Each year as the holidays come around the things that I look forward to the most are traditions with my friends and family. These are some of the things we do every year, and a few more just for fun.
1. Baking Cookies
Every year my family bakes and decorates cookies together throughout the holiday season. When my siblings and I were younger we always made sugar cookies because we loved to decorate them all together.
2. Secret Santa
For the last 6 years now I have done a Secret Santa gift exchange with my high school friends. Each year we use a website like elfster.com or secretsanta.com to help us set up the exchange and ensure no one gets the same person as the year before.
3. Making a Gingerbread House
I love crafting, so a holiday craft is even more fun for me. I decorate a gingerbread house kit with my brothers every year. Recently, we have been buying much smaller houses, so we can each decorate our own and have a Christmas village!
4. Opening an Advent Calendar
With so many companies selling advent calendars, there is something for everyone. Whether it is a calendar filled with high-end beauty products or just pieces of chocolate, an advent calendar can bring some magic to each day before Christmas.
5. Make (or Buy) a Personalized Ornament
Personalized Christmas ornaments are a great way to make memories. Although you can buy them online, you can also DIY your own to highlight a memory or event from that year.
6. Buy Christmas PJ's
Buying matching Christmas PJ's each year is a great tradition for family bonding. New PJ's are always great, but they are even better when worn while celebrating the holidays.
7. Make Treats for a Neighbor
Fresh baked cookies are always appreciated, so baking and sharing with others can be a great way to spread holiday cheer and keep the idea of giving alive in Christmas.
8. Cut Out Snowflakes
This is probably the easiest, and cheapest decoration, especially for a dorm room. Making paper snowflakes can be a fun activity for littler kids too, especially when they feel like they are helping with the holiday decorating.
9. Watch a Movie Christmas Eve
Every year on New Year's Eve my family watches The Holiday together. We look forward to this every year, plus it is a great way to kill time before the ball drops. We plan on starting a similar tradition this year on Christmas Eve.
10. Cookie Exchange
Starting a cookie exchange can be a great excuse to get together with friends. It is also a good way to get out of a holiday baking slump and to get inspired with some new recipes.
11. Make a fun Christmas Breakfast
There are a million and one ideas on Pinterest showing you how to make a festive holiday breakfast. Some of them are even as simple as reshaping premade dough. Create some magic Christmas morning and make something special.
12. Leave Carrots for Reindeers
My family has always left out cookies for Santa, but we always make sure to leave carrots for the Reindeer as well. After all, they need a nice healthy snack to power through their busy night.
