Are you looking for rich, meaningful Christmas traditions for families?

I have rounded up 13 amazing options to make your Christmas season magical!

The Christmas season is one of my absolute favorite times of the year. I love the food, time spent with family, snow, hot chocolate, cozy movies, and a season spent focusing on my beloved Savior.

Christmastime always felt magical to me as a child, and now, as a parent, I love that I get to create Christmas magic for my children.

Not only do I get to create the magic, but I also have the opportunity to engage in Christmas traditions that point them to Jesus. This is both a beautiful blessing and an important responsibility.

Though this holiday can become materialistic and this time of year can be overwhelming, there are many ways to keep the focus on Christ and let the magic come from the hope we have in Jesus.

I have asked others and rounded up 13 rich Christmas traditions for families that focus on Jesus so that you and your family can keep your hearts focused on what matters this Christmas.

Gift-Giving Christmas Traditions for Families

1. Simplified Gift Giving

Many years ago, my husband’s and my family’s families decided to discontinue open gift-giving.

For the first few years of our marriage, we spent the Christmas season running around trying to find gifts for everyone in each of our families. As broke college graduates, this caused a lot of stress.

Instead, we have now adopted a simplified model of using a “Secret Santa” style draw so that each person purchases only one gift instead of many gifts for the other adults in our families.

The kids are excluded from this and receive a gift from each family member (usually). 

We wanted to move the focus of our Christmas gatherings away from the gifts and focus on the time spent together. Most of my family are not Christians, but this has allowed my family not to be stressed out financially during the holiday season and allowed for more margin for generosity to give to others. 

RELATED: 12 Simple Ways To Keep Christ in Christmas

2. Meaningful Gift Giving for Your Children

Corine Williams from TherapyForChristians.Com shares how she gives gifts intentionally to her children at Christmastime. She calls this “the 3 gifts of Christmas” with each gift focused on one of the original gifts given from the Wise Men to Jesus. 

Each gift holds a special meaning based on the gifts the Wise Men gave to Jesus at His birth. This type of giving simplifies Christmas gift-giving and pulls the focus of the gifts back to the reason the tradition started.

You can read more about this Christmas tradition here.

3. The Gospel Before Gifts

Aimee Niblack of MamaReflections.com shared a great idea for a simple tradition for Christmas morning.

Before opening any presents, her family reads through the Christmas story from each Gospel. They enjoy a warm beverage and take time to focus as a family on the true reason we are receiving gifts in the first place.

I love this Christmas tradition because it interrupts the chaos of the morning, slows it down, and refocuses the heart on what truly matters: Jesus and His birth.

It also teaches children that the gifts are there for a deeper reason and that the holiday is not just about them.

You can read more about how she and her family keep their focus on Jesus during the holidays here.

Scripture-Focused Christmas Traditions for Families with Littles

4. Using a Family Advent Devotional

Stacey from FamiliesWithGrace.Com shared a tradition of leading her family through a family-focused advent devotional during Christmas.

There is no better way to stay focused on Jesus through the holiday season than engaging in Scripture. When she couldn’t find a resource that worked for her family, she decided to create her own and make it available for all of us to enjoy.

She has written two 5-minute advent devotionals: one for families with small children and another for families with teens and tweens. 

You can read more about this tradition and get your own Family Advent Devotional books here!

5. The ABCs of Christmas

Kayla Trapp of TheTrappHaus.Com shares their family tradition of an Advent calendar featuring the Christmas ABCs. 

Each day in December leading up to Christmas, they focus on a different letter that points to the story of Jesus’ birth and His mission. For example, “A” for “Angel” or “B” for “Bethlehem.” 

They read a related scripture and sometimes add a simple craft or activity such as attending a drive-thru nativity scene. She shares, “It has been a fun and meaningful way to keep Christ at the center of the season, and my kids look forward to it every night!”

She has created a set of beautiful FREE printable cards for you and your family to use this holiday season.

You can read more about this rich Christmas tradition here!

6. Names of Jesus Advent Tree

Arica Hess of AChildShallLeadThemBlog.Com has created a beautiful Christmas tradition for her family using the names of Jesus.

Each day her children put a printable card with the names of Jesus and the corresponding picture on a wall in the shape of a Christmas tree.

This tradition is a wonderful way to focus on Scripture, Jesus, and the countdown to Christmas Day!

You can read more about this tradition and find her free printable cards here!

Unique Christmas Traditions for Families

7. A Fun Twist on Elf on a Shelf

Stacey from FamiliesWithGrace.Com has a unique way of doing elf on a shelf that might be a tradition you’ll want to adopt for your own family! 

Historically, the elf on a shelf has been a mischief-bringer that parents move every evening after their children are in bed. The idea has been that a “scout elf” has been sent from the North Pole to watch over children and report their behavior to Santa. Will they make it on the nice list? Or be put on the naughty list?

Often, the elf does some silly things overnight and the children awake to discover what naughty behavior the elf has engaged in. 

Stacey and her family do something a little different.

She says, “Our Elf doesn’t come to monitor our kids’ bad behavior; instead he comes to compliment their good behavior. He reminds them throughout the season of Jesus being what we celebrate. He gives them some ideas for acts of kindness and other things they can do to make a difference.” 

What a beautiful way to incorporate this fun tradition while keeping the focus on the good in our children. 

You can read more about this wonderful tradition here.

8. Shepherd on the Search

This Christmas tradition for families is similar to the Elf on a Shelf but with a focus on Jesus instead of Santa.

The shepherd is on a journey to find baby Jesus. Like the Elf, the Shepherd moves around doing silly things but his focus is hunting for baby Jesus. His journey ends when he finds Jesus in the manger on Christmas Day.

Children will enjoy looking for their shepherd to see what he has gotten up to.

This tradition was Created by Josh and Lindsey Helms and they have also made an activity kit that comes with a plush shepherd and a story that follows the birth of Jesus.

Shepherd on the Search is a Christmas tradition your family will love for many years to come.

9. Loving Your Neighbor (with Cookies)

This simple idea also comes from Aimee Niblack of MamaReflections.com! She and her family bake cookies to give to their neighbors at Christmastime.

I love this tradition because it is simple and allows for the whole family to be involved in blessing another family. Even little children can easily help with baking, packaging, and delivering cookies.

This also allows you to create connections with your neighbors at a time of the year when people feel increasingly depressed, isolated, and lonely.

Being the hands and feet of Jesus doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive and this tradition is the perfect way to show others that they are seen and loved by the Savior of the world.

10. Celebrate Jesus’ Birthday 

For this tradition, we treat Jesus’ birthday the same way we would for our own kids’ birthdays! Since Christmas morning is traditionally when children open their gifts, this takes some of the focus off of just them and reminds them why we celebrate Christmas. 

You can go all out and throw Jesus a full birthday party, or keep it simple, bake Him a cake, and sing Happy Birthday!

My favorite Christmas traditions for families are those that bring the meaning of Christmas down to a child’s level and this one does exactly that. Birthdays are something even small children understand, so this is a great way to help introduce them to Jesus in a way that makes sense to them.

11. Attend Christmas Eve Services

If your church (or another local church) offers a Christmas Eve service, commit to making it a family tradition to attend. Even if your kids are little or it seems inconvenient. 

I find Christmas Eve services to be especially reverent, centering, and beautiful.

There is no better way to step out of the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season and refocus your family than to be in His presence as a family.

12. Attend a Live Nativity

What is a Live Nativity?

It is exactly how it sounds. Churches and other organizations put on a live scene depicting the scene of Jesus’ birth.

This Christmas tradition is especially fitting for families with small children, as it brings the stories you are reading at home to life. They get to interact with the characters and animals and some places put on a small “play” version for families to watch.

Simply search “live nativity near me” to find one to attend.

13. Letters to Jesus (Instead of Santa)

This last tradition is another twist on a traditionally secular activity.

Many of us are familiar with writing letters to Santa that typically just include the material items we hope to receive as gifts.

Writing a letter to Jesus shifts that focus and has children thank Jesus for what they already have and pray for the needs of others.

What Christmas traditions do you have for your family? Share them in the comments below!

If this blessed you, would you share it?

Your Sister In Christ,