33 Clutterfree Christmas Memory Ideas
Every year we pull out our Advent Christmas Tree. It’s one of my favorite parts of Christmas (aside from stockings! Did you see my Clutterfree Stocking ideas yet??). The Advent calendar has become a way for us to be intentional through the holiday season. Each day we open up the little door and pull out an activity for us to do together.
Because, here’s the truth. Somewhere over the course of time, we’ve shifted the focus of Christmas to all about the gifts. And I don’t know about you, but I’m over the gifts. I’m not over the giving, but I’m really over the excess stuff. So we’re trying to shift the focus back to time together, giving of our time, loving each other, and celebrating this amazing life we’ve been given together.
Some of these activities are ones we have in our advent calendar, some are extra. You can pick what ways you want to create holiday memories (without all the clutter! And if you need some ideas on how to reduce the holiday clutter, I’ve got your back!)
- Sing Happy Birthday Jesus
- Get cinnamon rolls at our fave bakery (Bear Buns)
- Make hot chocolate
- Sleep in sleeping bags near the tree
- Have dinner on the beach
- Listen to Christmas music & dance together
- Eat dinner by candlelight
- Drive and look at Christmas lights
- Watch the lighted boat parade
- Roast smores in the backyard or at the beach
- Decorate a ginger bread house
- Give a toy to someone in need
- Go on a family walk
- Go to a live nativity
- Invite friends over for a cookie making party
- Make Jesus a birthday card
- Play at the park
- Bake cookies
- Buy coffee for someone else
- Make popcorn
- Make homemade caramel corn
- Have a fire in the fireplace
- Go ice skating
- Make paper snowflakes
- Donate food to a food kitchen
- Make handmade Christmas cards for the neighbors
- Read a Christmas book
- Watch a Christmas movie
- Make reindeer food
- Make Salt dough ornaments
- Build a snowman (this is for my friends not in San Diego!)
- Have a snowball fight (same as above! Those of you like me, can do a pillow fight instead.)
- Go sledding
- Carol door to door
What other holiday memory ideas and traditions do you have?