The holidays are a joyous time of the year filled with festive activities and quality time spent with your loved ones. We listed some fun activity ideas below to lift everyone’s spirits and make the most of the holidays this season.
Host a Secret Santa or White Elephant Gift Exchange
Invite your friends and family over for a friendly and entertaining gift exchange, such as Secret Santa or White Elephant. In Secret Santa, participants are randomly assigned a person in the group to whom they’ll give a gift. Part of the fun is that the identity of all gifters aka “Santas” remain anonymous throughout. Similarly White Elephant, commonly called Yankee Swap, is another type of group gift exchange in which each participant brings a gift to put in a pile and takes a turn to either unwrap a new gift from the pile or “steal” a gift from a fellow participant.
Throw an Ugly Christmas Sweater Themed Party
An ugly Christmas sweater is any Christmas-themed sweater that is boldly colored, heavily embellished and most of all, considered gaudy or tacky. It’s a popular holiday tradition for many to have Ugly Christmas Sweater themed parties where partygoers celebrate the holidays wearing their most tacky and funny Christmas sweaters; Partygoers can also turn it into a friendly competition to see which person shows up with the best sweater. Ugly Christmas sweaters can be found in stores or can be DIYed with your own assortment of bows, tinsel, jingle bells, pom poms, and many more embellishments.
Build Gingerbread Houses
Making gingerbread houses is a Christmas tradition for many families. These houses are typically made of ginger biscuits or graham crackers, icing, and lots of candy for decorations. This is a fun activity for people of all ages, where everyone can tap into their creative sides and build their own unique creations – whether you opt for a gumdrop rooftop or adding a road paved with peppermint candy, the options are endless!
Do Outdoor Winter Sports
If you’re interested in more fast-paced activities, participating in winter sports is perfect for you. Find a nearby ice rink and try your hand at ice skating or playing ice hockey. And if you live in a snowy region, other great outdoor activities include: skiing, sledding, snowboarding, tubing, and more. All of these activities are not only fun, but you’ll also get a good workout from them.
Have a Movie Marathon Night
The holidays are an excellent time to lounge at home under your cozy throw blankets and watch heartwarming classic movies. Throw on your favorite pajamas, make tasty holiday-inspired treats such as popcorn with almond bark and hot chocolate, and put some movies on the TV screen. Some great movies include: Home Alone, Miracle on 34th Street, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, and many more.
Plan the Next Scenario for your Elf on the Shelf
Elf on the Shelf is a popular Christmas tradition which involves placing a toy elf in various spots around the home to “keep an eye on your children to see if they’re naughty or nice.” Part of the fun of moving your toy elf around daily is coming up with creative and hilarious scenarios for your elf. Having an Elf on the Shelf is a great way for families to bond and lift everyone’s spirits during the holidays.