I love traditions. I grew up with lots of them, which I greatly appreciate, especially now that I’m a mom. It is a special thing to carry traditions from one generation to another, but it’s also just as special, and fun, to create new traditions. Our family was talking about traditions recently and our kids shared some of their favorites they enjoy. They admitted they’re looking forward to Christmas a little more this year, “you know, because of COVID and stuff.” There’s something comforting about traditions in addition to the pure pleasure they bring. Celebrating with lots of family and big groups of friends is of course something we all love but will be different or nonexistent for many of us this year. But like we told the kids, Christmas cannot be canceled! So here are ten (10) Christmas traditions that COVID can’t mess with.

We love playing Christmas music around the house! It’s an instant mood booster and there is so much Christmas music to enjoy! Thanks to technology, this is something you can enjoy anywhere, with anyone, or perhaps even more so by yourself. The options are endless whether you have old CDs or tried and true playlists, let Alexa DJ, throw on the holiday channel, Spotify, or iHeart Radio. And don’t get caught thinking, oh it’s the same old songs over and over, remade by different people every once in awhile. No mam, there is actually NEW Christmas music to be enjoyed thanks to many amazing artists in variety of genres. All you have to do is look! COVID’s not stopping the music people. There are still even new holiday music specials. So crank it up and sing the feel good songs we love to hear, even if, just once a year.

We love a weekly family movie night anyways. Enter Christmas movies and it’s another instant mood booster. Everyone gets excited to watch old favorites like “Home Alone” and “The Santa Clause” while also finding some new favorites like “The Christmas Chronicles” (1 & 2). SO many Christmas movies, so little time! In addition to all the classics you grew up with, there are new holiday and Christmas movies released every year, now more than ever with all of the different streaming services. From Netflix originals to HBO Max, Disney+, to Hallmark, FreeForm and more, the possibilities are truly endless. Movie nights are so good to help relax and get in the spirit of things with some fictional holiday drama, or predictable romance (ahem “The Christmas Prince”, “The Holiday Calendar” and so on.) Also, special shout out to “A Bad Moms Christmas” which is just hysterical. Get cozy with that faux fur throw. Light that scented candle. Have a seasonal drink in your Christmas jammies and enjoy!

I know matching family holiday jammies are huge these days but oh my gosh do my kids love them. It is particularly sweet now that our youngest is old enough to realize. He LOVES matching with his big sibs. I mean dance party worthy love, singing “matching jammies, matching jammies”. It’s the best and a tradition that must continue no matter the ages and sizes. We’ve done matching with cousins and whole sides of the family, adults included. For anyone who has resisted, it really is worth finding all the sizes in a matching print. It is fun! Our kids had some that were pretty big on them last year so still fit this year – strategic – and thus have multiple pairs to be matchy matchy.

Christmas Eve church service was always a given for both my husband and I. Since we’ve had kids it’s been a bit more hit or miss depending on the timing of the services offered and family plans, driving, naps, hangry kiddos, bedtimes, and on and on. This year of course it’s COVID. However, that cannot stop this tradition either. While protocol and availability for in person church services vary greatly depending where you are and where you go, most churches seem to have gotten good with the virtual online streaming. Online church from the comfort of your home is quite honestly a lot easier and comfortable when you have small children anyways. It’s not the same but the message is still there if you listen.

When my husband and I joined together, so did our ornament collections. Gifted to us from our respective families growing up, the ornaments are full of meaning and memories. My parents always gave my siblings and I one gift to open on Christmas Eve: an ornament. I loved this tradition and knew as soon as I had my first child that it was one I wanted to pass on to my own kids. The ornaments reflect an interest, activity or special memory from the year given.

My kids look forward to their ornaments now that they’ve figured out that’s what the Christmas Eve gift always is. They try to guess what they may be. Will I do a theme for all? A favorite movie character? A sport? It’s fun and meaningful. When my children inevitably move out and have homes, and trees, of their own, they’ll have a full ornament collection to take with them, just as we did.

I am a big picture person. I am constantly taking pictures and created several traditional pictures for our family. (See my birthday traditions post.) For Christmas, we take a picture of our kids at the bottom of the stairs before they are allowed down to see if Santa came. (I later frame said picture.) I feel like this is a classic one, as it should be. I love to see how annual pictures like this evolve. One year sis doesn’t want to be in it. Another year big sibs are fighting who holds new baby brother. Then a year they’re all magically hugging and smiling. My husband and I always go down first and turn on the Christmas lights & music, get the coffee going and put the Egg Casserole in the oven while we ‘check to see if Santa came’.

The kids have to wait upstairs and then we take some pics before they’re officially allowed down. So far they’ve listened and this was actually a tradition that they specifically named when I asked for their input. This struck me as so sweet but also kind of funny. You never know when you think you may be annoying them but they’re actually cherishing it, even if on a subconscious level. Thus I will continue to force this picture as long as they live in this house. Maybe even beyond haha.

Last but surely not least, who can forget the food! Whatever your preference and comfort level with shopping and cooking, there are so many ways to still get your favorite traditional Christmas foods, or try some new ones!

We’ve been staying home on Christmas Day for awhile now and our game plan has been: Big Breakfast – Snacky Lunch – Big Dinner. We make somewhat the same thing each year as we’ve figured out what we like.

The breakfast is a family tradition: Egg Casserole. We usually have some sort of fruit, like cantaloupe, but have found anything more is too much for us.

The snacky lunch usually consists of some cold cut veggies and dip and hot ham and cheese sliders. Or I’ve even made with crescent roll dough in the shape of a wreath haha. Maybe some other meat, cheese, crackers, and dips. Just TBD based on what sounds good and my parents may bring when they arrive.

For the big Christmas dinner we’ve made ribs a delicious new tradition. We typically have ham with extended family Christmas Eve Day so we wanted to do something different when we started cooking our own Christmas Day meals. Thus the tradition of ribs and mashed potatoes was born. We always have some sort of veggie and bread which isn’t quite as set in stone. It’s good to mix the old with the new, especially when it comes to the food!

None of these are groundbreaking but they all bring literal comfort and joy to our family, as I hope they will for yours! Remember, Christmas cannot be canceled!