Nothing keeps the magic of Christmas alive more than family traditions. While we love family bonding time all year round, something about the holidays makes this time with loved ones even more special! After all, it’s so easy to create lasting memories and find special traditions you enjoy doing together year after year! And we can’t think of a better way to spend this wonderful season.
If you’re looking for some new traditions to start with your family this year, we’re here to help you unwrap some great ideas for every stage of the season.
Of course, all of these fun activities are even better in comfy and stylish clothes, so be sure to don your favorite athleisurewear from Stelle and make that part of your tradition, too!
Holiday Season Traditions for the Whole Family
Who says holiday traditions are just for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Fill the days leading up to Christmas with fun seasonal traditions you can enjoy before the actual holiday to extend the fun even longer!
Holiday Lights Displays
One of the most magical parts of any holiday season is the lights. From tree-lighting ceremonies to botanical garden lights and festive neighborhoods, most cities have at least one annual holiday light display worth checking out. Why not set aside a night each year to load everyone in the car with some hot chocolate and throw on a Christmas playlist as you enjoy your local lights together?
Baking & Decorating Day
Christmas celebrations are more fun with sweets—and they’re even more enjoyable when they’re homemade! Round up the family in the days before Christmas and spend a few hours baking cookies, fudge, or whatever holiday treats you love! For even more fun, choose some items you can decorate, like sugar cookies, gingerbread men, or cake pops. Want to take things a step further? Build and decorate a gingerbread house that you can munch on throughout the week—it’s a great way to bond and keep things festive.
Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Are you looking for something a bit more active? Consider a family scavenger hunt around town! You can do this as one happy family group or split into teams to add a bit of competition. Search online for ideas, or create a custom list of Christmas-themed items and locations nearby to find and take pictures with. This is a great way to get the family moving, and the images will be perfect for putting in the family Christmas album every year as a bonus tradition! Don’t forget to bundle up in your favorite athleisurewear to stay stylish and comfy as you run around!
Homemade Ornaments
Making your own ornaments is another great family-friendly activity that can quickly become a favorite holiday tradition! There are so many great ways to make ornaments, from tiny felt trees to wooden bead wreaths and sock snowmen. But we love filling clear plastic globes with small tokens representing memorable moments, hobbies, or accomplishments from the past year. Have each family member make their own, and don’t forget to label them with their name and the year before you hang them on the tree!
Fun Family Christmas Games for Kids and Adults
If you want to incorporate some smaller traditions into the holiday season, family Christmas games are a great way to do so! You can play these throughout the month, adding some quick fun to busy school nights or weekends leading up to the winter break. Of course, these are also great ideas to keep the family entertained during their Christmas break too!
Interactive Christmas Games
Get the whole family involved with some interactive games with holiday themes. We love Holiday Pictionary, Holiday Bingo, Christmas Charades, and “Guess the Christmas Carol,” to name a few. These are great for kids or adults, leading to multi-generational fun!
Physical Christmas Games
Need to help some littles ditch the winter wiggles? Try more active games, like freeze dancing to holiday songs, Santa Says, a candy cane hunt (like an Easter egg hunt), or even a Christmas-themed obstacle course! These can all be done inside to help your kids burn energy, even on chilly days. Bonus points if they’re wearing cute and stretchy activewear that keeps them comfy while they play!
Christmas Eve Traditions to Start with Your Family
If you want to start the party a bit early, consider kicking off your festivities on Christmas Eve with one (or several) fun Christmas traditions that can easily be adjusted for any age group! Here are some of our favorite Christmas Eve ideas for the whole family:
Christmas Eve Boxes
Christmas Eve boxes are a great way to tide excited family members over until Christmas morning! These early gifts are intended to help the whole family bond during Christmas Eve, so pick something everyone will enjoy. Here are some of our favorite Christmas Eve box ideas:
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Holiday pajamas or loungewear: Get everyone cozied up for a night of fun (and early morning presents) with fun and comfy pajamas! These can be matching sets or specifically chosen for each family member. (Pro tip: Grab one of our snuggly loungewear sets for yourself and your comfort-conscious teens!)
- Holiday movie and popcorn: Gear up the family for a memorable movie night with a new movie and plenty of fresh popcorn! If you don’t get a holiday popcorn tin, we recommend grabbing some popcorn seasonings to spice things up.
- New board or card game: Does your family love playing games together? Make a tradition of buying a new board or card game to try every Christmas Eve! It’s a gift you’ll be able to enjoy year-round for even more bonding time.
Christmas Movie Marathon
Is one movie not enough—or do you have too many family Christmas movies you love binging? Turn that love into a family tradition with an annual movie marathon featuring all your favorites and some beloved classics. It’s a great way to count down the hours to Christmas morning. Don’t forget to throw on a cozy hoodie and leggings to stay comfy for the hours ahead!
Christmas Trivia Competition
A Christmas Trivia Competition is always a good choice if your family includes older, competitive members! Grab some trivia questions online or round up your own customized list and host a trivia night with holiday-themed questions. You can prepare some fun holiday prizes or allow the winner(s) to open up a present on Christmas Eve! (Note: If you have younger family members, have a special stack with questions for them, too.)
Christmas Day Activities That Make Great Traditions
Of course, we can’t make a post about fun Christmas traditions without talking about ideas for Christmas Day! Out of the whole season, this is the day the entire family is most likely to be together, making it an ideal opportunity to start a new holiday tradition you can do year after year.
Grateful Gift Unwrapping
Do you prefer a peaceful Christmas morning over a chaotic one? Consider incorporating a “thankful pause” tradition, where family members take turns opening gifts and pause to appreciate them before tearing into the next. This not only calms things down but helps children practice gratitude.
An Outdoor Adventure
As long as the weather outside isn’t frightful, adding an outdoor excursion to your holiday can make for a very memorable tradition. If you’re lucky enough to have a white Christmas, consider having an annual snowball fight or building snowmen together! If the weather tends to be milder, a family walk after Christmas dinner can be a great way to bond over the day and help the rich foods digest. Don’t forget to bundle everyone up with warm coats, hats, and warm athleisurewear that lets them move freely! We recommend moisture-wicking long-sleeve shirts and leggings in case you work up a sweat underneath your coat.
Family Photo Session
Commemorate your Christmas day with a family photo to add to an ongoing family album, annual Christmas calendar, or photo wall. You can always let everyone show up hodge-podge, but we love coordinating with matching PJs or color-complementing outfits (I.e., red and black or green and white, etc.) Of course, we’re always big fans of stylish athleisurewear looks that your family can rock all day in comfort, so you don’t have to change just for the photo.
There are limitless ways to celebrate the holiday season with your family, but Christmas traditions are undoubtedly the most meaningful. If one or several of these traditions caught your attention, run them by your family and see which ones they want to incorporate into your yearly celebrations!
And don’t forget that creating memories is even more enjoyable when the family is comfy and stylish, so stock up on all the cozy outfits you need now so they’re ready for the season.
Wishing you a big Merry Christmas from everyone at Stelle!
