Christmas Traditions

Though my kids are only 16months & 3 months. I can't help but spend a little free time brainstorming a list of things that I want to make tradition in my home. I'm one of those people that doesn't like to do something completely new or unplanned every year, because I want it to be tradition and familiar (especially food- Like making the same type of cookies every year, same decorations, etc). Many of these go without say.


(And we don't do Santa, the flying reindeer, elf of shelf, etc- I only tell my kids the truth. I hate Santa with a passion. I'm not going to lie to my kids because it's not good for them to "believe" in something false. Then they grow up to think the virgin birth of Jesus was also fiction. Every good gift comes from above. Not a  semi-god figure. And I also never have memories of thinking anything special of Santa. I always knew it was stupid.) 

1. Church (ofcourse) & soul winning 
• I will note- I love the "Hanging of the Greens" It is a memorable time when the church would be dimly lit as the congregation sang Christmas Hymns while different church groups decorated the Sanctuary in procession.  I also miss the choir practices for Christmas cantatas & the Christmas Plays and other activities in Sunday School and Youth Group. It was the best time of the year in church- and we did a lot of community service- of course void of Soul winning? Southern Baptist vs. Fundamental Baptist
2. Family Advent Calendar
• I want to either make a nice wooden tree with clothespins to hang the advent bags or either a nice big box with pull out drawers for each day. I want to use the same Advent Calendar every year.
3. Ice Skating
4. Decorating Party *House & Tree*
5. Ornament Crafting
6. Family Portrait
7. Christmas Tree Farm
8. Hunting & Fishing
9. Christmas Parade? boring?
10. Make Christmas Playlist for car
11. Send Christmas Cards
12. Make Gingerbread House &  Contest
13. Cookie Platter Baking Party
14. Christmas Movies
• Charlie Brown
• Drummer Boy
• Nutcracker ??
15. Clove Citrus Pomanders
16. Prepare Winter Bone Broth
17. Watch Handel's Messiah
18. Christmas Caroling? Recital
19. Secret Samaritan within family-siblings
20. Visit Retirement Home & other
21. Zoo lights
22. Shopping for extended family & Friends
23. Stockings stuffed with new winter socks
24. Donate old toys & declutter
25. 12 nights of unwrapping 12 favorite Christmas- related stories to read
• Saw this idea online, and haven't collected any Christmas themed books yet
26. Christmas Eve Dinner
• Try to repeat the same menu every year
27. Christmas Eve Party:
• New Pajamas
• Read Christmas Story
• Open Secret Samaritan Gifts
• Stay up as late as you want 
• Family Time
• Candle Lighting & reflection on Christ
• Caroling??
28. Christmas Morning
• Cinnamon Buns!
• Hot Cocoa
• Open Gifts
29. Christmas Day
• Visit family & give gifts
30.