Fun things to do on Christmas Eve: 60 traditions that will create amazing memories

Christmas is a significant holiday in the Christian calendar. It is an annual festival commemorating Jesus Christ's birth, observed primarily on 25 December as a religious and cultural celebration. The evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day is known as Christmas Eve. Here is a collection of fun things to do on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve is on 24 December. The date marks the end of the Advent season, which begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Eve. Many churches hold midnight church services to mark the end of Advent. Below is a collection of fun things to do on Christmas Eve with your loved ones.

Fun things to do on Christmas Eve

You can have fun with your family and friends on Christmas Eve. If fun and games aren't your thing, you will be relieved to know other ways to commemorate this day. Here are some ideas for things to do on Christmas Eve.

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1. Open a gift

One of the fun things to do on Christmas Eve is to open gifts, albeit not all of them. Gift opening is arguably the oldest and most common practice in most households. You can choose a specific gift or take one randomly from under the Christmas tree. Save some for Boxing Day!

2. Read Christmas books

One popular book to read on the eve is The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore (Author) and Cheryl Harness (Illustrator). With its story of dad stealing an inside look at Santa's operation, this Christmas book has become synonymous with 24th December. Reading books is among the most special things to do with kids on Christmas Eve.

3. Display a pickle ornament

According to German Way, a gherkin ornament is hung on the tree on Christmas Eve. In some versions, the first person to discover the ornament gets a special present.

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4. Surprise your neighbours with cookies

By assembling tins of Christmas cookies to be delivered as a surprise to your neighbours, you may bring holiday pleasure to the entire street.

5. Host a White Elephant game

Engage your entire family in a humorous White Elephant game if you have a large family. With hilarious gag gifts or Christmas gift cards and people swiping presents left and right, you can be sure that the evening will be filled with fun.

6. Make Christmas cards

Hand-crafting Christmas cards is among the fun things to do on Christmas Eve with your family. You can work with your children to make festive cards to distribute to friends and family at your celebration the following day. These handwritten greeting cards would be the ideal way to complete your presents.

7. Practice hygge

Many families get new pyjamas on Christmas Eve, but you may heighten the cosy atmosphere of the season by incorporating hygge into your celebration. This Danish way of life, pronounced hue-guh, is characterised by a pleasant atmosphere, spending time with loved ones, and relishing the cosiness of an indoor winter night.

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8. Put together thoughtful care packages

An excellent way to let loved ones and those in need know you're thinking of them over the holidays is by giving them a care package. These can also be distributed after Christmas so that recipients would receive them as a New Year's gift to continue the festive greetings.

9. Make Christmas crafts

There is always time for a little Christmas craft-making. Give your children some paper, glitter, and glue to start DIY projects for the upcoming year!

10. Break out the ugly Christmas sweaters

You can invite your family to an ugly sweater theme night and ask them to dress in their greatest outrageous outfits. Have everyone secretly vote for the ugliest sweater of the night after the party and then award candy awards. Anyone who makes an ugly Christmas sweater themselves gets bonus points.

11. Write a letter to Santa Clause

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Even if Santa enjoys all the cookies and milk he receives, he will cherish a message specially written for him. Encourage your kids to write Santa Claus thank-you notes, and they'll be sure to get on the nice list the following year!

12. Make a gingerbread house

Making a gingerbread house is one of the fun things to do on Christmas Eve for adults. You can even compete to see whose house is the best. To make the challenge even more engaging, have everyone make their cookies for the house.

13. Track Santa

You can visit websites like NORAD that track Santa's every move on Christmas Eve. If your kids want to know when they can get their presents, this activity will keep them engaged for some time. Ensure your children are asleep when they come close to you; otherwise, you will have questions to answer!

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14. Hang up your Christmas stockings

If you use your fireplace frequently, you should skip hanging your stockings up at the start of the holiday season to avoid fire hazards. It is wise to wait until the last minute to hang the stockings. This creates a unique Christmas Eve ritual.

15. Make reindeer food

The reindeer that pulls Santa's sleigh also require food to fuel their lengthy journey. Gather some carrots, oats, and anything else in your cupboard to put together a bag for Rudolph and his pals.

16. Feast of the Seven Fishes

Enjoy a traditional seven-course seafood feast from the early 1900s to celebrate like an Italian. You can prepare many recipes at home or skip washing dishes by locating a nearby Italian eatery serving a special Christmas Eve menu.

17. Attend a church service

A church is an ideal venue to spend Christmas Eve because most churches plan special events, including live concerts, carolling, and nativity pageants. Some have services until late at night, enabling your family to celebrate the momentous day together at midnight.

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18. Bake cookies for Santa

Prepare some unique snacks to leave out for Santa. Grab your cookie sheets and make your favourite cookies. Traditional sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, or sweets with a peppermint topping are always a good choice.

19. Host a game night

Game nights are one of the best Christmas Eve activities for adults. According to the Play Party Plan, popular games such as Candy Cane Olympics and Christmas Charades will keep everyone happy and active. The winner receives the first present the next morning.

20. One small gift exchange

Let kids exchange and unwrap just one small gift from each other. If possible, let it be a board game or toy that everyone can enjoy the entire evening. This will keep them distracted so they do not get impatient before Santa's big arrival.

21. Set up a hot cocoa bar

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Setting up a hot cocoa bar works well for treating a small group as it does for entertaining a large audience. Set out all the ingredients you will need to prepare a cup of hot chocolate and some festive extras like peppermint sticks, sprinkles, holiday candies, specialty sauces, and more.

22. Christmas Eve takeout dinner

Order takeout from your favourite neighbourhood eatery. Ensure you order everyone's favourite foods. This will allow you to relax before getting up the following day to prepare a massive Christmas Day feast. Set the takeout as a buffet so that everyone can help themselves.

23. Take a night drive

Get in the car and drive around your neighbourhood to see the best and brightest lights. For a wonderful evening out, bring a thermos of hot cocoa and turn on your favourite Christmas music.

24. Wear matching Christmas pyjamas

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Sit by the fire in your matching family holiday jammies for a low-key evening. They are the ideal uniform for a family portrait because so many reasonably priced and lovely variations are available for everyone, including pets. You can sing carols in your matching PJs.

25. Watch festive films

Light up the fireplace and enjoy a fun movie while lounging on the couch. There will be plenty of entertainment for the evening, with so many festive movies to pick from. Watching movies is one of the fun things to do on Christmas Eve when you are alone.

26. Arrange a visit from Santa

Your kids will behave all night long if you can get one of the adults to dress up as Santa. Let them prepare for his arrival. When he eventually shows up, ensure they do not uncover the adult rocking Santa's attire.

27. Volunteer your services

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To learn how to help those in need the most effectively, contact your neighbourhood soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or charitable group. You can locate neighbourhood organisations requiring holiday assistance through platforms like Volunteer Match.

28. Sing Christmas carols

Gather your loved ones to form your chorus of carolers. If you wish, you can surprise your neighbours by delivering festive entertainment to their door. You may even create and send video messages to spread holiday pleasure virtually!

29. Take a carriage ride

Take a delightful carriage ride while dressed in your favourite holiday attire. This style of horse-drawn attraction is available in many towns and cities. Local Christmas train rides are also offered in some locations.

30. Write riddles on each present

Write a riddle about each gift on the paper or card it came in before putting it under the tree. Have everyone go around and try to guess what their gift is. This guessing game will add plenty of cheer to you and your loved ones.

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31. Hang a new symbolic ornament

Every family has unique traditions and things that mean the most to them. If you have something you hold dear as a family, you can hang it on the tree. If it is not possible, you can make a small replica or craft something symbolic to hang up.

32. "Wrap" everyone's door

Parents or guardians can place wrapping paper over the kids' doors or the living room entry on Christmas Eve. In the morning, the children must break through the wrapped doors to get to their gifts.

33. Make cinnamon rolls

Make these delicious cinnamon rolls and enjoy them with your family on the eve of the big day. The aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls is enticing. Besides, cinnamon is associated with Christmas so that the rolls will be Christmassy for all!

34. Flip through old photos

Most old Christmas pictures will have your kids grinning as they enjoy looking at them. This is a fun way of telling your life stories to the younger generations.

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35. Make eggnog

A steaming mug of eggnog definitely screams that Christmas is here. Eggnog is a creamy, chilled, sweetened dairy beverage. Traditional ingredients include milk, cream, sugar, egg yolks, and whipped egg whites.

36. Dress up your pet(s)

Make your pets festive with amusing hats, antlers, and even red and green capes. Dressed-up pets will entertain you the entire evening.

37. Make stovetop Potpourri

Stovetop Potpourri is a simmering pot of citrus, spices, and other ingredients that will make your house smell fantastic. Potpourri is a completely natural air freshener you can make with your loved ones.

38. Go to the light show

One activity that will get everyone in the holiday spirit is to load up the family car, crank up the carols, and drive to the best light displays in your neighbourhood. Light shows are held annually in most big towns and cities.

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39. Make a Christmas village

Why pay a lot for a gorgeous Christmas village when you and your kids can construct one out of affordable wooden birdhouses? The best aspect is that you can establish a tradition by constructing a new structure each Christmas Eve and setting it with the rest of the village.

40. Go on a holiday scavenger hunt

You can make a list of Christmas decorations for your loved ones. Next, go on a family walk around your neighbourhood to see how many of the items they can check off.

41. Make Christmas crackers

Christmas crackers are festive table decorations that make a snapping sound when pulled open. These vibrantly coloured table decorations are a fun Christmas Eve craft idea because they are filled with confetti, presents, and jokes.

42. Host an open house party

Tossing an open house party is among adults' popular Christmas Eve traditions. An open house party is a less formal relative of the conventional gathering that welcomes visitors at any time throughout the designated time. Since it makes it simpler for your family and friends to find the time to attend, it is pressure-free.

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43. Mix up mocktails/ cocktails

Create mocktails that the whole family can enjoy to make the eve even more joyful and cheery. In addition, you can make the drinks a bit strong if you have adult guests. Making mocktails or cocktails is among the top Christmas Eve traditions for adults.

44. Host a family sleepover

To experience the ultimate sleepover, invite your family over. The grown-ups can pop the champagne while the youngsters watch holiday movies. Make sure there are lots of small bites and sweet sweets to satisfy you.

45. Go for a festive walk outdoors

After all the big day's supper preparation, going for a stroll on Christmas Eve may be a terrific way to unwind. It also gives restless kids a chance to get some exercise.

46. Collect unused toys

You can go through the toy box and encourage the children to gather a few items they no longer use. It is helpful to teach kids that not all children are as lucky as they are and that Santa can bring them to other children in need by bagging up their old toys. Donate the toys to a charity shop or donation facility to make someone's Christmas great.

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47. Put together a Christmas puzzle

You can spend your Christmas Eve cosied around the fire with your family. Put together a festive puzzle. The harder it is, the better. Ensure you have snacks and hot cocoa within reach.

48. Spend time in the snow

If your area has snow, you can enjoy being outdoors. Make snowmen, play snow angels, and throw snowballs at each other. Ensure you do not hurt each other in the process of having fun.

49. Make a Bûche De Noël (Yule log) cake

A Bûche De Noël (Yule log) cake is a traditional Christmas cake is decorated to resemble a log. It is served as a dessert is many countries. Beware that it is not easy to make and it will taste best the next day, so make it on Christmas Eve.

50. Karaoke

If you have been wondering what to do to pass time on Christmas Eve, you can have a karaoke. Set up karaoke on YouTube or invest in a karaoke machine. Next, you and your loved ones can sing your favourite songs.

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51. Make a Christmas toast

Christmas Eve is a time to be with close family members and friends. You can express gratitude for each other. Take time to celebrate all the good things you have experienced throughout the year. What better way to express that gratitude than by raising your glass for a toast with your loved ones?

52. Engage in your favourite indoor sports

You and your loved ones can play your favourite indoor sports like badminton, bowling, and table tennis. This will keep your loved ones active and help you to pass time on Christmas Eve.

53. Make a cross stitch

Cross stitch has made a comeback among modern makers and crafters. You and your loved ones can spend time cross-stitching the day before Christmas. This is your chance to express your creativity.

54. Read the Christmas story in the Bible

Reading the Bible is a good alternative to reading Christmas story books. This activity is best for Christian families. It offers a great opportunity for kids to understand the nativity story.

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55. Visit a living nativity

In a living nativity, human beings create the nativity scene of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and the others from Jesus' birth. These can be done by communities or churches. Visiting one will be educative and entertaining, especially for kids.

56. Host a cookie decorating party

Unleash your creativity by hosting a cookie decoration party. You can roll out store-bought sugar cookie dough and press festive shapes with cookie cutters. Next, invite your loved ones to have a decoration party. This will definitely be a lot of fun for everyone involved.

57. Interview family members

The beauty of family is that there are people of different ages and generations. You can learn more about each other through interviews. Use a mic to make the experience more surreal.

58. Go camping in the woods

Camping is a fun way to pass time on Christmas Eve. Ensure you light a bonfire on your camping adventure. Enjoy the fire as you tell stories and share life experiences.

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59. Hold a dance party

Get your music speakers and blast out your favourite music. Allow each person present to dance the best way they know and can. Having a playlist with all of your favourite songs will be a plus.

60. Cook food from another culture

If your family members enjoy trying new cuisine, you can try food from a different culture. While there are many recipes online, ensure you have all the ingredients needed before starting this activity.

How do you make a Christmas Eve special?

You can make it special by doing fun activities that engage and entertain all family members and friends present.

What is usually done on Christmas Eve?

There is no specific activity that people do on the eve of Christmas. You can try one or more fun things explored above to make the day special.

Which are the best places to go on Christmas Eve?

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Your traditions and preferences should dictate the places you visit on this special day. It is also important to consider your budget and convenience.

Fun things to do on Christmas Eve include opening gifts and decorating the Christmas tree as a family. You can spend the day in whichever way you deem fit, and being creative is the best approach.

Yen.com.gh recently published a list of the top symbols of Christmas and their meanings. Christmas celebrations are known to be colourful traditions, each carrying deep symbolism.

From vibrant poinsettias to shimmering bells, symbols of Christmas, like the stars, create a rich tapestry that connects you to the holiday's origins. These symbols brighten homes and inspire reflection on themes of love, hope, and faith in Christ Jesus.

Source: YEN.com.gh