My Christmas Traditions | Blogmas Day 9

As Christmas is creeping ever closer, my festive celebrations are ramping up. Christmas music is blasting out on the daily and I’m getting through my list of Christmas films each weekend. My Christmas shopping is done and I’m getting so excited for Christmas Day. One of my favourite things about the festive season is all the traditions I have with my friends and family. Christmas has always been a pretty big celebration in my home, both when I was younger and now, and there’s always been a few things I do each year to really get into the festive spirit.

So, today I wanted to share them with you! I’d love to hear what your Christmas traditions are so please let me know in the comments! I’m always up for adding new ones too.

Seeing Friends

One of my newer Christmas traditions is seeing my friends. All my friends from school and Uni are all spread across the country – I’m talking Edinburgh, Devon, Birmingham, so literally all over – so we don’t always get to see each other much throughout the year. However, Christmas time is when we get together for a festive meet up. Last year, I was away nearly every weekend from mid-November right up to Christmas seeing everyone and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Obviously I can’t so that this year which I’m so sad about, but finger’s crossed for next year!

Wrapping presents with a festive film on

This is something I’ve been doing for a while now! For me, wrapping presents is a fun festive activity in itself so I like to make a whole thing of it. Festive drink and Christmas film on, I love to sit down and wrap all my presents in one go. Usual choices are Elf or Love Actually but I’m actually thinking of going for Nativity this year. I’ve already set aside a whole afternoon for it and I’m really looking forward to it! It sounds like a strange thing to look forward to but perhaps that’s a sign of the times… there’s nothing else to do!

Festive baking

Festive baking is one of my favourite Christmas traditions. I feel like cookies and traybakes are my usual go-to, especially chocolate orange ones, but so far this year I’ve done cupcakes! I made really cute reindeer cupcakes which will be featured in a blog post soon so keep an eye out for that if you want to see them! I’m not sure what else I’ll do this year but it’ll probably be something chocolate orange related.

Stocking presents in a pillow case at the end of your bed

This was one from when I was younger but I really want to pass it onto my children! Rather than a stocking, we used to a have a pillow case full of stocking presents waiting for us on the end of our beds. We’d all open them together before going downstairs to see the tree and the rest of the presents. We’ve grown out of them now but I have such fond memories.

Presents in PJs but dressed up for dinner

I feel like each family does Christmas Day a bit differently but fall into two categories – PJs all day or dressed up to the nines. My family does a bit of both! We do our presents in PJs but make sure we’re all dressed up looking nice for Christmas dinner and the rest of the day. I think this is something I’ll always do. I don’t think I could sit and unwrap my presents all dressed up!

Board games

Another thing I couldn’t go without at Christmas. It’s not Christmas without a board game or two. We usually like to string this out from Christmas Eve right through to New Year’s Day to make sure we get through all our favourites. I’ve got another Blogmas post coming up soon about all the best board games to play at Christmas so keep an eye out if you’re looking for some to add to your collection.

Fun boxing day with the family

This is perhaps my most favourite Christmas tradition. As my parents aren’t together, and I now also spend time with my boyfriend’s family at Christmas, I’ve always essentially had two Christmas Days! I think a lot of people like to relax on Boxing Day but for me and my family it’s very similar to the day before. Full of food, games and fun. I’m sure my children will have a similar experience as they will have three sets of grandparents to visit!

And those are all my current Christmas traditions! I absolutely love doing all of these things each year – it wouldn’t be Christmas if I didn’t! Although, I think this is the last Christmas I’ll have in a parent’s home! We’re hoping to move out next year and spend our first Christmas at our own house. So whilst we might not be doing some of these again, I’m excited to create new ones, and hopefully bring in some of those from when I was younger with my own children one day.

What are your Christmas traditions?