Perfect Activities for Anyone That Will Make This Christmas Special
Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love it because we are celebrating the birth of Jesus, but I also enjoy all the things I get to do with all the people I love most. I’m in a busy season of life right now, but it’s important to me to make sure that the traditions I follow at Christmas aren’t just time-fillers. My days are looking full this year with three littles and celebrations with our families, but not every year has been that way. Some years, I found myself with time on my hands because my situation changed, I was spending my first Christmas without a loved one, or I was living away from family. So if you find yourself with some time to start a new tradition with your family, your friends, or yourself, it might be fun to pick a new activity to do this Christmas. I hope something on this list will make Christmas feel meaningful to you and be fun too!
Make Something
If you have kids, or you are a big kid yourself, you might have fun making something this Christmas. A couple of years ago, we spent a few hours on Christmas Eve making a Lego train to go around our Christmas tree and it was one of the most fun things we’ve ever done. But you could also make a craft or a gingerbread house.
Lego has tons of cool Christmas sets for everyone, like this wreath, this gingerbread village, or this scene from A Christmas Carol. Or here are some craft ideas by Country Living.
Bake Something
My parents made Christmas cookies with us every year. We went through the whole process of cutting out shapes, baking, and decorating. I loved it so much, that it’s a tradition I have continued with my own children. We all still get together for this tradition in my family, but baking is also a fun activity to do on your own or with one friend or your spouse. I have a good friend who gets together with her bestie every year and they bake pies for some of the older members of their church.
I love this sugar cookie recipe I got from Kristin’s post about doing a cookie swap for Valentine’s Day. It’s easy and delicious. It includes an icing recipe too, but we always buy the squeezable icing for decorating. And if you need a set of cutters, check out this one with the perfect variety of Christmas designs.
Keep Loved Ones Close
I know the holidays can be hard for people who have lost a loved one. I remember the first Christmas without my grandmother was really hard. And the next one without my grandfather was worse. It’s hard to know what to do because you want to honor their memory but also want to be happy on that day and be able to celebrate. I’ve found that finding a way to remember them with an activity that makes you think of all the good memories with that person can really help. Here are a few ways you can make your loved ones part of your Christmas.
- Cook something they loved: My grandmother made homemade party mix every year, and it was one of my favorite things. Now, every Christmas, I make a big batch to snack on. It makes me feel like she’s part of everything. So make something your loved one used to make or one of their favorite foods. If you need a great recipe click here for my grandmothers delicious Chex mix recipe!
- Visit a place or do an activity that has meaning for you both: To remember my papa, I like to sit on my porch swing and watch cars drive by. It’s something we always used to do when I was young, and it makes me think of happy memories. To remember my grandmother, I would go shopping on Christmas Eve.
- Give to a charity in their name: You could volunteer time or money to a cause that they supported or that would have meant something to them. For my grandfather, I might donate to a Veteran’s charity. For a former student of mine, I’d give to Habitat for Humanity. And if your loved one was an animal lover, check out Karen’s post Five Helpful Ways to be ‘Santa Paws’ to Furry Friends.
Enjoy Some Christmas Entertainment
Christmas is a great time for music and movies and other entertainment. And you can enjoy entertainment on your own or with any type of group. Here are some ideas:
- Read a Christmas book, especially if you have kids.
- Attend a Christmas service, live nativity, play, or concert.
- Check out my post Movie Night Magic: A Holiday Movie Guide with Food Ideas, Activities, and More to have the perfect Christmas movie night.
Look Back or Look Ahead
Christmas is a great time to look back at the last year and reflect on your blessings. If you are looking for ways to look back, consider these:
- I think it would be fun to put together a photo album of the past year to sift through memories.
- Invest in self-care if it’s been a tough year. Research and choose a self-care journal you want to start with in the new year. If you need a suggestion, check out my post Simple Self-Care You’ll Love: Silk and Sonder Journal Review.
The holidays are also the ideal time to look ahead and make plans. Here are some suggestions:
- Plan a trip: I spent a wonderful Christmas Eve afternoon planning a Disney trip a few years ago. Decide on somewhere you want to go and work on booking and planning it.
- Make a reading list for next year: For help with this, check out some of our past posts like Five Books You’ll Love That Teach you Something Too, Six Books That Inspire Hope and Touch Your Heart, Fantastic Poetry Books Everyone Will Love, or Discover a New Mystery Series to Read.
Make It A Chrismas to Remember
So, what are you most looking forward to this Christmas? For me, it’s my kids opening gifts, reading the Christmas story on Christmas Eve, and seeing all my family. I hope you have some fun and meaningful activities planned, and if not, I hope this list has given you something to add to your Christmas traditions!
Happy Holidays and Have a Good Day!
And check out our other great Christmas content:
This is a wonderful edition of your blog. My sister went to Heaven in November. So many of our traditions were lost when our Mama passed and now more are gone without my sister. I am searching for a new, meaningful tradition or maybe two, to help ease the pain of this season. Remembering and relying on Jesus is my hope