Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Decorating for Christmas
• Method 2 of 4: Get in the Christmas spirit
• Method 3 of 4: Enjoy Christmas traditions
• Method 4 of 4: Giving to others
• Tips

Christmas is a holiday full of joy, decorations and time for family and friends. Whether you're celebrating a religious Christmas or not, it's a day of fun, love, and happiness. Decorate your home and do things to get yourself in the Christmas spirit. Enjoy Christmas traditions with your family and take the time to give back to others.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Decorating for Christmas

1. Set up a Christmas tree and decorate it. You can choose between a live tree or a fake one. Then hang lights in it by wrapping them around the branches from bottom to top. Hang garlands from the tree, such as those made from tinsel, popcorn, or cranberries, by wrapping them around the tree. Place your favorite decorations on the tree, such as baubles, stars, or other small ornaments. To finish the tree, place a spike on top of the tree, such as an angel or a star.
   • You can decorate the tree with family heirlooms, or try something new by decorating a tree with Star Trek, superhero, or Disney-themed ornaments.
   • Ornaments can be homemade or bought. You can even use small candy canes!
   • Bringing pine trees into your home in the winter actually dates back to before Christmas. It was a way to bring life into the home. Decorating a fir tree as a Christmas tradition started in Germany in the 16th century.
2. Hang Christmas stocking above the fireplace. It used to be a tradition for children to hang their own socks (stockings) above the fireplace. St Nickolas would then fill them with coins, food, or other small gifts. Nowadays, Christmas socks are mostly decorative, but you still hang them above the fireplace for Santa to leave toys and other small gifts. If you don't have a fireplace, hang them over your television set, on a banister, or somewhere near your Christmas tree.
   • The stockings were hung above the fireplace because they had been left to dry there after a wet winter day.
3. Light up your home with Christmas lights. Try decorating the roof of your house with lights or hang them in shrubs or over your trees. Hang them around your porch or around your garden. Try hanging them above the fireplace, over bookshelves, or along a wall near the ceiling.
   • You can also hang them around the railing of the stairs along with some garlands.
4. Set up a nativity scene if you want to celebrate a religious Christmas. Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus, so nativity scenes are traditional. Nativity scenes are a display of the birth of Jesus, including Mary, Joseph, the 3 wise men, shepherds and all the animals that were present. Baby Jesus is placed in a crib. You can place small nativity scenes by the fireplace or in other areas of your home, or you can set up a life-size one outside.
5. Set up poinsettias, fir trees and a mistletoe. These plants have become the sign of Christmas over the years, so you can usually find them everywhere at Christmas time. Place poinsettias in pots around your house and you have an easy, festive Christmas decoration. You can also hang a green wreath or decorate your home with Christmas garlands.
   • Mistletoe is traditionally hung in doorways. If there are 2 people underneath they have to kiss! Mistletoe also predates Christmas, but has long been associated with it.
   • Keep in mind that some of these plants can be poisonous to pets, so keep them out of their reach!
6. Make your own decorations to hang in your home. You don't have to spend a lot of money to decorate your home for Christmas. Try making a paper snowflake yourself, making paper necklaces from red and green paper, or stringing garlands from popcorn and cranberries. You can also collect pine cones and branches for your home. Orange apples are also often associated with Christmas, so put a few in a bowl. You can even dust them with cloves to make pomanders.
   • You can also spray regular tree branches with gold, silver, or sparkling paint and then place them in vases.
   • Candles are also often used as Christmas decorations.
   • The traditional Christmas colors are green and red, but you can also use white, gold and silver, or really any other color to make your home festive.
   • You can also make ornaments from things you have around the house, such as paper or fabric.

Method 2 of 4: Get in the Christmas spirit

1. Hang an Advent calendar to count down to Christmas. An Advent calendar consists of 25 boxes that count down to Christmas Day. Every day you open a box, space, or gift that corresponds to the day. Many advent calendars have small treats, such as chocolate chips, small toys, or stickers: one for each day. Other calendars may have spells or sayings to get you in the Christmas spirit.
   • Although advent calendars were traditionally made for children, today you can find many adult calendars, such as calendars with small bottles of wine.
2. Turn on Christmas music to put you in a festive mood. Whether you like traditional or modern Christmas carols, they are often unmissable at this time of year. Most of the time you just need to set up a local radio station to find some Christmas music!
   • If your local radio station doesn't play Christmas carols, find the songs online. You can use streaming services to listen to it.
3. Watch classic Christmas movies to learn more about the meaning of Christmas. Classic Christmas movies are sure to get you in the Christmas mood. They range from fun and crazy to more serious, but most of them are about the meaning of Christmas, in a secular or religious sense.
   • For a crazy, funny movie, try "Elf", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", or even "White Christmas" or "Miracle on 34th Street".
   • For a more serious movie, choose one of the many versions of "A Christmas Carol" or try "It's a Wonderful Life".
4. Read Christmas stories with your family to enjoy together. There are many stories about Christmas, and reading with your family is a great way to get in the festive spirit. For example, try to read a longer story every night.
   • You can of course also go straight to the source and read the story of Christmas in the Bible.
   • You can read classic stories, such as "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, or fun children's stories and poems, such as "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", or "Twas the Night before Christmas".
5. Visit outdoor shows with Christmas lights and decorations. If your country is celebrating Christmas, you will likely find plenty of places to see Christmas lights and decorations. Many cities put together light curtains, but even if yours doesn't, try driving somewhere or walking through neighborhoods to see what people have put themselves up.
   • End the evening with hot chocolate and marshmallows!
6. Think about the reason behind Christmas. If you're not sure what Christmas means or if you've forgotten the background, do some research. In the Bible you will find the Christmas story in Luke chapters 1 and 2 and Matthew chapters 1 and 2. Consider reading these chapters aloud as part of your family's holiday.
   • You can also look up movies about the birth of Jesus. You will find many depicting the Nativity scene with Scripture as the primary text.
7. Attend a candlelit Christmas Eve service. Many local churches will hold candlelight services on Christmas Eve, usually late at night (around 11 p.m.), consisting mainly of a short sermon, Bible readings on the birth of Jesus, and Christmas hymns. Don't worry if you've never been here before. Churches expect visitors, especially on special days such as Christmas Eve.
   • Ask your friends if they know about nearby services or if you can attend one.

Method 3 of 4: Enjoy Christmas traditions

1. Sing Christmas carols. Singing Christmas carols is when you go to other people's house and sing Christmas carols to them. You can also sing Christmas carols at home, or go to a nursing home and sing to the elderly. All you have to do is learn some Christmas carols and get some friends together.
   • Try songs such as "Jingle Bells", "Let It Snow", "O Pine Tree", "Silent Night", or "Mid Winter Night".
2. Help young children to believe in Santa. Children usually stop believing in Santa around the age of eight, but young children will love Santa's story. Explain who Santa Claus is and that he will come by their house on Christmas Eve.
   • Leave cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas Eve to complete the tradition. When they sleep, drink the milk and eat the cookies, leaving some crumbs as proof.
   • Have your kids leave carrots for the reindeer and when they sleep, nibble the carrots and leave some chewed bits behind.
3. Make Christmas cookies and other Christmas pastries. A classic is the sugar cookie cut into Christmas shapes, such as candy canes, snowmen, stars and gingerbread men. Then you can decorate them with icing and sprinkles. Other fun options are gingerbread men, gingerbread cookies, and Hallongrotta cookies.
   • You can also make a Christmas log, fruitcake, or apple pie.
   • Mincepie is also traditional in many countries.
   • Making decorated houses from gingerbread, icing and candy is also a tradition!
4. Enjoy a Christmas dinner with your friends and family. Traditional Christmas dishes include turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole and sandwiches. But more important than the food is that you get together with your friends and family.
   • If you're looking for festive drinks, try custard, eggnog, or mulled wine.
   • Don't forget to serve up some festive desserts!
   • Don't be afraid to invite more than just your family! Also think about people you know who might be alone during Christmas and ask them to come!
   • Set the Christmas-themed table with folded napkins, table runners and pretty plates.

Method 4 of 4: Giving to others

1. Give gifts to friends, family and those in need. Giving Christmas gifts is a tradition at this time of the year. Children often receive gifts from "Santa Claus" on Christmas Day, but it is also customary to give gifts to loved ones. Gifts don't have to be big or expensive. Even a chocolate bar, pastry, or small homemade gifts are welcome.
   • It's also a good time of year to give gifts to those in need. For example, you can give toys to the toy bank, for people who have less money to spend.
   • Try to open 1 present on Christmas Eve. Books or pajamas make good Christmas Eve gifts.
   • While gift giving is fun, it is not a reason to go into debt. Make sure you only spend what you can afford.
2. Send Christmas cards to friends, family, and those in need. Sending Christmas cards is a tradition this time of year, and it's a way to let people know you care. Write a short message about how you think about that person and wish them the best.
   • You can also send Christmas cards to nursing homes to let people know they won't be forgotten this Christmas.
3. Donate to your favorite charity. Charities are the hallmark of Christmas, and one way you can participate is by choosing a cause and donating money. Some examples of charities include food banks, homeless shelters, and other charities that help those in need.
   • You won't have to search long for a charity to sign up, as many charities set up donation centers and booths at this time of year.
   • You can also buy groceries anonymously for a family you know is struggling.
4. Give your time to charity and your neighbors to share the Christmas spirit. You don't have to give money to help at this time of the year. Offer to hang Christmas decorations on a neighbor who can't do it themselves, or send them treats. Collect food, blankets, coats, or other items for local charities, or volunteer at a homeless shelter or food bank on Christmas Day.
   • If you want to keep celebrating Christmas all year round, try volunteering once a week!

Tips

• Note that some people find Christmas a difficult time, especially when a loved one is sick, there are family problems, or when a loved one has passed away. Do your best to respect their grief.