Tired of the same old routine? This year, ditch the standard itinerary and cultivate a holiday season rich with unique experiences and new traditions. This list is designed for those who want to move beyond the mainstream and create deeply personal and memorable moments.
For the Culinary Adventurer
- Host a Dickensian Christmas Supper.
Research recipes from the Victorian era and prepare a feast Charles Dickens would recognize. Think roasted goose, plum pudding flambéed with brandy, wassail punch, and syllabub. Decorate with dripping candles and evergreen boughs for a truly immersive experience. - Bake and Decorate Scandinavian Heart Cookies (Pepparkakor).
Go beyond gingerbread men. These thin, crisp ginger cookies are traditionally cut into heart shapes and decorated with simple white icing. They are a beautiful and delicious nod to Nordic holiday traditions. - Create a Infused Olive Oil or Vinegar for Gifting.
Sterilize beautiful glass bottles and create custom infusions. For oil, try rosemary and garlic. For vinegar, try cranberry and orange peel. Add a sprig of fresh herb for a gorgeous, homemade gift from your kitchen. - Craft a Signature Christmas Cocktail or Mocktail.
Invent a drink that is uniquely yours for the season. Give it a clever name like “The Mistletoe Mule” or “Frosted Juniper Fizz.” Batch it ahead of time so you can easily serve it to guests throughout the month. - Organize a “Leftovers Remix” Cook-Off.
The day after Christmas, invite family or friends over for a friendly competition. Everyone must create a new, delicious dish using only Christmas leftovers. Vote on the most creative and tasty transformation.
For the Cozy Creator
- Handcraft a Felted Wool Ornament.
Learn the basics of needle felting with wool roving. It is a meditative and rewarding craft that results in beautiful, rustic ornaments like little robins, snowy cottages, or abstract winter scenes. - Host a “Make Your Own Wreath” Gathering.
Source a variety of evergreen clippings, eucalyptus, holly, dried citrus, and ribbons. Invite friends over with their own wreath forms and create unique door decorations together with music and hot cocoa. - Dip Your Own Taper Candles.
This ancient craft is surprisingly accessible. Using a double boiler for wax and simple dipping techniques, you can create beautiful, drippy, old-world candles in festive colors for your holiday table. - Knit or Crochet a Small Holiday Project.
Instead of a large scarf, commit to a small seasonal item. Make a pair of Christmas-themed dishcloths, a cozy mug cozy, or a simple garland of granny squares in holiday colors. - Create a Natural Winter Potpourri Simmer Pot.
Forego synthetic air fresheners. Simmer a pot of water on your stove with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and fresh cranberries. Your entire home will smell authentically and wonderfully of the season.
For the Cultural Explorer
- Celebrate Saint Lucia Day on December 13th.
Honor this Swedish tradition by having the eldest daughter serve the family Lussekatter (saffron buns) and ginger cookies in the morning while wearing a white gown and a crown of candles (battery-operated, for safety!). - Hold a Watch Party for a Foreign-Language Christmas Film.
Skip the usual classics and find a holiday film from another country. Examples include Norway’s “Journey to the Christmas Star” or France’s “Santa Claus Is a Stinker.” Read subtitles and enjoy a new perspective. - Listen to a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
Tune in to the live BBC radio broadcast from King’s College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve. This beautiful service of biblical readings and Christmas carols is a timeless tradition that evokes a deep sense of peace and history. - Research and Incorporate a Krampus Legend Element.
For those who enjoy a darker folklore, learn about the Krampus tradition from Alpine Germany and Austria. You could leave a small wooden Krampus figure next to your stockings or share the stories with older children. - Celebrate Little Christmas on January 6th.
Extend the season by marking Epiphany, or Three Kings’ Day. traditionally, this is when the tree comes down and a final small gift is exchanged to commemorate the visit of the Magi.
For the Community-Minded
- Volunteer as a Family at a Community Dinner.
Move beyond donating money and donate your time. Many community centers and churches host free holiday dinners and need help with setup, serving, and cleanup. It is a humbling and rewarding experience. - Organize a Neighborhood “Cookie Walk.”
Coordinate with neighbors. Each household bakes a large batch of one type of cookie. On a set day, everyone walks from house to house with a container, collecting a variety of cookies from each stop. - “Adopt” a Local Senior for the Holidays.
Connect with a local nursing home and get the name of a resident who may not have family visitors. Commit to sending them cards, small gifts, and well wishes throughout the month. - Perform a Random Act of Kindness for a Delivery Driver.
The holidays are their busiest time. Leave a insulated cooler on your porch with bottled water, snacks, and a thank you note for the mail carrier, UPS, and Amazon delivery drivers. - Go Caroling at a Local Animal Shelter.
Animals love the sound of human voices! Call ahead and arrange a time for your group to sing gentle carols to the dogs and cats waiting for their forever homes. It is a unique way to spread cheer.
For the Outdoor Enthusiast
- Go on a “Christmas Lights Birding” Tour.
Combine two activities. Drive through the best-decorated neighborhoods in your area, but turn it into a game to spot and identify any nocturnal wildlife or birds silhouetted against the colorful lights. - Take a Solstice Night Hike on December 21st.
Celebrate the longest night of the year by embracing the darkness. Bundle up, grab a thermos of hot chocolate, and take a silent walk under the winter stars, reflecting on the year gone by. - Build a Wildlife Christmas Tree.
Decorate a tree in your yard with edible ornaments for local animals. Hang pinecones coated in peanut butter and birdseed, strings of popcorn and cranberries, and suet bells. - Go on a Christmas Bird Count.
Participate in this long-running citizen science project. The Audubon Society organizes counts between December 14 and January 5 each year. You will contribute to vital scientific data while enjoying nature. - Try Cold Water Plunging.
For the truly adventurous, join a local polar bear plunge group. Often done for charity on Christmas morning, it is a shocking, exhilarating, and unforgettable way to start the day.
For the Homebody & Cinephile
- Host a Obscure Christmas Movie Marathon.
Dig beyond “Elf” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Screen deep cuts like “The Apartment,” “The Holly and the Ivy,” or the 1945 version of “Christmas in Connecticut.” Make ballots and have guests vote for a new favorite. - Create a Christmas-Themed Escape Room at Home.
Design a series of puzzles and clues with a holiday theme (e.g., “Help Santa find the lost reindeer!”). Use Christmas decorations as props and have a small prize for the family members who solve it. - Have a Board Game Tournament.
Designate a day for nothing but games. Choose a mix of classic and new strategy games, keep a tournament bracket, and award a silly trophy to the ultimate champion. - Learn to Say “Merry Christmas” in 10 Languages.
Make it a fun family challenge to learn and practice holiday greetings from around the world. It is a small way to foster global awareness and connection. - Write and Mail a Physical Letter to a Faraway Friend.
In the age of texting, a handwritten letter is a rare treasure. Take time to write a meaningful, newsy update on pretty stationery and send it via old-fashioned mail.
For the Reflective & Mindful
- Create an Audio Christmas Time Capsule.
Instead of writing, use your phone’s voice memo app. Record the sounds of your holiday: family laughing, the fireplace crackling, unwrapping gifts, and Christmas music playing in the background. Listen to it next year. - Practice “Julehygge” (Christmas Cosiness).
The Danish concept of hygge is paramount at Christmas. Intentionally create an atmosphere of comfort and contentment with soft lighting, warm blankets, and the presence of loved ones, with no agenda other than to be together. - Visit a Cemetery to Decorate Ancestors’ Graves.
Place a fresh evergreen wreath or a small Christmas tree on the graves of family members. It is a powerful way to feel connected to your heritage and honor those who are no longer with you. - Read A Christmas Carol Aloud Over Several Nights.
Revisit Dickens’s original text. Gather the family each evening and read a stave (chapter) aloud by the light of the Christmas tree. It is a tradition that captures the true spirit of the season. - Perform a Secret Act of Service for Your Family.
For one full day, quietly and without announcement, do kind things for your family members. Make their bed, fill their gas tank, do their least favorite chore. Let the magic of anonymous giving be your reward.
