17 Lovely Family Christmas Traditions to Start Enjoying Together in 2024

One of the best parts of the holiday season is all the family Christmas traditions. Having traditions you do every year makes celebrating the holidays all the more special and provides something to look forward to. Though family Christmas traditions can differ from one family to the other, they’re all meant to bring people together, create fun memories, and make the holiday season even more special. 

So, what is the oldest Christmas tradition? According to Lifeway, the oldest Christmas traditions often center around greenery, such as decorating a Christmas tree, hanging mistletoe and holly, and placing an evergreen wreath in your home. And what is the most popular Christmas tradition? Picking out and decorating a Christmas tree is also one of the most popular traditions for the holiday season. Other popular traditions include seeing The Rockettes and “The Nutcracker,” watching Christmas specials like “Charlie Brown Christmas,” and opening advent calendars. 

There are plenty of family Christmas traditions to enjoy each year, and it’s never too late to start one. We’ve rounded up 17 of the most fun and delightful traditions you can start this Christmas.

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• Traditional Family Christmas Traditions
• Christmas Traditions to Start With a Baby
• Fun Christmas Traditions
• Unique Christmas Traditions

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Traditional Family Christmas Traditions

1. Watch Christmas Movies

One of the most traditional family Christmas traditions is gathering to watch Christmas movies. This is a family Christmas tradition all ages can enjoy, so bring together every generation for popcorn, cookies and hot chocolate. Some popular movies include “Rudolf, The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “A Christmas Story,” “Elf,” and “The Polar Express.”

Plus, Hallmark and Netflix release Christmas movies each year if you’re looking to watch something new. Everyone will love the family time that comes with a Christmas movie night.

2. Bake Gingerbread and Sugar Cookies

Baking gingerbread and sugar cookies is an old Christmas tradition that everyone looks forward to each year. Whether you’re teaching kids the family recipe or preparing treats for the entire family to eat, everyone will love when it’s time for this tasty tradition. 

Making cookies from scratch allows you to make them into fun Christmas shapes. Plus, once they’re out of the oven, everyone can gather together to decorate them with icing and sprinkles. And, of course, at the end of this family Christmas tradition, you get to enjoy your treats.

3. Make Donation Boxes

The holiday season is a great time to give back. Gather together to make boxes to donate to a homeless shelter or a charity. With this family Christmas tradition, you can make boxes of canned foods, clothing or toys and school supplies for children. Coming together to give back as a family is one of the best family Christmas traditions you can do to embrace the goodwill of the season.

4. View Christmas Lights

Beautifully designed homes and bright, twinkling lights are one of the best parts of the holiday season. Go out with your family to view Christmas lights. Some neighborhoods host visitors to see how they’ve decorated the homes. 

Some zoos and arboretums also host Christmas light shows. Different cities also have tree-lighting ceremonies in the downtown or town center. Viewing lights is a dazzling traditional family Christmas tradition that’s fun for the whole family.

5. Tree Decorating Party

Having a tree is a popular Christmas tradition around the world. And most have the tree as the center of their decorations. So, many people also have a tree decorating party. With this family Christmas tradition, family and friends gather to enjoy food and drinks, listen to music and decorate the tree with lights and ornaments. There are plenty of Christmas tree decorating ideas, from monochromatic color schemes to traditional red and green.

Christmas Traditions to Start With a Baby

6. Write Letters to Santa

While babies and small children might not be able to write themselves, writing letters to Santa is a family Christmas tradition you can start very young. Have a day where everyone sits down and writes a letter to tell Santa what they want each year. You can even try some Christmas drawing ideas so you can include customized artwork in the letters.

7. Take a Christmas Day Family Photo

Document your Christmas each year with a new family photo taken on Christmas Day. This is a great Christmas tradition to start with a baby because you can watch them grow through photos each year. 

With every photo, you can try new themes, like matching pajamas or funny sweaters. Then, you can save all the photos from this family Christmas tradition in an album or turn them into ornaments.

8. Buy an Ornament for the Tree

How do we celebrate Christmas in my family? A new ornament each year is a great way to mark each Christmas and a fun Christmas tradition to start with a baby. Many people buy a custom ornament to celebrate a baby’s first Christmas, but you don’t have to stop there. 

You can buy a new one every year to cover your tree. Ornaments can become family Christmas tradition gifts as you buy one for each member of the family. They can even be small Christmas gifts for teens if you buy ornaments that represent their hobbies or interests like sports, dancing or music.

9. Read a Christmas Story

Babies and kids love being read to, so a Christmas storytime during the holidays will only be more fun. This can be a fun Christmas tradition for young families as you read a different holiday picture book each night before Christmas. 

With this family Christmas tradition, kids can spark their love of reading, and families can have memorable moments together.

Fun Christmas Traditions

10. Make an Advent Calendar

Crafting during the holidays will always make for fun Christmas traditions. Why not gather the family to make Advent calendars for everyone? Advent calendars are one of the most popular Christmas traditions around the world, and everyone will love receiving a small gift every day before Christmas. 

For this family Christmas tradition, have everyone decorate their own advent calendar and then swap them with family members so they can fill it with gifts. Fill them with stickers, candies, small jewelry, journals and more for small Christmas gifts for Dad, Mom and the kids.

11. Cook a Christmas Meal Together

Why is Christmas special for family? Because this holiday brings everyone together for quality time and to make memories with each other. Some of the best family Christmas traditions and memories start in the kitchen. 

So, spend Christmas Eve or Christmas Day cooking a special Christmas meal together. You can make shaped pancakes for brunch, try some delicious Christmas lunch ideas or make a traditional Christmas dinner.

12. Personalize a Stocking

Hanging Christmas stockings above the fireplace is a common family Christmas tradition, but you can make it even more fun by personalizing your stockings. For these Christmas crafts, you can buy blank stockings along with paint, glitter, bows, felts and other supplies. 

Everyone can make stockings with their own designs and their name on them. This fun Christmas tradition brings everyone together for a fun activity and creates a keepsake piece of Christmas decor.

13. Craft a Christmas Wreath

Christmas decorations instantly make your home feel more festive. And crafting decorations can be a creative Christmas tradition for young families. You can buy wreath bases and supplies from craft stores. Get inspired by Christmas wreath ideas to find the best supplies. 

Lay everything out on the dining room table and have everyone work together on a main wreath for the front door or over the fireplace. Another way to do this family Christmas tradition is to make miniature wreaths you can decorate the inside of the home with.

Unique Christmas Traditions

14. Host a Family Talent Show

If you’re looking for a unique Christmas tradition, why not host a family talent show? Gather everyone on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to show off what they do best. 

With this family Christmas tradition, each person can put on a performance, singing, playing an instrument, dancing or showing off their art skills. It’ll be even more fun if you set up a stage with blanket curtains and set out chairs or pillows for the audience to sit in.

15. Make a Christmas Village

Christmas villages are a classic family Christmas tradition. However, you can make it a unique Christmas tradition by crafting one yourself. Purchase unpainted Christmas village houses, stores and figurines, and have each person paint one piece every Christmas season. Then, add the pieces to your Christmas village. 

It’ll be fun to watch the collection grow every year and see each family member’s art together. Plus, your homemade village is one of the coolest Christmas centerpiece ideas for your holiday tablescape.

16. Have a Fondue Night

Have a meal that will warm you up during the cold December nights. This delicious family Christmas tradition will be a fun way to bring everyone together for the evening by hosting a fondue night with the family. You can choose from a variety of cheeses for a savory fondue and chocolate for a sweet fondue. 

Then, dip in meats, crackers, vegetables and bread in the savory cheese fondue. Lay out cookies, marshmallows, fruit and pound cake into the chocolate. With this family Christmas tradition, you’ll have fun trying new flavor combinations, talking and laughing together while enjoying a unique hot meal.

17. Visit a Christmas Market

Christmas markets are old Christmas traditions that can be found around the world. Spend Christmas Eve together by walking around a market for a unique family Christmas tradition. Check out the vendors as you walk from stall to stall. 

You can eat roasted nuts, Christmas cookies and hot chocolate while you walk. Here, you’ll also be able to find family Christmas traditions gifts from small artists and local vendors to give to each other the next day.

The holiday season is approaching, and for many people, that means family time and family Christmas traditions. Whether it’s a fun outing or a night spent at home, there are plenty of ways to feel the festive spirit of the holiday season. Everyone can get inspired by these family Christmas traditions to infuse some fun into the holiday season that you’ll look forward to every year. 

For even great things to try this Christmas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!