Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. When you click these links, I may get a small commission. It won’t cost you anything. I only promote products and services that I think are great. I always have your best interests at heart.
The holiday season is all about family traditions. We are going to share our Best Holiday Traditions and hopefully inspire some new traditions for your family.
We are all about magical moments, initially inspired by our trips to Walt Disney World. My husband and I made a pack to not only experience the magic while we are at the happiest place on earth but to bring those experiences home. As we believe there is magic in every day.
Christmas time is the perfect time to create those family memories big or small. And maybe the traditions you create will be held by your family for years to come.
We are going to share our favorite holiday traditions and hopefully it will inspire you to create some of your very own.
Holiday Lights
One of the best ways to kick off the holiday season and get your family in the Christmas spirit is by visiting one of the many Holiday Light displays in your area.
We usually gather our family together each year and spend an evening together enjoying a dinner and after experience the beauty of millions of twinkling holiday lights.
Check out The Best Holiday Rotary Lights in Wisconsin or for the animal lovers The Zoo Lights IN Madison Wisconsin for awesome light displays here in the Midwest that we absolutely love.
Disney Holiday Celebration
Every year just after Thanksgiving, Disney airs “The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration” and “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” on ABC.
We love putting on our coziest Christmas pajamas and snuggling up together on the couch to watch these two specials. You can almost feel the magic coming through your TV as Disney brings holiday music from some of your favorite artists and inspirational stories.
These two specials bring so much joy to our home that it floods my heart with all the special memories we have enjoyed together over the years especially this time of year.
My kids love to see how long it takes before I start crying as we watch…I’m telling you ‘its’ that Disney magic.
To find out more information on these two specials checkout the Disney Parks blog.
Christmas Tree
Putting up our Christmas tree together as a family is one of our favorite ways to fill our home with the Christmas spirit. The question is are you a before or after Thanksgiving Christmas decorator?
Over the years the tree and decorations have gone up earlier and earlier that we are now a November 1st decorating family.
I know what you’re thinking, but we just love this time of year so much that we try to squeeze every ounce of holiday magic out of this time of year.
There is something about setting up our tree as we listen to Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas” that gets us so excited for the holiday season.
Elf on the Shelf
The dreaded Elf on the Shelf. I must admit there are days when I wish the elf would get lost on his travels from the North Pole, but in all honesty this rosy cheeked little elf has brought so much magic to our home.
My kids get so excited to see Cookie each and every year and I must say the happiness Cookie brings to my children warms my heart. There will come a day when my children are grown and I will wish for these moments to return.
If you want to bring one of these cute little elf’s to your home, check out the Elf on the Shelf website.
Advent Calendars
An advent calendar has been a fun way to count down to the big day. Our advent calendar tradition actually started when our Elf cookie brought the calendars on December 1st on his return from the “North Pole”.
There are so many different options of advent calendars depending on your child’s likes. My kids personally like the Marvel and Star Wars Lego calendars. There are also makeup, socks, candy and so many other calendars to choose from.
Christmas Cookies
There is something so special about being in the kitchen together as a family baking Christmas cookies, especially if you’re using a recipe that’s been passed down for generations.
Our cookies may not be something out of Magnolia magazine but they sure sweeten our bellies and our hearts.
Gingerbread House
Building a gingerbread house can be quite a treat. With more candy pieces in our tummies than on the house itself, I’m surprised we even have enough left to construct it.
Now I am not a homemade gingerbread kinda mom. I admit I get our house from target with pre-cut pieces and all the supplies.
A little tip to make the process super easy, hot glue the main walls of your house together to save the hassle and stress of trying to hold the parts together until the frosting dries.
Ornaments
Every year we buy our kids a new ornament for the Christmas tree. This is a tradition that my mom started and I have carried through to my children.
We give them an ornament as their first gift from us every year. I try to get an ornament that is meaningful to them from that year.
Whether it’s something from the year that they enjoyed, from a place we traveled to or one of their favorite Disney Characters we try to make it something special to them.
Another option is ordering an ornament through Shutterfly with one of their favorite photos on it.
Christmas Eve Dinner
Every year we host Christmas Eve dinner with my husband’s family. We have been doing this for going on 10 years now.
This is such a great time to get everyone together, let the kids play and creating vivid memories that will be remembered for years to come.
Christmas PJs
This time of year when the weather is cold and the ground is snow covered there is something so special about getting a new pair of holiday pjs, cozying up on the couch and watching your favorite Christmas movie.
Christmas is such a magical time. It’s a time that brings family and friends together, and helps us appreciate the love in our lives that we often take for granted.
Hopefully this list will inspire you to start your own traditions with your family, and let the true meaning of the holiday season will fill your heart.