For me, the run up to Christmas is most of the fun. The actual day is always lovely, but the anticipation and preparation of it is what I enjoy and I love making it exciting for the children.
We recently discovered International Elf Service and I am so excited about what they do and the fun ideas they have, and the lovely items in their shop. You can read how they started and what they are about here in their guest post.
In their own words:
“A magical Christmas tradition for children through advent!
There’s more going on at the North Pole than toy production and present wrapping. Have you ever wondered what adventures the elves get up to on the lead up to Christmas when they’re not in the workshop?
Elfie’s borrowed Father Christmas’ computer and some special paper to give children the latest news direct from the North Pole as they prepare for the Big Delivery on Christmas Eve.
…the elves are easily distracted, rather clumsy and cause huge amounts of mess. Mucking out the reindeer, baking biscuits, polishing sleigh bells and mending damaged uniforms. They’re always busy but nothing ever seems to go smoothly…
You can Pop into the The Workshop for more info”
We have a set of North Pole Christmas letters that I am going to surprise the children with, in a few weeks time, in the lead up to Christmas. I love them, they are personalised, beautifully made, and presented and such a fun way to share some of the magic of the season. I think they will love them, and enjoy them. They are still taking orders, until mid November, in time for this Christmas.
We also have a set of North Pole Letters to share and giveaway to one family. One winner will get a set of these lovely, personalised letters, in time for December. They are great if you want to start a new Christmas tradition for your own children, or as a gift to someone else. Or you could be a grown up who enjoys them (I think I am just as excited about them as my children will be 😉 )
To enter, we would love to hear what your Christmas Traditions are. Do you do certain things every year, in the lead up to Christmas that are special to you and your family, or do you do new things every year? Tell us in the comment section, then head over to Rafflecopter in the link below to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Terms and conditions
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter. Entrants must complete all the requirements to qualify.
No cash alternative.
Winner will be contacted within 48 hours of the giveaway ending to organise delivery of the letters, which will be personalised and sent.
UK entrants postage covered, international entrants may have to cover extra postage costs.
Ends 12th November at 12am.
all the family round for dinner
I’m with you – I love having more than just us for Christmas dinner!
All the usual…Leaving a mince pie & carrot out for santa, sprinkling reindeer dust, new pj’s on Christmas eve and we always watch Elf.
I’m just looking for Christmas Eve Pjs for the kids now…getting in a bit of a pickle about the sizes!
We have Christmas traditions of going to cut down our tree, decorating it as a family, going around town and looking at lights, opening stockings on Christmas morning…we really love Christmas!!!
The tree is a BIG part of our Christmas tradition and I’d love for us to be able to cut it down ourselves but it isn’t possible in London!
Trip to the pub for a winter warmer while the turkey is cooking on Christmas day!
Ooooh that DOES sound lovely x
Helping each other decorate the tree
We do this too – my husband and I get all tangled up in the lights and then when they’re on, the kids are let loose with the decorations!
We get up and have breakfast before opening presents.
Another one is to get new pjs for Xmas eve
We have stocking presents, then breakfast and then the main presents. A bit of suspense does them good I think 😉
Big family dinner then board games
Board games are brilliant for Christmas – have you come across ‘I Spy With My Eagle Eye’?
leaving something out for santa and his reindeer.
…and remembering to eat them 😉
I have started collecting Christmas books and DVDs and every year we get the box out of the loft and start reading and watching them on the lead up to the big day. Clare x
That’s a really lovely tradition and will really make it’s mark on your kids’ memories. I wonder which books they love the most.
That’s such a lovely idea and they can revisit all their old favourites!
open presents, then bacon butties while the kids play. Christmas dinner in the afternoon and film and snooze in the evening 🙂
We eat later too – it stops anyone having to get up at the crack of dawn to start it all off!
Every Christmas Eve we go to the local pantomime, then we visit Santa. When we get home we go to mass and then go to my aunts for a family get together with nibbles! Before bed we get to open one present!
we have quite a few we do north pole breakfast on the first and that is when our elf of the shelf arrives then we have an xmas eve box on xmas eve filled with new pjs, snowman soup reindeer food santas key and other bit and bobs
Since my 2 little granddaughters arrived I fill a box each year which they get on Christmas Eve with new pyjamas, books, a sweet treat, socks (for bed – snuggle feet make you sleep better) and this year Christmas dummies for those whose still have a habit – and aren’t leaving theirs out for the reindeer !
mince pie and beer left out for santa, and up bright and early in the morningto open pressies. Hubby cooks dinner, the only time he cooks!
We leave out a cookie and glass of milk for santa and a carrot for rudolph
We have ‘After-Christmas Presents’ – my dad noticed we (as kids) were all deflated a few days after Christmas when the present supply dried up so he kept one in reserve. Then a few days after Christmas he’d say, “It’s that time you wish you had just one more present, just one more present!” & produce another gift each 🙂 We loved it so I’m continuing the tradition with my kids.
On christmas eve we all put on our christmas PJ’s and watch some christmas movies with hot chocolate and christmas treats in front of the fire. Our little girl and boy love it xxx
We have a traditional atheist holiday time! Lots of fun, exchange if gifts, quality family time minus any religious aspect!
On Christmas Eve we sprinkle reindeer food outside and then have a hot chocolate (with marshmallows) kiddies have a small one!
Then we leave a mince pie & a glass of sherry out for Farmer Christmas (as named by my daughter) and Rudolph gets left a carrot and a glass of orange juice….
On Christmas Day It’s then manic panic stations when we go to hubbies parents and have a big family Christmas 🙂
Christmas is magical in our house. My parents arrive from Spain mid December.on Christmas Day our two sons and Wives and children arrive early. Bacon butties for everyone then open the presents then they go off to their in laws and we have dinner. Boxing Day we all go to our eldest sons house with our family and daughters laws family for Dinner. New Year’s Eve is our wedding anniversary and then New Year’s Day it’s another family get together with my Aunts Uncles and cousins. Then we collapse. Xx
Our tradition is we all have 1 little present on chirstmas eve. The kids normally have new christmas pyjamas and me and the hubby normally have a nice bottle of wine. And the cat gets a new scratching post and bed.