The Magic of Christmas Eve
The day before Christmas is a special occasion for many people and families. It marks the end of the holiday season and brings us closer to the birth of Jesus Christ.
While it’s important to celebrate this day in a meaningful way, it can also be fun for the whole family. Here are some ideas for how you can get your family in the spirit of Christmas Eve:
Start early. You don’t want to be rushing around at midnight trying to find last minute gifts for everyone. Plan ahead and buy your presents before December 25th so you don’t have to worry about them later on in the month.
Make a list and check it twice. I know this sounds obvious, but it’s important to make sure that you’re getting everything that everyone wants for Christmas (including yourself). You don’t want to be stuck searching for toys on Christmas Eve or missing something that someone had on their wish list because you forgot about it.
Decorating to Set the Festive Atmosphere
Decorate together. Decorating for Christmas isn’t just about putting up lights and stockings on the mantelpiece — it’s about creating an atmosphere that makes everyone feel festive. Decorating together is an excellent way for everyone to bond over their favorite holiday traditions.
Make treats together. From cookies to pies, there are plenty of delicious treats that everyone will love making together on Christmas Eve. If you have children, they’ll love helping out in the kitchen while they wait for Santa Claus.
Get organized. Make sure you’ve got everything ready for Christmas morning (and remember Santa will be watching). Make sure you have enough food and drinks for everyone, including Santa and his reindeer.
Play carols while baking (and decorating) cookies especially “Jingle Bells”. This will help set a festive mood for everyone who stops by during cookie-baking season (and maybe even help make sure they don’t eat too many cookies while they’re there).
Make plans for when it gets dark outside so everyone has something to look forward to after dinner. Maybe someone will read stories aloud while others listen, or maybe everyone will play games like Scattergories or Charades until bedtime rolls around.
Play games with your children such as hide-and-seek or tag while they’re still awake; then bundle them up and take them outside to look at the stars and listen for Santa Claus’s sleigh bells — or ring the doorbell if you live near a friend’s house with kids who are old enough to appreciate the joke.
Get a tree. No, not an artificial one. An actual, live tree! Not only will it smell amazing and look beautiful, but it’ll be a reminder of how much fun it is to decorate and share Christmas traditions with your family.
Make some hot chocolate or cocoa with mini marshmallows and whipped cream on top (or both). Nothing says “Christmas” like hot chocolate. If you want something non-alcoholic, try hot cider instead.
Sing Christmas songs together. Start off with classics like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” or “Jingle Bells,” then move on to more contemporary songs like “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey or “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” by Bruce Springsteen (from his new album “High Hopes”). You can even make up your own verses if you don’t know any.