One of the things I treasure most about Christmas is the traditions my husband and I share. They make the season feel magical, memorable, and uniquely ours. Over the years, we’ve built a collection of celebrations that we look forward to every December—and we’re always excited to try something new. I thought it would be fun to share a few of ours with you, and maybe you’ll share some of yours with me. Let’s swap ideas and inspire each other!

Activity Advent

You’ve probably seen plenty of Advent calendars, but one year I found a wooden Christmas tree with 25 little drawers. I painted and decorated it, and now each drawer hides one of our Advent Activities. It’s such a fun and meaningful tradition for us—I’d love for it to become one of yours too! Here is the list of activities we put in ours to give you inspiration!

Christmas Eve Dinner

Every Christmas Eve, we host dinner for our family—and the best part? We pick a different theme each year. Sometimes it’s a country and we dive into its holiday traditions, other times it’s just a playful twist on classic dishes. We go all-in with themed cocktails, table décor, and desserts. Last year the theme was France with a Le Réveillon. Check it out. It’s always a highlight of the season and a wonderful way to bring the family together.

Little Tree Presents

This one is especially close to my heart—it started with my husband’s parents. Beginning seven days before Christmas, everyone opens one “Little Tree Present” each evening. These are small, thoughtful, usually Christmas-themed gifts—think cozy socks, festive mugs, holiday pins, or a new spatula. When my husband and his brother were young, it might have been candy or small toys.

I love this tradition because it stretches out the joy of gift-giving. Instead of one big rush on Christmas morning, you savor the excitement night after night. It’s also a chance to pause, gather, and celebrate together before the busyness of the holiday.

Other Traditions

Beyond our Advent and Christmas Eve festivities, there are a handful of activities we never miss each year:

• A picture with Santa 🎅
• Decorating the tree together
• A fancy dinner date on December 23
• Reading or listening to A Christmas Carol
• Baking Christmas cookies
• Driving around to see local Christmas lights
• Crafting handmade cards and package toppers
• Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The beauty of traditions is that they connect us, bring us joy, and make every holiday season feel special. I’d love to know what traditions you celebrate—whether they’ve been passed down for generations or are brand new. Share them in the comments so we can all get inspired!