I’ve grown up with so many great holiday traditions. There are some I continue to do, and there are new ones I’ve created with my little family. I love seeing what families all over share so I decided to compile all of the traditions I have, old and new.
Feast of the Seven Fishes
Christmas Eve dinner is my favorite meal. As Italian Americans, we usually have 7 (or more!) meals that consists of seafood. I remember being a kid and starting our meal at 4pm and did not finish our last course until 10pm. Last year was the first year I recreated our famous recipes. This is a meal I will continue to make every year.
Christmas Poppers
This is such a fun activity to do right before we sit down to eat on Christmas Eve. I have been doing these Christmas poppers since I was a kid and love sharing it with Franco. He gets so excited when it it time to pop them!
Christmas Butter Cookies
I eat all different types of cookies throughout the holiday season, but nothing beats my Nana’s simple butter cookies. Just looking at them I can picture being at her apartment on Christmas and eating these. When she passed, I made sure I had the same cookie press gun to make an exact replica of them.
Visiting Santa
Can this picture get any more awkward?
Ever since I rescued Dutchess, I have been taking her to visit Santa. Does she absolutely hate it? Yes. Do I continue to bring her? Yes. I have some pretty funny pictures of her with Santa and I always say if Dutchess can sit on Santa’s lap I can get through anything. When Franco was born I made sure both would go see Santa together and it makes my year, Since we added our new pup Doug this year, I got the crew together to see Santa. Yes it was chaotic and included a giant load of poop, but I will never miss a year.
Elf on A Shelf
I think this is a tradition our generation has taken on whether we like it or not. I enjoy doing it if Franco likes it, and surprisingly he loves it. Some days the elf just sits there, some days Franco will wake up to it being very silly. It’s all about balance! I created a bunch of letter board messages that I print out and use and thanks to Sweet T’s Cookies there are days where there are pizza and pie deliveries!
This is a tradition I just started last year and probably one of my favorites. I make a basket of things to do on Christmas as Eve such as a game, pair of socks, popcorn, hot cocoa, reindeer food a book and more.
We are the type of family that celebrates the holiday magic all season long , but how do we make it last? Check out these 5 ways to believe in the magic this holiday season.
1. Talk to Santa
This app is my favorite way to communicate with Santa. He leaves great messages and includes any name you choose.
While your little one goes to sleep decorate your windows and blame a little elf did it! Watch their eyes light up!
4. Random gifts
Head to Dollar Tree to get some candy and individually wrap them in simple decorations. Walk around your neighborhood and leave on your neighbors stoop. You can also leave some behind at a cafe, library or in a shopping cart. There is nothing more magical then the gift of kindness.
5. Reindeer food
Make some reindeer food for when they come on Christmas! You can mix in some sprinkles with oats or dried fruit to make it more environmentally friendly. Store in an air tight container.
If you are not the baking type, these cookies are for you. Not only are they easy to make, your little ones will have fun making them!
These no bake Santa cookies have me all excited to get into the real serious cookie baking to come! I found this original recipe from Living Well Mom but added some changes to it.
Ingredients
Red food coloring
Yellow food coloring
12 graham crackers (6 sheets)
Red M&Ms
1 cup mini marshmallows (aka snowman poop!)
1 1/4 cup vanilla frosting
Red Dots candies (gumdrops)
2 cups shredded coconut flakes
Directions
Mix one drop of red food coloring in 1/4 cup white frosting. In a separate bowl mix 1 cup of white frosting with I drop of red and one drop of yellow food coloring.
Frost one corner of each graham cracker with red frosting. Frost the rest of the graham cracker with the lighter frosting.
Use three mini marshmallows as a pom pom for the hat, cut red Dots in half and use as Santa’s nose and two red M&Ms for the eyes. Sprinkle coconut flakes as Santa’s beard.
Franco had a blast making these and loved such a hands on recipe/activity, not to mention they were yummy!
No Bake Santa Claus Graham Cracker Cookies
If you are not the baking type, these cookies are for you. Not only are they easy to make, your little ones will have fun making them!
Mix one drop of red food coloring in 1/4 cup white frosting. In a separate bowl mix 1 cup of white frosting with I drop of red and one drop of yellow food coloring.
Frost one corner of each graham cracker with red frosting. Frost the rest of the graham cracker with the lighter frosting.
Use three mini marshmallows as a pom pom for the hat, cut red Dots in half and use as Santa’s nose and two red M&Ms for the eyes. Sprinkle coconut flakes as Santa’s beard.
Keyword Christmas, Holiday, No Bake, Santa Claus
Check Out Some Other Great Cookie Recipes From My Friends Below!
My name is Nicole and I am a full time working mom to my toddler Franco. I love creating and sharing ideas. You can find me rummaging at estate sales, binge-watching The Golden Girls while chugging Diet Coke, listening to old school hip hop, supporting small businesses and being an advocate for maternal mental health.
