my song might be “Trees are light and trees are bright when they are covered in lights!  We love to gather around the tree and open presents in the morning!”
  
• Decorate Gingerbread houses
• Leave a small gift at someone’s house.
• If you are using an Advent Calendar, be sure to move to the last day!
• Go through the Christmas cards together.
• Play a Christmas-Themed game, likes these ones that you can download now. (Ex: Christmas Charades & Christmas Scattegories)

Here are a few more Christmas posts that you might like:

Last Minute Christmas recipes

Candy Cane Glasses
Christmas Day Traditions for Families 

Gift ideas for YOUR parents.