One of the great things about parenting is being able to celebrate Christmas with our kids. The excitement, anticipation and fun traditions that come with the festive season make for a wonderful joyful experience for all.
We have done some research and listed 15 fun Christmas family traditions which we hope will help create some wonderful family memories for the years ahead.
1. Decorating the Christmas tree together.
This is already a popular tradition and it is usually done around the 1st of December in Malta. We love the idea of making an event out of it, inviting close relatives and friends over for some mulled wine, pannettone and mince pies and having everyone help out in decorating the tree.
Creating a personalised hand-made decoration once a year is also a great ritual to engage in with our kids.
Dresses, boleros and hair clips: Monsoon children; Christmas tree decorations, ornaments and advent calendar: Butlers; ‘Dear Santa’ Tree decoration: Next; Photography and styling: Francesca Pace, from Gaia and Nina Blog.
2. The Advent calendar.
The anticipation and fun of discovering a small treat every day is a great tradition to engage in with kids.
There are several chocolate advent calendars available in leading supermarkets. There are also advent calendars which offer toys instead of sweet treats such as the ‘happyland advent calendar’ where little Christmas play figurines can be discovered every day leading up to Christmas.
You can also personalise your own advent calendar like the one shown in this photo which is available from Butlers until stocks last. The idea is to place a personalised gift in each of the little drawers, ranging between activity ideas, sweet treats, little toys and more.
Dress and hair clip: Monsoon children; Christmas decorations and advent calendar: Butlers; Photography and styling: Francesca Pace, from Gaia and Nina Blog.
3. Writing and posting a letter to Father Christmas.
Writing out a personal letter to Father Christmas together with our child is not only a fun bonding experience but also helps us discover what our children really want. What they write may surprise you! We also have some exciting news..there will be a special postbox where to post your childrens’ letter to Santa at Valletta Waterfront! This will be up as from 3rd December and kids will get a reply back if an address is provided. Click here for more information.
From 3rd December onward, children are invited to post their letter in a special Christmas post box at Valletta Waterfront, and they will also receive a reply back from Santa!
4. Buying a gift for a less fortunate child.
It is a very valuable lesson for our children to learn how lucky they are to receive presents at Christmas time. Going out to actively buy a gift, however small it may be, to be given to a child that is less fortunate than them, helps them remember how blessed they are, and to be emphatic and kind towards other children.
Another idea is also to pack a box of ‘old’ toys that are still in very good condition and give them to children who are less fortunate.
Dresses, boleros and hair clips: Monsoon children; Christmas tree decorations, ornaments and advent calendar: Butlers; Photography and styling: Francesca Pace, from Gaia and Nina Blog.
5. Visiting the capital city.
There is nothing better to get kids into the Christmas spirit than taking them to the capital city, Valletta. There is always something fun and Christmassy going on, from street entertainers to exquisite decorations and of course, lots of shopping fun.
6. Opening a special gift box on Christmas eve.
Putting together a Christmas Eve box is an easy way to add a touch of magic to the holiday season. The idea is to put together a gift box for kids to open on Christmas Eve.
Here is what we put in ours: Christmas movie, pygama set, HotChocSpoon (Hot Chocolate on a stick), Christmas mug, Santa toy, candy cane and a hot water bottle.
All great ingredients for a cosy Christmas eve family movie night, another great tradition to start with kids.
Christmas tree decorations, basket, HotChocSpoon, Christmas Mug, Santa toy, socks and hot water bottle, all from Butlers; Pygama set: Monsoon children; photography and styling: Francesca Pace, from Gaia and Nina Blog.
7. Leaving cookies and milk for Father Christmas by the Christmas tree.
The ritual of preparing a snack and a drink for Father Christmas to find when he ‘visits’ our home to leave all the Christmas presents is exciting for kids, and is also a great midnight snack for us adults 😉
Christmas tree decorations, advent calendar, table and plates all from Butlers; photography and styling: Francesca Pace, from Gaia and Nina Blog.
8. Preparing a stocking for each member of the family.
Usually stockings are just for kids but we love the idea of having one for each member of the family; a perfect opportunity to give our partner some small gifts and treats.
Stockings (photographer’s own); Star and lantern ornaments: Butlers; Photography and styling: Francesca Pace, from Gaia and Nina Blog.
9. Visiting a relative you don’t see very often.
Christmas is a perfect time to visit a relative whom we do not see very often throughout the year. It may be someone who is unfortunately unwell or someone who does not go out much, kids will learn that Christmas is not just about presents but mostly about spending time with our loved ones.
10. Eating Pannettone for Christmas day breakfast.
We loooove this tradition and will happily join the kids in devouring the delicious pannettone, if they let us, that is.
Pygamas and hair clips: Monsoon children; Pannettone: Bauli; Photography and styling: Francesca Pace, from Gaia and Nina Blog.
11. Wearing special Christmas outfits.
Dressing up for Christmas lunch is great fun and with all the cute dresses and outfits available out there for our little ones, they are sure to look adorable on this special day.
Clothes: Monsoon children; Decorations and ornaments: Butlers; Photography and styling: Francesca Pace, from Gaia and Nina Blog.
12. Writing a letter to your kids for them to read when they are older.
The idea here is to write a letter to our children every Christmas and store it in a special place for our kids to read when they are older. The letter would be about our experiences that year as a family and what we are looking forward to doing next year.
Pygama set: Monsoon children; Christmas tree decorations : Butlers; Photography and styling: Francesca Pace, from Gaia and Nina Blog.
13. A Christmas professional photo shoot.
Fellow mummy Magdalena Czerny Muscat from M&J Photo-Studio International who captured the lovely photograph below organises Christmas mini-photo sessions for children. Booking spaces are limited so if you are interested we urge you to contact her on info@mj-photostudio.com or call on 99116439 to book your slot.
Dress, hairband and shoes: Monsoon children; Photography and swing set-up: M&J Photo Studio International; Styling: Francesca Pace, from Gaia and Nina Blog.
14. Go on a Christmas lights tour.
There’s bound to be someone in the neighborhood who went all out with the Christmas lights and decorations. Pile the kids in the car, put on some Christmas tunes, and drive around to see the lovely Christmas lights and decorations.
15. Go Christmas Caroling or have a sing-along.
There is something about Christmas carols that emits that warm, fuzzy festive feeling. Make neighbours smile by visiting homes where you know a visit from some singing elves and fairies would be welcome. If singing in public isn’t your thing, a family sing-along at home can be just as fun.
What do you think of these Christmas traditions? Do you have any more ideas for fellow mummies? Let us know in the comments section or on our BuzyMummy Facebook page.
Article written by Davinia Mallia Pulé. Styling and art direction by Francesca Pace from Gaia and Nina Blog. Photography by Francesca Pace from Gaia and Nina Blog and Magdalena Czerny Muscat from M&J Photo Studio International. Clothes and accessories from Monsoon children. Decoration, props and ornaments from Butlers.
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Participating in a Christmas procession, I take the kids to my home town at around 1700hrs on Christmas eve, however dates vary from one town to another
How lovely a Christmas procession…and it is a perfect time too, the kids must really look forward to it.