One of my favorite parts about holidays is the family time and traditions that go along with it. This is a favorite family Christmas tradition – a gift for our family that we open on December 1st. A December 1st box. Some traditions have been with us since our own childhood and others our family has adopted or adapted over the years.
As our family has gotten older, our traditions have changed and they will continue to change, but some things will always remain the same.
How did our Family Christmas Tradition December 1st Box Start
Growing up both my family and my husband’s family gave Christmas pajamas to the family on Christmas Eve. It’s such a sweet tradition and we love having the photos and the memories. One thing I noticed though, almost immediately was the pajamas {especially the Santa, gingerbread or reindeer theme pjs} were out of season. We tend to have Christmas, soak it in a few days and then move on to a “New Year, new you” and before we know it, those cute seasonal pjs didn’t get much use and they’re too small to fit the next year. I said what if we started wearing them AT THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER?! It makes so much more sense. And so it slowly began and I’ve been adding to it since.
What is a December 1st Box
We’ve been doing a December 1st Box or Christmas Box for the last couple of years and it is one of my favorite family Christmas traditions. Every year I gather together some simple Christmas of seasonal goodies for our family. I wrap them all up and we gather together on December 1st to open them. The goodies are all items that will help make the Christmas season special and festive.
What to Include in your Family Christmas Tradition December 1st Box
Our boxes always include new pajamas – sometimes festive, others more winter seasonal. We always include our own individual advent calendars and some special items. I love to include all the supplies that we need to complete our family advent calendar – like a gingerbread house and family puzzle. I like to change things up every year and keep it fresh while still keeping it simple.
How to make a December 1st Box
The best way to compile your December 1st box is to start early. I always start in November {even October if I can} and add everything to a tote as I find it or think about it. I like to have everything ready before Thanksgiving so we can just enjoy the holiday and holiday season. Extra Halloween candy? Add it to a Ziploc and save it for your Gingerbread house. Get creative. Not everything has to be new or bought.
Grab a tote, some cellophane, cute boxes – whatever you have around the house. Wrap everything up cute or find a giant Sack. It really doesn’t matter – just put everything together for your family to open on December first. Let the time together begin.
What we included this year
I grab everything festive and add it into a tote – including previous festive puzzles, legos, and games. Here is what we are including this year
- 1. Coordinating Matching Pajamas – this year they are more wintery than they are Christmas-y. We’ll be wearing these all winter long for sure.
- 2. Holiday Books – I pick up a new book for each kiddo each year {and don’t kid yourself, I always find myself a good hallmark cheese read as well}
- 3. Advent Calendars – I cater an advent calendar to each kiddo’s interest for that year.
- 4. Puzzle – We do a new puzzle every year while we watch Christmas movies.
- 5. Art Activities – Any coloring Christmas book or sticker book or art project that is strictly
- 6. Family Games – I love finding seasonal games, like The Elf game. Or I will add a new family game that we want for our collection.Christmas-related is given on December 1st so they can use the whole month to complete it.
- Advent Activity Supplies – We create our December bucket list or advent calendar of everything we want to do for the month and I will include all the supplies we need for the activities.
- Gingerbread House – Each year we have a family Gingerbread decorating competition. Sometimes it’s as teams, other times we’re on our own, but the winner always gets a prize. I include whatever the prize is in the box as well {generally its a Christmas lego set}.
- Treats – I always visit the dollar store or grab a few festive treats from the grocery store and throw them in the box
- Festive Cozy Items – Sometimes I will include other cozy items that are Christmas-related, new pillows, or stuffed animals
Be sure to check out our other Family Christmas Traditions that we love.
