It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Can you believe Christmas is here again? How do you and your family get giddy about 25th December?
Whether you started shopping in the January sales or you’re yet to even think about what you have planned for Christmas Day, you probably have your own family traditions in the run up to the big day. If so, you’re not alone. Many of us do certain things that have woven themselves into the fabric of our festive celebrations. Here’s a look at some of the most popular and some ideas to inspire you.
Decorating the Tree
There are some of us who put our tree up in November while others have a specific day in December when the decorations are set out around the house. Whichever camp you fall into, the Christmas decorations are the annual event that can involve the whole family. Planning the decorations for this year and taking the time to make your home look Christmassy is a fun way to start the festivities.
There could be a rule that only certain baubles are hung by designated family members, or maybe you turn this into a day-long event, with festive nibbles and Last Christmas playing on your Spotify playlist. Either way, you’re sure to start feeling festive when you see the lights on your tree shine for the first time this year.
Advent Calendars
The advent calendar dates back to the 1800s and was a way for religious families to mark the days to 25th December. In the early 1900s, the first printed calendar was created by a German called Gerhard Lang and chocolate started to appear behind doors just before World War Two.
Today, advent calendars are still one of the most popular chocolate gift ideas at this time of year and, while there are calendars that are filled with expensive luxury items, the chocolate versions are still a lovely way to mark the days.
This is another tradition that can be adapted to suit, as some families might have the one calendar and take it in turns to open the doors, while others select individual ones that feature popular TV characters or their favourite type of chocolate.
Wrapping the Presents
Like dressing the tree, there are plenty of ways to make wrapping the gifts a real celebration of the season. The hard work of finding the perfect presents for everyone is out-of-the-way and now’s the time to cover them in gift wrap and make them look pretty.
You could ask the kids to do some wrapping too and pop a festive film on as you go, or perhaps your family like to build up to Christmas by wrapping a few presents as you go through December.
Go to Market
Heading out to the Christmas markets is a lovely way to see in the season. Many families wrap everyone up warm and make our way around the stalls. From warming glasses of hot chocolate to the craft stands, the goodies on offer at these markets help to create a magical experience that encapsulates Christmas cheer for the whole family.
How do you build up to Christmas? Will you adapt any of these ideas to fit your family?