What do you do on Christmas Eve?
I’ve definitely got that Christmas feeling. The tree is up and decorated. We’re waiting to see our Children’s performance, pre-recorded obviously. I’ve sent most of my Christmas cards and Christmas shopping has begun. Plus, one of my favourite things is planning what delicious feasts I will be cooking over Christmas. I will be cooking a lot more this year as we’re unable to visit anyone!
I love this time of year, even in this surreal time. I mean, what’s not to love. And it’s even more special because of my children. They get so excited. I don’t know of a child that doesn’t get excited.
One thing I really look forward to is Christmas Eve. The crescendo of a build-up to the big day. Making sure that my kiddies put out a little something for Santa and his reindeers. Getting into the Christmas spirit by watching a Christmas film whilst devouring popcorn. It’s such a special time and it’s become a bit of a ritual in our house, mainly driven by me.
Here is my list of 6 things to do for Christmas Eve.
1. Christmas Eve bag / box
I started this a few years ago. As you would imagine, it’s an American thing and yes it might be seen as yet another thing that commercialises Christmas. But for me, it’s about making the magic of Christmas more magical and I’m a sucker for making my kiddies happy. I will grow out of it. Maybe.
This year’s bag includes:
Christmas Pyjamas, Christmas socks, a book, gingerbread making kit, bath bombs, hot chocolate spoons and chocolate.
For more ideas, have a look at these links:
2. Preparations for Santa’s arrival
Obviously, we’ll be ensuring that Santa is not disappointed when he comes to our house. We’ll have a mince pie and whisky by the fireplace for him. Yes whisky, hubby says Santa prefers whisky. Plus, they’ll be reindeer food and carrots for his reindeers.
What do you leave out?
3. Letting Santa know we’re in
My kiddies worry that Santa either won’t know we’re in or that he’ll forget to stop at our house. So, we obviously put a sign outside our front door so that he knows.
My kiddies also worry that he won’t be able to fit down our chimney because it’s blocked. But I reassure them that he has a special set of keys that let him into houses and that it only works on Christmas Eve.
Will Santa be coming down the chimney or in through the front door?
4. Christmas Eve wind down
What makes Christmas Eve really special is that we let our kiddies stay up a little later than usual. This starts with a family meal. Usually a one pot wonder, not the #7ingredientschallenge meal.
And then, we settle down to watch a Christmas movie with popcorn. A lovely way to end the day and hopefully get them feeling tired so they actually go to bed.
5. Final preparations
Once our kiddies are in bed we put the presents under the tree. Plus, for the fourth year we will also be wrapping the doorway into the lounge so that in the morning our kiddies have to literally break into the lounge.
Note to self, make sure the lounge door is open. I don’t want to be going to the hospital on Christmas day because one of my children has headbutted the door.
6. First gift
To stop our kiddies from wanting to go downstairs too early, we also put one present outside their door. So, when they do get up they can come into our room and open their first present with us. If I thought there wasn’t a risk of them waking up I’d leave it at the end of their beds.
That’s ‘What do you do on Christmas Eve?’ according to Mummy on a Break.
Do you have any Christmas Eve rituals?
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You might also like to read ‘Are you celebrating the small stuff?’
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