Festive Fridays: Christmas Eve Traditions

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We are quite literally hours away from Christmas Eve and if you’re like me, you’re rushing around to get all of the last minute things finished up for the holiday. In fact, as soon as I post this, I’m off to the elementary school for holiday parties! Everything has to be done in time for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner at my father’s, followed by church service. Traditions like this are one of the most meaningful part of the holidays for us.

If you’ve been hunting for some new Christmas Eve traditions, here are a few fun ideas that might make your wait for Santa a little more fun.

christmaseve-collage“The First Gift of Christmas” – Our Elf brings pajamas for the kids when he makes his final trip back from the North Pole on Christmas Eve morning, but as a child, we got to open one gift on Christmas Eve. Typically it was our Christmas jammies, but once in a while, mom would relent and give us a book or game…probably to get us out of her hair.

Polar Express Night – Whip up some hot chocolate, turn on Polar Express, and snuggle up in your jammies as you wait for bedtime…and Santa…to arrive. This movie is one of our holiday favorites, so it has to make an appearance in our festivities.

Quiet Night at Home – If you’re looking for a way to celebrate the birth of Jesus but not wanting to attend a service, gather the family around the Nativity and read the Christmas story together. Sing some favorite carols and just enjoy quite time together to start your holiday.

Care for Those Less Fortunate – Local homeless shelters and other community organizations can use all the hands they can get during the holidays. What better way to start your holiday than by giving back and helping others. Serve meals, help distribute gifts, or take care packages to elderly or shut in neighbors who may be alone over the holiday.

Wrapping and Relaxing – After the kids go to bed, I wait up to “let Santa in and help him finish wrapping and setting up the gifts.” Which I find is best done with a glass of wine and White Christmas on the TV. Bing Crosby and I have a standing date every year.

No matter what your Christmas Eve traditions look like, we hope you have an amazing holiday! Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Looking for more Christmas Eve traditions? Check out our Pinterest board!

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