31 Heartwarming Christmas Eve Traditions for a Joyful Family Celebration

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As a child, my mother had a delightful tradition of letting us unwrap one gift on Christmas Eve, and it was always a pair of pajamas. Every single year. I secretly wished for something more exciting—a new movie, a video game, or maybe even a mountain of sweets. But it was always the same cozy Christmas pajamas. As a single parent, my mom worked tirelessly to make the holidays special, and when I’d glance up at her with disappointment, her weary eyes seemed to say, “Time for bed, kid. I’ve done enough.” My siblings and I would eventually slip into our festive jammies (I had a Hulk Hogan phase that lasted a couple of years) and drift off to sleep, dreaming of sugar plums and Santa’s sleigh.

Now that I’m a parent, our Christmas Eve celebrations have taken a different turn. We’ve swapped out the pajamas for wooden shoes, a nod to my wife’s Dutch heritage. Although I’m not sure if wooden shoes are traditionally associated with Christmas Eve, we embrace this quirk as our family’s unique custom. My kids love trying them on, even if they’re not the most comfortable footwear. We share laughter, settle down for the night, and set out the gifts before heading to bed.

Inspired by a recent conversation about Christmas Eve traditions, I’ve compiled a list of ideas that may spark some inspiration for your own family celebrations. Here are 31 Christmas Eve traditions to enrich your December 24th:

  1. Read The Night Before Christmas together as a family.
  2. Bake cookies for Santa and leave them out with a glass of milk.
  3. Sing Christmas carols or host a living room karaoke session with holiday tunes.
  4. Order takeout for dinner—there’s a fascinating history behind enjoying Chinese food on Christmas!
  5. Attend a church service or read a passage from the scriptures.
  6. Go to a local Christmas pageant or parade for some festive cheer.
  7. Make a last-minute shopping run for any forgotten gifts or ingredients.
  8. Drive through the neighborhood to admire the Christmas lights.
  9. Find a new spot for your Elf on the Shelf—yes, he’s a holiday fixture now!
  10. Create a cozy Christmas Eve box filled with items like pajamas, mugs for hot cocoa, and a family movie.
  11. Let your children pick one gift to open early.
  12. Call Santa or track him using the official NORAD Santa tracker.
  13. Adopt the Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóð, where families exchange books and read them on Christmas Eve.
  14. Make homemade apple cider to enjoy as a family.
  15. Play DIY Christmas-themed games.
  16. Host an ornament exchange with friends or family.
  17. Assemble care packages for troops deployed overseas.
  18. Spread holiday cheer by playing ding-dong ditch with treats for neighbors.
  19. Camp out in your living room, complete with a tent and s’mores.
  20. Get creative with Christmas coloring pages featuring Santa, gingerbread men, and elves.
  21. Create “reindeer food” by mixing oats with colorful sprinkles and scatter it outside.
  22. Organize a Christmas Eve scavenger hunt to find seasonal treasures.
  23. Decorate gingerbread houses together.
  24. Hold a movie marathon of your favorite Christmas classics from the ’80s and ’90s.
  25. Throw a kid-friendly Christmas Eve party.
  26. Play Christmas bingo with fun holiday-themed cards.
  27. Build candy cane castles using candy canes and icing.
  28. Use a smart speaker to play Christmas music and quiz each other on song titles.
  29. Share jokes and riddles around the Christmas tree.
  30. Volunteer together as a family during the holiday season.
  31. For those who procrastinate, enjoy the last-minute rush of shopping for gifts and decorating the tree on Christmas Eve.

The essence of these traditions is that each family has its own unique customs, whether they are passed down through generations or created spontaneously. The key is to enjoy these moments together as a family.

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In summary, the holidays are a time for families to come together and create lasting memories through unique traditions. From cozy pajamas to wooden shoes, what matters most is that these moments are shared with love and laughter.