When I was a child, my mother had a tradition of letting us open one present on Christmas Eve—always pajamas. Every single year. I dreamed of different gifts—like a new movie, a video game, or a pile of candy—but I consistently found myself in festive pajamas instead. As a single mom working multiple jobs to make Christmas special, her weary smile seemed to say, “Just go to bed already.” My siblings and I would slip into our cozy jammies, which often featured our favorite characters (Hulk Hogan was a long-time favorite for me), and drift off to sleep, dreaming of sugar plums.
Now that I’m a parent, our Christmas Eve traditions have evolved. We’ve swapped pajamas for wooden shoes, a nod to my wife’s Dutch heritage. We found these shoes in Iowa and, although they don’t quite fit the traditional Dutch customs for Christmas Eve, they have become a cherished part of our family’s celebration. My kids love trying them on, even if they aren’t the most comfortable footwear, and then we engage in the usual hustle and bustle before settling down for the night.
In the spirit of creating unique customs, I recently came across a discussion on Christmas Eve traditions that sparked my curiosity. Here are some delightful ideas that you might want to incorporate into your own festivities this December 24th:
- Read “The Night Before Christmas” together as a family.
- Bake cookies for Santa.
- Sing Christmas carols or host a fun Christmas karaoke night.
- Order takeout and enjoy a laid-back dinner. Did you know there’s interesting history behind Chinese food on Christmas?
- Attend a local Christmas mass or read scripture together.
- Visit a local Christmas pageant or parade.
- Make a last-minute trip to pick up forgotten gifts or ingredients—some couples even pull straws to decide who goes!
- Drive around the neighborhood admiring the Christmas lights.
- Change up the location of your Elf on the Shelf for an element of surprise.
- Create a cozy Christmas Eve box filled with items like new pajamas, hot cocoa mugs, and a Christmas DVD. Enjoy a movie night in your new PJs!
- Allow the kids to select one gift to open.
- Call Santa or track his journey using the NORAD Santa tracker.
- Embrace the Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóð, where families exchange books and read together on Christmas Eve.
- Make homemade apple cider.
- Organize DIY Christmas games for family fun.
- Host an ornament exchange with friends or family.
- Assemble a care package for deployed troops.
- Play a holiday version of ding-dong ditch by surprising neighbors with treats.
- Set up a Christmas Eve campout in your living room with a tent and s’mores.
- Get creative with free printable Christmas coloring pages.
- Make reindeer food by mixing oats with colorful sprinkles.
- Plan a Christmas Eve scavenger hunt for classic holiday items.
- Decorate gingerbread houses together.
- Have a movie marathon featuring your favorite holiday films from the ’80s and ’90s.
- Host a kid-friendly Christmas party.
- Play Christmas bingo with your family.
- Build candy cane castles using candy canes and icing for glue.
- Use a music streaming service to guess Christmas songs; the first person to name it gets a point!
- Share Christmas jokes and riddles around the tree.
- Volunteer as a family during the holiday season.
- For the last-minute shoppers, embrace the chaos of last-minute gift shopping!
The essence of these traditions lies in their ability to bring families together, whether they are passed down through generations or created spontaneously. The most important thing is to celebrate as a family and cherish these moments.
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Summary:
Christmas Eve traditions vary widely but serve the same purpose: bringing families together. From reading classic tales to baking cookies and enjoying festive games, these customs can create lasting memories. Whether you’re embracing long-standing family rituals or starting new ones, the important thing is that you celebrate together.