It’s that time of year again! The time of year that comes with all the feels! There is so much to look forward to this time of year. One of the things our family looks forward to is our traditions. Some have been the same from year one and others have evolved throughout the years as our family grew. Some may even start this year- who knows?!

Here are a 20 holiday traditions that we do as a family of ten, but could also be implemented for any size of family.

1. Christmas music starting the day after Thanksgiving

I want my kids to remember that in their childhood home there was Christmas music always playing on the sound system through the house. Even our little kids know most of the common Christmas songs and it makes my heart happy.

2. Shop for a family in need

This is really what it’s all about. Giving to others during this season. We find a family who needs help this Christmas by asking a local school. They provide us with the age and gender of the family members and a list of things they would like and then the kids and I go shopping! It always warms my heart to watch my kids pick out toys for other children and put so much thought into each gift without asking for anything for themselves.

3. Read an Advent book

The past few years we have read this Advent book. We have it in the van and read one day at a time while we wait for the bus in the morning. The kids look forward to this and I even learn a few things, too 😉

4. The Elf

The elf. This is probably one of the kids’ favorite Christmas traditions and the one I am usually the most happy when it is over- haha! Well, until last year when we turned over elf duties to our oldest two kids and got a confetti box with activities for the elf to do each day- now it is a breeze! Did I mention that we have 2 elves? Yeah- we lost Elvis the elf one year while moving so we got Ellie the elf- and then Elvis reappeared! So now we have two. Fun times.

5. Decorate the house big for Christmas

This is a new tradition starting this year now that our house is done. I have always dreamt of having multiple Christmas trees and going all out for Christmas decorating and was so happy to make that dream come true this year! We ended up with 14 Christmas trees and the house just feels like Christmas! Crazy Christmas lady in the house!

6. Christmas Eve candlelight service

This is one of those traditions that is a hold over from my childhood. Every year without fail my family would go to the Christmas eve service. There is just something so magical about being in your home church at night listening to the story of Jesus’ birth and then singing silent night by candlelight. I cry every time. And I am not even a crier!

7. Matching Christmas pajamas

This is a tradition that started long ago! It is so fun to see the kids all dressed in their matching Christmas pajamas on Christmas morning. They look so cute it actually hurts. I am so glad our pajamas arrived early this year because of all the shipping delays!

8. Opening one gift on Christmas Eve

The kids always ask to open one gift on Christmas eve, so sometime we pick a gift from one of the grandparents or sometimes we have one that would be perfect to open and entertain the kids on Christmas Eve night. Sometimes we do a boy gift and a girl gift- like a game or something- but we always do a gift on Christmas Eve.

9. Apple cider on Christmas morning

This is another tradition that we did when I was a kid that we have continued to do. My mom makes apple cider in the crockpot and adds cranberry juice and cinnamon sticks and the house smells so good! We drink this throughout the morning as the kids open presents.

10. Santa!

This is a tradition that we have not done every year, but every few years. We have a very real looking Santa come to our house! The past two times he has stayed in our guest house and has gone to school with the kids. He spends the evening in our living room talking to the kids and asking them what they want for Christmas and gives them each a special present. He does crafts with them, reads a book, and has coco. It is pure magic.

11. Four presents

When you have multiple children gifts can get out of control fast! I remember a few Christmas’ where there was so much stuff on the floor that no one really knew what belonged to who and the kids were so overstimulated that no one was really enjoying themselves. Now we keep it simple and do 4 gifts for each child. Something you want, something you need, something you wear, something you read. They also get a gift from Santa and stocking stuffers- and ofcourse gifts from grandparents. We take turns opening gifts and each gift is special and meaningful.

12. Cookies (and carrots), Milk, and letters to Santa

This is not a unique tradition, but it is one that we look forward to. The kids added a twist to this one year and it stuck- we started leaving carrots for the reindeer along with the cookies for Santa! On Christmas Eve the kids write Santa a letter and we do milk and cookies for Santa. If I am really an overachiever we will decorate the cookies, too. I keep the letters in our Christmas binder along with our annual Christmas card and letter. It is so fun to look back at these year after year.

13. Christmas crafts

Christmas break is a very long time- haha! In order for it to go as smooth as possible with many kiddos we need structure and order! That is why I try to put my teacher hat on during Christmas break and have a few crafts planned for the kids to do. Some days it is simple – like making paper snowflakes. Other days we may go a little extra and build gingerbread houses. The kids really look forward to Christmas crafts.

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14. Drawing names for sibling gifts

This is a new tradition that we have not done every year, but I want to do it this year. My older kids have asked to use their allowance to buy gifts for their siblings. This thought makes my heart skip a beat. I won’t make them use their allowance, but I think we will put the kids names in a hat and let them each draw a name. I will take the kids shopping in two groups to pick something out. They will get to come home and wrap it and present it to their sibling on Christmas. I am looking forward to this!

15.Christmas movie night

Every year we gather together and watch a Christmas movie. The kids usually pick A Christmas Story, but sometimes they pick National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, or Charlie Brown’s Christmas. Family movie nights are the best. I can’t wait for this tradition in our new house!

16. Christmas Pageant

This is one of my favorite Christmas traditions that we are unfortunately doing this year 🙁 It is so precious to just sit back and watch the kids perform songs and act out the true meaning of Christmas. There are always funny moments (like the year Inga picked her nose during the songs)!

17. Christmas Parade

Is it really Christmas without going to a small town parade?! I love the atmosphere of a small town parade and everyone coming together to watch homemade floats. It is the best!

18. Christmas Party

Beforer we moved here we would always attend other Christmas parties and I would love to get dressed up and have a night out! Now we host our own which is just as fun! This year we are having a party for friends and another for coworkers. Each year it is something we look forward to.

19. Ugly Sweaters

This is one of those traditions that I have so much fun with. Sometimes I have added a Santa hat to an ugly sweater or a necklace of flashing Christmas lights. Other years I have just let the cat/pizza/space shirt speak for itself – ha! This year I wore a Christmas dress and my husband wore a sweater with a chicken in a sweater. This is such a fun tradition.

20. Reading Luke 2:9-14 on Christmas Eve

This is possible the most important tradition that we do. It is so important to read the Bible together as a family and also important to remember the true meaning of Christmas. There is no Easter Sunday without Christmas and we need to remember how it all began- a humble beginning of a baby in a manger.

So, these are some of our yearly traditions. I hope the kids grow up and remember these and continue some of them on. I start looking forward to these as soon as the weather gets cooler!

Christmas time is the most wonderful time of the year!

Until next time,