Christmas is more than just a date on the calendar. It’s a time of year. Just following Thanksgiving, there’s a little more cheer in the air.

One of the best ways to make Christmas more special and rememberable is to have family traditions. When you do these, they act like small rituals signifying the holiday. And they will create some of the strongest, best memories you’ll ever have.

Chances are you already have some Christmas traditions. In today’s article, we’re going to give you 7 of our favorites. Try them out!

1. Go Christmas Caroling

Christmas carolers help make the season bright. By going door to door, or singing in public, these carolers are integral to helping others feel that special Christmas charm. And, now you can be one of them.

When I was young, one of our favorite traditions was taking gifts to the neighbors while caroling. We’d bake some zucchini bread and hand it out with sparkling cider. We’d start singing right as the door opened.

We made unforgettable memories, as well as helped create a strong bond in the community.

2. Christmas Countdown

Part of the fun of Christmas is the anticipation. Having a Christmas countdown helps you see every single day as it draws near. Kids especially love seeing the countdown start at 25 at the start of the month and seeing it approach 1 – Christmas Eve.

Advent calendars are another way of doing this. They have chocolate inside for every day. So every day you can open another door and get a nice treat.

3. Christmas Pajamas

Christmas pajamas are a great way to up the family spirit. By getting a matching set of pajamas, the whole family has some cozy, special clothes for the holiday. When everyone is sitting around opening presents, listening to music, and wearing those matching jammies… it’s unforgettable.

Many different stores have Christmas pajamas on sale during the holiday. And on Vipon, we regularly have entire family sets of pajamas at 50% off or even more.

4. See a Christmas Concert

Another one of my favorite family traditions is going to a large cathedral downtown. There we’d listen to classic Christmas songs sung by a highly talented catholic choir. I’m willing to bet there’s a big church offering a free Christmas concert near you, too. These events are usually short and festive. In my hometown, the cathedral is packed full of cheerful people celebrating the holiday and uniting in brotherly love. Just be sure to get there early. If the concert is free, it will probably fill up almost immediately!

5. Help Those in Need

Christmas is a time of giving. And no one needs our help more during the holidays than others less fortunate. Fortunately, there are dozens of easy ways you can give back. Usually around this time, the post office will run a food drive. Here you can leave canned foods right by your mailbox, to be automatically picked up and donated by the USPS.

You can also volunteer. Soup kitchens always need help. And this lets you directly meet and talk to the people you’re helping. This is also the season for larger charity events and galas. So if you have a little more money you’d like to donate, these events can be a great place to meet new friends.

6. Watch a Christmas Movie

Another family tradition I had growing up is watching, “It’s a wonderful life” every Christmas eve. I always looked forward to this. Not because I loved the movie especially (I was young at the time)… but because watching it meant Christmas was almost here.

There are a lot of Christmas classics, so it should be easy to find something your whole family enjoys. Some of my favorites include a Christmas Story, Elf, The Santa Claus, Home Alone, and It’s a Wonderful Life.

7. Have a Cookie and Hot Chocolate Night

When it’s cold outside, every night is a hot chocolate night. Still, you can make an official day of it to make it even more special. Get the family together and bake cookies. Cover them with Christmas frosting and sprinkles. Look up a classic hot chocolate recipe online and really put some time into making it delicious.

8. Write Letters to Santa

Writing letters to Santa can be one of the most exciting parts of the year. Even for adults! This is your chance to really figure out what you want for Christmas this year. It gives parents and adults a shopping list… and gives kids the chance to join in on one of the world’s favorite Christmas traditions.

In Conclusion

These are 8 simple traditions that I know your family will love. If one sticks out to you, try it out. It could become your family’s new favorite tradition!