Christmas Fun: Activities And Ideas For A Festive Season (2025)

• Last updated

  Oct 15, 2024

• Difficulty

  Intemediate

• Posted by

  Rosalie Atkins

• Category

  Activity Holidays for adults and families

Christmas is a time for celebration, and there are many activities to fill the season with cheer. From ice skating and Christmas crafts to touring light displays and performing a Christmas classic, there's something for everyone. For those who enjoy the outdoors, there's ice skating, sledding, and winter scavenger hunts. If you're more of a homebody, there's always baking unique Christmas cookies, hosting a movie night, or playing games by the tree. Whatever your preference, there's no shortage of ways to get into the holiday spirit and make lasting memories with friends and family.

Christmas Activities:

Get into the Christmas spirit with these fun and festive activities that can be enjoyed by kids, adults, and families alike! Whether you're looking for creative ways to spend the holiday at home or wanting to explore what your community has to offer, there's something for everyone this Christmas.

Crafting and Decorating:

• Create a festive wreath for your front door to instantly add some holiday cheer to your home, even if you're keeping the rest of your decor low-key.
• Recycle old holiday cards by turning them into decorations. Cut them into shapes for a recycled garland, collage patterns to make new cards, or simply string them up with some jute or string.
• Get the whole family involved in crafting a festive tablescape for the dining table. Have the kids make place cards to add a personal touch.
• For families without chimneys, create a fun Christmas craft by making a special key for Santa and decorating a tag to go with it.

Community Activities:

• Visit a local holiday market or craft fair to shop for unique gifts and support independent businesses.
• Spread some cheer by visiting an elder living home or a senior center, where people may be feeling lonely during the holidays. Be sure to call ahead to arrange your visit and stay updated on any health regulations.
• Attend a Christmas service at a nearby place of worship, even if you don't usually go to church. It's a great way to come together as a community and remember the true meaning of the season.

Games and Entertainment:

• Organize a Christmas karaoke party, with endless songs to choose from and fun twists to make it a game.
• Put on your matching family pajamas and gather by the Christmas tree for some festive games or puzzles.
• Keep the kids entertained with a game of Christmas "I Spy" while running errands or going on a holiday road trip. Ask them to spot decorated trees, wreaths, light-up reindeer, or other holiday decorations.
• Build a snowman! Get your crew together to craft one big Frosty, or make it a friendly competition to see who can build the best snowman. The last one done has to make the cocoa!
• Construct a DIY holiday photobooth to capture fun memories of the day and repurpose old decorations.

Treats and Indulgences:

• Bake and decorate classic Christmas cookies, letting your creativity run wild with icing and sprinkles.
• Try making a Christmas treat other than cookies, like figgy pudding, and indulge in a sweet afternoon.
• Hold an eggnog tasting session with different varieties to discover new favorites or more palatable options. Encourage amateur cooks in your group to bring their homemade versions!
• Make s'mores by the fireplace, doubling up on the relaxation and dessert.
• Cook a fancy meal you've been wanting to try. Christmas is the perfect time to indulge and go all out in the kitchen.

With these activities, you're sure to have a magical and memorable Christmas filled with fun, family, and festive cheer!

Christmas Food and Drink:

Christmas is a time to indulge in delicious food and drinks from around the world. Here are some mouth-watering ideas to get you in the festive spirit:

Savoury Dishes:

Whether you're a meat-lover or a vegetarian, there's something for everyone. Some popular savoury Christmas dishes include:

• Roasted meats such as turkey, ham, chicken, duck, or goose.
• Fish and seafood options like salmon, sea bass, shrimp, or crab.
• Vegetables such as roasted parsnips, carrots, and potatoes.
• Casseroles and stews like the Swedish "Jansson's Temptation", a potato casserole with anchovies, or a hearty beef stew.
• Stuffing, also known as dressing, is a must-have side dish, especially in the southern US.
• Pierogi, a Polish delicacy filled with sauerkraut, forest mushrooms, cottage cheese, or potatoes.
• Salads such as the Russian "Ensalada Rusa", a potato salad, or the Mexican "Ensalada Navideña", a Christmas salad with apples, raisins, and pecans.

Sweet Treats:

Christmas is also a time for indulging your sweet tooth. Here are some festive treats to try:

• Christmas cake or pudding, often made with dried fruit, wine, and rum.
• Panettone, a sweet bread from Italy, is a popular choice worldwide.
• Gingerbread cookies or a gingerbread house, decorated with candies and icing.
• Truffles, melktert, and peppermint crisp tart are popular desserts in South Africa.
• Indian sweets like Gulab Jamun, a syrup-soaked dessert, or Kheer, a rice pudding garnished with almonds and pistachios.
• Figgy duff, a pudding from Nunavut, Canada, made with fruit and suet.
• Snowball dessert, a cocoa and coconut treat from Australia.
• Christmas smorgasbord from Finland, featuring an array of sweet and savoury dishes, including Christmas ham, salmon, and sweet bread.

Festive Drinks:

Wash down all the delicious food with some festive drinks:

• Mulled wine or gløgg, a Scandinavian tradition, is perfect for warming up on cold winter nights.
• Eggnog or its variations, such as the Chilean "Ponche a la romana", made with champagne and pineapple ice cream.
• Hot chocolate, with flavours like peppermint or white chocolate.
• Clericó, a sangria-like beverage from Argentina, combines wine with chopped fruit.
• Akevitt, a Scandinavian spirit flavoured with spices like caraway and aniseed.
• Coquito, a spiced coconut eggnog from Puerto Rico, sometimes made with cream cheese or coconut milk.

Christmas Decorations:

The front door is the first impression guests will have of your home, so don't forget to deck it out with a festive wreath. You can buy one ready-made or have fun making your own, personalising it with decorations of your choice.

For an eco-friendly, cost-effective option, reuse last year's Christmas cards by cutting them into shapes to create a recycled garland, or collaging patterns to make new cards. You could also string the cards on some jute or thread to create a festive garland.

If you're feeling particularly crafty, you could make your own decorations. For example, create a tag for a key for Santa, if your home doesn't have a chimney. Get the kids involved by asking them to make the place cards for the dining table, or even craft their own decorations.

For the dining table, create a pretty, festive tablescape with a Christmas theme. You could also get creative with the place settings, making them look like reindeer or snowmen, for instance.

Finally, don't forget to make the most of your Christmas tree by playing games or doing puzzles underneath it.

Christmas Music:

Christmas is a wonderful time to engage with music, whether that's listening to Christmas carols, creating your own festive songs, or getting crafty with music-themed decorations. Here are some ideas to inspire your musical Christmas:

Listen to Christmas Music

Create a festive atmosphere by playing Christmas music in the background while you go about your day or are spending time with loved ones. From classic carols to modern holiday hits, there is a wealth of Christmas music to suit all tastes. Sing along, belt out those carols, and spread the cheer!

Learn a Christmas Song

Why not try learning a new Christmas song this year? You can find sheet music and chords online for popular Christmas songs, such as "What Can I Do (Christmas Version)" by Paul Baloche, Graham Kendrick, and Integrity's Hosanna! Music. With chords available for guitar, piano, and other instruments, you can learn to play and sing along to your favourite Christmas tunes.

Make Musical Crafts

Get creative with these musical craft ideas:

• Music Ornament: Upcycle old sheet music by turning it into a Christmas ornament. You can find step-by-step instructions online.
• Music Note Christmas Tree: Gather 25 toilet paper rolls and wrap one end of each roll in green tissue paper. Secure the tissue paper with rubber bands or glue. Glue the rolls together to form a tree shape. Cut out printed music note symbols and place one inside each roll from the back. The game is to poke through the tissue paper, grab a symbol, and identify it!
• Prodigies Christmas Tree: Print out a Prodigies Christmas tree and provide students with blank circle labels to colour in as solfege colours. Once decorated, use it as a fun teaching tool for music theory.

Christmas Gifts:

Christmas is a time for giving, and there are many thoughtful gifts you can give to your loved ones and those in need. Here are some ideas for Christmas gifts to spread cheer and joy:

For Friends and Family:

• Personalised Gifts: Create personalised gifts such as handmade cards, crafts, or a photo book with your favourite memories from the year. These thoughtful gifts will be cherished for years to come.
• Matching Pajamas: Get into the festive spirit and snuggle up with your loved ones in matching pyjamas. It's a fun way to unite the family and create memorable photos.
• Experience Gifts: Give the gift of an experience or activity that you can enjoy together, such as ice skating, sledding, or a holiday market visit. These shared experiences create lasting memories.
• Self-Care Gifts: Treat your loved ones to some relaxation with at-home spa gifts, such as bath products, scented candles, or a voucher for a massage.
• Food and Drink: Delight foodies with gourmet treats, such as fancy chocolates, unique teas or coffees, or a bottle of their favourite drink. You can also gift a food-making kit or a recipe book to inspire their culinary creations.

For Those in Need:

• Volunteer: Giving your time and energy to those in need is a precious gift. Serve meals at a homeless shelter, or visit an elderly home to spend time with residents who may be lonely during the holidays.
• Donate: Consider donating clothes, toys, or non-perishable food items to charities and organisations supporting those in need. Your donations can make a significant difference in people's lives.
• Bake and Deliver: Spread cheer by baking delicious treats, such as cookies or festive desserts, and delivering them to your local fire station or police station, or a homeless shelter.

These gift ideas will help you spread joy and make this Christmas memorable for your loved ones and those in your community.

Frequently asked questions