Looking back on my childhood, I don’t recall any gifts I received on Christmas morning (except the bell from Santa’s sleigh). What I do remember is our kitchen filled with my family baking cookies, the table covered in candy as we decorated gingerbread houses, the cozy fires and movies, cutting down our Christmas tree and spending the evening decorating it with favorite ornaments, shopping and wrapping gifts for each other, blasting the music and dancing in the kitchen, my parents in their bathrobes fumbling with the camcorder on Christmas morning. The memories. The magic. The laughter. The togetherness.
Now that I have a family of my own, I remind myself of this each holiday season. I love having the ability to create magic for my boys. To start traditions they’ll remember and maybe continue when they have children of their own. And while there will still be toys under the tree, I will teach them that this is what’s really important.
These traditions are some we’ve already started and others I’m planning to incorporate as they become age appropriate.
1. Make salt dough ornaments each year to hang on the tree. We’re going to try this recipe.
2. Drive around looking at Christmas lights. Prepare to-go mugs of hot cocoa, pop some fresh popcorn and/or bake homemade chocolate chip cookies. Dress in your coziest pajamas and maybe even bring a blanket to curl up with in the car!
3. Make a fort in the living room using blankets, chairs, clothespins, etc. and maybe even decorate it with Christmas lights. Then grab some pillows, climb in, and enjoy a Christmas movie from inside.
4. Spend a day baking cookies. Save them for Christmas, freeze some, bring them to family, neighbors, friends or a homeless shelter. Expect a mess in the kitchen from the beginning and don’t worry about it until all your cookies are baked.
5. Read a Christmas story each night before bed. Grab a bunch of holiday books at the library or buy a new one each year to expand your own collection. And if you have a toddler, you may be reading the same book every night anyways!
6. Make and decorate gingerbread houses. Graham crackers work great or you can buy a box that has the pieces of the house premade. Vote at the end to see whose house is the family favorite.
7. Write a letter and Christmas wish list and mail it to Santa at the North Pole.
8. Decorate the kids bedroom (or playroom) together. A small tree with their favorite ornaments, twinkling lights, garland, some festive blankets. It’ll make bedtime extra cozy.
9. Make cinnamon rolls on Christmas Eve to bake and enjoy Christmas morning. These eggnog cinnamon rolls are a great option!
10. Buy your kids a new pair of cozy pajamas, a book and/or a game that they receive on Christmas Eve to read/play as a family before tucking them into bed.
Bonus Idea: Spend a night away in a festive location. We love going to Boston for a night around Christmas to admire the decorations and lights, wander through the holiday markets, enjoy a yummy dinner and find a bakery for coffee and some treats. Other great options in New England include Stockbridge MA, Newport RI, Woodstock VT, Kennebunkport ME, Portsmouth NH, or Mystic CT.
Love, Jessica 