It’s often the simple moments that set the holiday season apart as the most wonderful time of the year. These are the months when the ordinary can transform, and we’re reminded that opportunities for connection and beauty are all around us.
In an effort to make a little more space for memories to unfold this season, we’ve compiled 25 of our favorite ways to welcome in the holiday spirit. Here’s to a jolly good time—together!
1. You’re never too old to bake cookies for Santa. Whether you whip up a batch alongside the little ones or just for fun, remember age is just a number.
2. Make the most of the days leading up to the holiday with an advent calendar or Christmas countdown of your own.
3. Buy a new puzzle and slowly piece it together as a family. Bonus points if it’s finished by Christmas morning!
4. Try your hand at holiday traditions from other cultures—like tamaladas, gathering friends and family for a tamale-making party.
5. Set up a hot cocoa bar to enjoy all season long (and get a sneak peek of the one Jo set up in her butler’s pantry this year).
6. Host a friendsgiving—or, just a good ol’ fashioned dinner party.
7. Add an ornament to your collection to commemorate the year.
8. Play in the snow! Start a snowball fight with a friend (if you’re somewhere that snows, that is).
9. Gather your family, pets, roommates, or friends around the tree and decorate together. Cue your favorite Christmas playlist and some baked goods while you’re at it
10. ‘Tis the season to try a new pie. Even if you don’t eat it, someone’s sure to.
11. Set one day aside (or even a few hours) to volunteer for a toy drive, food bank, or give back to the community in your own way.
12. Schedule some time for family photos with Santa—or, write him a letter!
13. Make a batch of holiday candy to share with neighbors, coworkers, or strangers.
14. Use the night of Christmas Eve to do something extra festive. Think: a special meal, game night at home, matching PJ’s, and opening presents just a little bit early…
15. Keep an eye out for Santa’s sleigh with a live tracker.
16. Start an annual—or maybe even monthly—neighborhood happy hour or progressive dinner to eat, drink, and be merry all together.
17. Serve a family recipe for Christmas brunch, or find a new favorite.
18. Take your talents (and your loved ones) to the ice rink for a more involved holiday tradition.
19. Collect little moments of merry—like Polaroids or gift ribbon—to add to a memory box at home.
20. We still love piling in the car with cups of cocoa to look at Christmas lights, but you could also try a light park or light tour near you. After all, ‘tis the season for all things merry and bright.
21. Whether under the tree or on the table, games and crafts offer other fun ways to mark each year.
22. Fill a chilly day with a scavenger hunt at home or out on the town. All you need are some good clues (and maybe a small gift or two along the way)!
23. If you don’t already have stockings you love, you might try decorating plain ones together each year.
24. Build your own cozy, festive pillow fort and settle in for a Christmas movie marathon.
25. Take the time to care for your existing traditions (and new additions) by finding ways to share and sustain them.
MORE TO INSPIRE
Discover more ideas to celebrate the season, right this way…
- Stories With Tradition
- A Collection of Recipes Passed Through Generations
- Marking the Year with Ornaments
- A Collection of Dessert Recipes that Feel Like the Holidays
- Wrap It Up: A Guide to Storing Holiday Decor
