Maybe you have a plethora of Holiday traditions and don’t need to add anything else (that’s ok!), or perhaps you are looking to start a new and fun tradition with your nuclear family. Either way, here are some fun Holiday traditions our ABQMom contributors do. Feel free to “steal” any of them!
Santa Traditions
“My kids each pick out one new toy to purchase and donate to a toy drive. Santa brings only one toy per child. The toy is whatever they ask for. He also brings a new electronic toothbrush for their stocking which, oddly enough, they look forward to. (Recently, my 21 year old told me she needs a new toothbrush but is holding out for Santa to bring her one, haha.)
My kids also do Secret Santa for each other. They draw names and only have to buy one of their five siblings a gift. We use Elfster. There they can post their wishlist and their sibling can buy it directly from the link. It works for us since we have six kids and that way they don’t feel obligated to buy everyone a gift. Last but not least, we always capture Santa in the house. I use the Santa app to insert him into a pic!” -Jai Thompson
“On Saint Nicholas’s eve, which is on the fifth, Saint Nicolas leaves a small gift for the kids on our front porch. Very similar to the Easter bunny! On my husband’s side of the family, different age groups participate in Secret Santa so that we’re not having to buy everyone gifts and we can focus on getting one person a nice gift that they would truly enjoy. We have the older crew which are basically the grandmas and the great aunts and uncles. We have the younger adults and then we have the children give to each other. And we also do Santa sacks in place of gift wrap and tag hiding. We set the sacks out on Christmas Eve, and in the morning, they are filled! No wrapping is involved.” -Dena Fahlquist
Food Traditions
“Our annual gingerbread house competition. We use any uneaten Halloween candy to make them. We also make cookies for Santa and bake for the neighbors.” -Jai Thompson
“We make gingerbread men and deliver them to our neighbors and friends!” -Alanna Stone
“We always have cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning and mimosas for the adults (sparkling cider for the kids).” -Vanessa Prueter
“Growing up we did crab legs and coconut shrimp, my husband’s family always goes out for Chinese, and this past year my husband and I made Christmas enchiladas.” -Diane Wikler
Religious Traditions
“I do an advent calendar with my kids. It looks different every year but consists of a Bible verse, an activity, and some sort of sweet treat.” -Becca Toups
“We also go to a Christmas Eve church service and remember the true meaning of Christmas for us. We also do the Samaritan’s Purse Christmas catalog, and our boys get to pick out presents for those in need.” -Vanessa Prueter
“In our family, The Three Kings bring the main gift for our kids and Santa stuffs our stockings. This helps us keep the story of Christ’s birth in our minds throughout the season!” -Alanna Stone
Out and About Traditions
“We visit Santa. I like to visit the one at Cabela’s. The pics are free, there’s a small activity for the kids to do, and you can make an appointment to avoid long lines.” -Jai Thompson
“Driving up to the mountains and cutting down a real tree. This was our first year doing so, but it was so much fun. We had a great time being together. It was like a scavenger hunt trying to find the perfect tree. Tags were only $10 at the Jemez visitor center. They also have a coffee shop so we stopped on the way home for hot chocolate.” -Bianca Fragua
“We do a pajama night in the car to go look at lights and bring popcorn and hot cocoa in the car.” -Vanessa Prueter
“Our elf of the shelf brings the kids pajamas every year. They wear their jammies and we make hot chocolate to go look at lights.” -Ana-Alicia Gonzales
For more holiday ideas, check out our December Guide!
Out-of-the-Box Traditions
“Annual indoor snowball fight. Purchase soft indoor snowballs from almost any big retailer. Divide into two teams and let the snow wars begin. This is the kids’ favorite. We also buy a new Christmas Lego set every year!” -Jai Thompson
“The kids have their mini tree to decorate. They put their favorite ornaments, handmade ones, and the ones they collect when they get a kinder joy egg. Anything with a loop goes up there. It’s theirs and they get to do whatever they like!
Growing up, my extended family did a Christmas piñata every year. We rotated who was in charge of making it and stuffing it. It was always stuffed with candy and money and sometimes random prizes! The youngest grandchild goes first, so as the oldest, it was always up to me to make sure it was completely broken open.” -Alanna Stone
Christmas Eve Traditions
“We watch Star Christmas Eve. It’s a cute animation telling the story of Jesus’ birth through a donkey’s perspective.” -Jai Thompson
“On Christmas Eve we wear our matching pajamas, bake sugar cookies, make gingerbread houses or play monopoly, and have Home Alone movies playing all evening.” -Fran Murphy
“We get Christmas ornaments from every year, do an advent calendar, drive around to see lights, watch A Christmas Story while we decorate, and open one gift every Christmas Eve!” -Rachel Yellowhair-Morrison
Holiday traditions can be a great way of bonding as a family, but remember that no matter which holiday traditions you choose (or don’t!), you’re still a great mom!
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ABQ Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
