Christmas Eve is finally here! Hopefully you have gotten all the gifts and cookies made for your loved ones for this coming Christmas🎅
These things to do will ensure you're totally rested before the massive day. Also, you may be making reminiscences you'll cherish for years to come. And whilst some of the following matters to do on Christmas Eve are tried and true, you may locate some clean ideas as well. Nevertheless, these first-rate Christmas Eve traditions are exciting for kids and adults alike.
1. Organize A White Elephant Gift Exchange Game
From office parties to large family gatherings, white elephant gift exchanges are a fun-filled way to turn exchanging presents into a game. What is a white elephant gift exchange? It typically consists of a group of people who each bring one wrapped awesome/bad/campy/funny gift (that could go to anyone in the group) of similar value and place them into a single, anonymous pile. Participants then pick a number from a hat (hint: the higher the number, the more options you’ll have), and take turns choosing a gift from the pile—or “stealing” from an earlier participant who’s already picked—until everyone has a present in front of them. The rules can vary a bit, particularly as it relates to how many times a popular gift can be stolen, but that’s the general gist. Thankfully, most participants find the whole process hilarious and have a good sense of humor about what gift they end up with, however one or two will inevitably voice their disappointment when stuck with a less-desirable gift.
2. Making Christmas Crafts With Your Loved Ones
Christmas is all about spending time with family and friends and making fun memories that will last a lifetime—this rings especially true when it comes to children. While there are plenty of ways of doing this—think snow angles and sledding—there are some days where indoor activities are the best option. Rather than sitting the kids down in front of holiday movie, spread your love of Christmas craft ideas by making a Christmas crafts with the help of the little ones.
Whatever you and your little ones choose to create, the most important thing is that you'll be spending quality time together—and who doesn't want that around the holidays? Grab some glue sticks and paint, and get started making one of on our favorite Christmas crafts for kids.
3. Hanging Christmas Stockings
You're going to need a place for all of those stocking stuffers! If you use your fireplace often, you may want to refrain from leaving your stockings up at the beginning of the season. However, leaving it to the last minute makes for a special Christmas Eve tradition.
4. Reading Christmas Classics
Whether you choose a classic Christmas tale or a new holiday adventure, curl up with your little ones and some hot cocoa as you read one of our favorite Christmas books for kids. Books are some of the best Christmas gifts around, but spending time reading together is its own gift. Some of these books are can be true classics, while others can be more contemporary stories about Christmas, winter, and the holidays that little ones are sure to love.
5. Midnight Mass
Midnight mass is a tradition that sees Christians gather for a service on Christmas Eve. The service generally starts just before midnight, depending on whether the church is Roman Catholic of Protestant. Some churches have also made the services start a little earlier to make it easier for young families to get home. While there is nothing in the Bible to dictate that Christians need to go to mass on Christmas Eve, the tradition is believed to have started to honour Jesus' birth. It is believed the tradition started in the Western World from about 430AD under Pope Sixtus III in the Basilica of St Mary Major. Midnight mass became widely popular by the twelfth century. There are also services generally held at dawn, and during Christmas Day.
6. Take A Night Time Drive Through The City
Pile in the car and set out to see the best and brightest lights in your neighborhood. Bring along a thermos of hot chocolate and get your favorite Christmas songs playing for a memorable night out.
7. Wearing Matching Pajamas on Christmas Eve
Christmas is obviously going to look a little different this year, but what doesn't have to change is your tradition of wearing matching family Christmas pajamas. In fact, making sure everyone in your family (including the dogs!) are all dressed up in the same cozy PJs on Christmas morning is a great way to feel connected, especially if you're only seeing each other through a Zoom call.
8. Watching Movies
Grab a mug of hot chocolate (extra marshmallows and whipped cream) and sit in for a festive marathon with Christmas movies on Netflix and classic animated Christmas movies like Frosty the Snowman and A Charlie Brown Christmas. There are fewer things cozier than curling up to watch best Christmas movies of all time or Christmas movies on Netflix on a winter day. There's just something about holiday films that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. And when it’s a family-friendly movie that you can enjoy with everyone you love—from toddlers to adults—even better. So snuggle in with your family on the couch, and watch your kids’ faces light up as they soak up the best Christmas movies for kids.
9. Sing A Christmas Carol
Round up friends and family to make your very own chorus of carolers and surprise your neighbors with some holiday entertainment right at their doorstep. Even better, you can record and send video messages to safely share Christmas cheer!
10. Surprise Visit From Santa
Convince one of the grown-ups to dress up like the jolly fellow and we’re sure your kids will be on their best behavior all night long.