Over twenty ago I began a family activity that is forever sketched into my kids’ hearts. This is definitely, by far, absolutely one of their favorite Christmas traditions.

December 1st is GO time!!!

Drum roll…. The 25 Days of Christmas

Each year I plan 25 activities to countdown ’til Christmas. The anticipation will create a ritual that your family will love for years to come!! I have gotten my list up to 55 ideas to choose from and can’t wait to share them with YOU! 

In all honesty, some years this about killed me until I found a good balance. So if you have never done this before- pace yourself, consider doing 12 days of Christmas instead. Having a big family means variety of ages, some activities appeal to the younger ones while others to the older ones. I even did this for my college daughter and her roommate loved it! (I did this to take the sting off of being away her first year.)

Use an advent calendar with 25 drawers/pockets. You can also keep it simple by using envelopes.

Follow these three steps:

FIRST– print off a calendar and pencil in events already on the agenda; things you are going to do them anyways. (Packaging them into the 25 days makes it extra special.)

SECOND-Fill in each empty day with one activity from the list. (FYI– I don’t put it on my daily calendar because my kids are too snoopy.)

THIRD- Type out each activity and cut into daily strips to be opened every morning. (Confession: I have been know to scribble it out on a post-it during desperate times.)

Ready? Here we go…

55 Ideas to Countdown to Christmas

1-Start with Advent Calendar– buy or make. They sell chocolate ones or I create one using plastic wrap and curling ribbon then insert marshmallows or fishy cracker depending on the child.

2-Elf on the Shelf- Elf plays hide and go seek every morning. You can get any Elf looking doll or buy the official one. This has been a HUGE highlight for my youngest. Every morning he gets up looking for “Elfie”. Always a mom fail when “Elfie” doesn’t move, UGH! But so cute watching him search and talk to him. In fact, “Elfie” is pretty famous in our house. 

3-WIsemen Search Party-Hide Mary and Joseph around the house every morning to be found then Christmas morning place them in the nativity set with baby Jesus. A spiritual kind of “Elf on a Shelf’ idea.

4-Get a Tree or Put up Tree. If you are the adventurous kind then hit the road in search of the perfect tree. We transitioned to a fake one many years ago due to allergies.  Wait until after Christmas to purchase one at 75% off.

5-Decorate the Tree

6-Decorate the House

7-Decorate the Windows/paint windows with markers or vinyl shapes.

8- Decorate Outside/hang lights

9-Movie Night– watch favorite Christmas movie with popcorn.

10-Candy Cane Day-Make/eat candy canes and watch Legend of the Candy Cane movie. 

11-St. Nick Night- December 6^th put out shoes and they will be filled by morning with a special toy or treat. We usually read the story of the “real” St Nick.

12- Read Christmas story. Luke 2:1-20

13-Act out the Christmas story

14- What God Wants for Christmas by Family Life. Fun activity to tell the Christmas story. 

15-Christmas Pajama Every year my kids get a new pair of PJs.

16-Game Night-pick your favorite game or buy a new one to explore.

17-Red Night-serve a red meal (spaghetti with red jello, punch) with red napkins.

18-Green Night- Same as above but green- (green Enchiladas)

19-Shopping Day- (favorite store or dollar store.)

20-Wrapping Day

21-Send Letters to Santa/Mail– Create a “wish” list.

22-Make Christmas Cards

23-Coloring Books-Color in Christmas coloring books/ date each year with age. As they grow they love looking back and laughing at their coloring abilities. Great memory keeper.

24-Make Red and Green Playdough (great practice before making cookies.)

25-Sing Christmas Songs-you can do this at home or go caroling. (Christmas Karaoke is fun too.)

26- Gingerbread House or Gingerbread Man- read the story. Tip: use graham crackers and left over halloween candy.

27-Sugar Cube Igloos- great space and building skills.

28-Baking Day– bake your favorite cookies.

29-Light Show- drive around to see lights on houses.

30-Attend a Christmas Play/Show/Event

31- Frosty the Snowman Night: snowman soup (hot cocoa and marshmallows) and cookies (I buy premade snowman cookies.)

32-December 22- first day of winter-make snow cones or go to the mountains.

33-Make Cinnamon Ornaments

34-Picnic under the Tree

35- Make Gifts (idea: create coupon books, let them get creative.)

36-Happy Birthday Jesus Party- eat cupcakes and have a party giving “gifts” to Jesus.

37-Family Picture if you do it early enough they can be your Christmas cards.

38-Go Ice Skating (roller skating works too.)

39-Go Christmas Caroling to neighbors, grandmas or local elderly home.

40-Make Red and Green Paper Garland to hang around the house.

41-Candle Night- Dinner by candle light, explain how Jesus came to be the light of the world and do a family candle lighting.

42-Gift Yourself- random acts of kindness day-do something to serve others. I wanted to change the focus so we began doing these but I don’t do all of them (see 43-45).

43-Gift Peace- find a way to be a peacemaker today and discuss the importance of peace.

44-Gift Joy– find a way to bring joy to someone else -gift, service project, etc.

45-Gift Love- cut out a red heart and write how we showed love to others this year.

46-Doorbell Dash, Ring and Run/You’ve Been Starred/Jingled put up sign with basket of goodies to neighbors or friends ring doorbell and run leaving goodies behind.

47-Visit Santa- we actually only did this once but for many it is a treasured tradition.

48-Jesus Stocking-create a stocking for Jesus- fill it with cards expressing what you will give Him this year.

49-Celebrate Hanukkah with candles and/or dreidel.

50-Ornament Gift- each year give them a new ornament for the tree, wrapped and waiting.

51-Celebrate Christmas from Around the World- study other countries and pick a fun activity.

52-Give One Away: one toy to a local charity, thrift store or family in need (making room for what is under the tree).

53-Play Christmas charades- Ideas: Christmas movies, food, songs, characters, etc.

54- Book Day– start reading your favorite Christmas book. Chapter book or picture book. Over the years I have read several different books.  Jothan’s Journey is a Bible inspired thriller. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is another fun book. Another ideas is to wrap 25 books to read day.

55- Attend a Christmas Service

Printable 25 days of Christmas

Use this list to get your creative juices flowing and hopefully get you off to a great start. 25 Days of Christmas is a family favorite, better than Christmas morning. The MOST IMPORTANT thing is to create memories together.

CONFESSION– Somedays get crazy and I switch things that morning. Flexibility is the key to making this a success. Plus I have a few easy “go to” on days where my schedule gets off.