What 'activities' do you do in the lead up to Christmas?

juniper_berry

I'd like to do an alternative advent in the lead up to Christmas to get into the spirit, starting on the 1st of December.

My plan is to have two different sets of ideas- big plans and little ones which can be done in a day. We'd then we pick out one big plan a week and a little one either everyday or every other.

We have one big big thing which is always a trip away to a European city for Christmas markets (first weekend of Dec)

Trips out or expensive items, are big plans, such as:

Ice Skating
Going to see a choir perform carols
Buying the Christmas Tree

Little ideas so far have been:

Watch Christmas movies
Bake christmas food
Make Christmas cards
Make our Christmas CD
Wear Winter jumpers
Decorate the tree
Make festive hot chocolate
Make a festive ornament for the tree


So what things do you do in the lead up to Christmas? An idea for everyday would be great

tlchimera

Some little ideas:
- Christmas origami (I'm new to posting/actually having an account rather than just lurking so I'm not allowed to post links yet, but if you google "Christmas Origami Club" it should be the first link - lots of different ideas and they all have animations, which are easier to follow than the usual diagrams.

- Make mulled wine. Infuse wine with the peelings of citrus fruit and various spices and consume hungrily. Mulled cider is also very nice.

- Make a Christmas wreath for the front door.

pigpen

Wrapping like a demon for 5 weeks.. every night after the children are in bed!

DigForVictory

This year I'm doing an Advent Calendar of photos of the grandsons emailed each day to the grandparents.

I have not yet told the lads about this plan.

(I intend to photograph rural winter scenes, charming decorations & lovely cards I've received to cover days when they are being awkward camera shy louts.)

Laurajo_2

If you're going to do one everyday, maybe some less time consuming ones such as eat mince pies, sing all of the twelve days of Christmas (or just try and remember them....)

Make a christmas cocktail
Have some nice christmas photos taken...could maybe use on the christmas cards
Do something for charity
Go out for a festive meal
Ring or write a letter to an elderly relative who you've maybe not been in touch with in a while


If you have kids, you can do things like write a letter to Santa, go visit a grotto, make paper chains, make your own crackers.

I love the idea, unfortunately I married Scrooge mcduck.

Xx

BillyRae

Hi Juniper-Berry

When my daughter was little, I made a paper chain and wrote activities on each one. Each morning she would rip a link open to reveal that days activity.
There was always a big one on the weekend as we had more time to do something, however, they did not always have to cost! Eg a walk in the woods - you could pick up pine cones etc.., to use for a future activity such as making a Christmas Decoration.
DD is 17 now but still wants to do the Christmas Link!
Now I put squares of green or red card in her pocket advent calendar with activities on (along with a festive choccie!) That way, if she has something planned herself that day, I can switch it out for a lesser idea.
Ideas I have used in the past:
Christmas School Fayre
Christmas Shopping
Write Christmas Cards
Wrapping school friends Christmas presents
Putting up Christmas Decs
Christmas movie
Pamper session
Christmas baking
See Town Christmas Lights

Use Chrismassy words to make the idea even more festive -
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Deck the Halls
Create Festive Sparkle etc...,

Hope this helps in your planning

Rachael xx

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas :j

kazwookie

I get a suitcase out of the loft, find my passport and leave the country for 4 weeks!!

When I get where I am going, I assist a 10 year old to put up a Christmas tree, and his presents underneath it.

Spend Christmas day on the beach, cook for about 6pm and open presents when he gets back from school at about 4pm.

Go and send out paper boats with candles in them that he made at school at night on river or beach.

lika_86

Make and decorate a gingerbread house?

Last year I found the Lakeland Fairytale Cottage Mould http://www.lakeland.co.uk/info/fairy-tale-cottage which can be used for gingerbread or chocolate. I did a chocolate one this year and was surprised by just how easy it was to put together and how well it worked.

This year I'm now thinking of investing in the Santa Sleigh Mould.

jackomdj

Just ordered the cottage mould - thanks

JoseChungsDoomsday

The only firm tradition I have is going to see the Christmas comedy play held in Belfast Grand Opera House. But this year I plan on doing a lot more things in December!

newgirly

I have recently bought that cottage mould, and yesterday gave it a try and made a "haunted house " for Halloween, it is so easy to use.:D