My Favorite Christmas Traditions

Merry Christmas! I can’t believe how excited I am for Christmas this year. Not sure if it is just because I love Christmas or if 2020 was just a lot to handle and I am ready for some Christmas cheer to end out the year!

Many of us having been staying home more and have been trying to socially distance our selves from friends and family. I think we are all ready to get things back to normal and are ready to enjoy the company of those closest to us in real life!

While Christmas this year will not be what one would call “normal”, my husband and I will still be participating in our Christmas Traditions, unfortunately just not with the whole family this year (COVID Please go away!).

Below are a few of our favorite Christmas traditions, some of which are just for Caleb and I, while others typically include the entire family.

The Decorating Event!

Ummm duh! Everyone does this! I know, I know. However, we like to make decorating the house a special time as well by making it an event itself!

Instead of just getting the Christmas décor out and quickly throwing it all up, we choose to include food, drinks, a fire, music, and of course some Christmas movies!

To start, I make some hot cocoa, order a pizza, and get a fire going! Then we play a super old Christmas movie like Rudolph or Frosty the Snowman while listening to Christmas music! We end the night by watching Muppets Christmas Carol!

Check out these great Christmas Decorations we found this year!

Exchanging an ornament

So this is a tradition my husband and I started before we were married. We both would either pick out a new ornament together or surprise each other with a brand new ornament each year.

This began by exchanging New Mexico State University ornaments we found at the bookstore on campus while we were in college. Since then we have been growing our ornament collection slowly but so meaningfully.

This year, I will get to surprise Caleb with this super cute Bear ornament I found during my trip to Montana! Can’t wait to give this one to him! The fun part is that each ornament can remind you of a certain time during the year or just something special!

Watching Polar Express with Hot Chocolate

Amongst the vast array of Christmas movies we watch every year, The Polar Express is one movie we watch absolutely every Christmas Season while we drink hot cocoa! The hot cocoa is a must especially for the Hot Chocolate scene in the movie. Here is a super delicious hot cocoa recipe we make every year.

Hot Chocolate

• 1 Cup Milk
• 1 Tbsp Raw Cocao Powder
• 1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
• 1/4 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 Tsp Cinnamon
• Pinch of Salt

1. Heat the milk in a sauce pan until warm.
2. Add in the other ingredients stirring frequently until well combined and warm!
3. Pour into mugs and enjoy!

Driving around looking at lights

So this is a tradition I am sure most people do every year as well. We enjoy it so much that my husband and I drive around a few times by ourselves and once with the entire family.

We start the night out by getting some food, followed up by a Starbucks or hot drink to have with us while we drive around looking at lights listening to Christmas music.

Reading the night before Christmas

We love reading The Night Before Christmas right before everyone goes to bed on Christmas eve. Yet again, another opportunity to drink some hot chocolate (as you can see we like our cocoa!).

This is so fun to get the entire family together in our Christmas jammies and read. Taking time to appreciate the company we are with and the holiday season we are in!

Other Christmas Traditions

• Baking Cookies – Check out my Chewy Ginger Snaps I make every year!
• Making Tamales with the Family
• Sending out Christmas Cards
• Gift Exchanges
• Tree Shopping
• Christmas Decoration Shopping

These traditions are always so much fun and really help to make the holiday season a time to remember! What Christmas Traditions do you participate in every year?

Merry Christmas!