25 days before christmas ideas: How to Plan 25 Days of Christmas Family Fun (Without Losing Your Mind!)

How to Plan 25 Days of Christmas Family Fun (Without Losing Your Mind!)

Earlier this week, I showed you the really easy way our family counts down the days until Christmas (see our Christmas Countdown Chain here). And while I certainly love this pretty paper project for what it is, the real “magic” in this family tradition are the holiday activities printed on the inside of each chain link. Yep – as a family, we do 25 days of Christmas activities…one each day leading up to Christmas morning. But before you roll your eyes or groan at the “extra-ness” of this concept, hear me out. In the four years we’ve been doing this, I’ve been able to streamline this process so that it’s not a lot of extra work (during an already really busy season!) but is still fun and fresh for our kids every time. Today, I’m breaking down exactly how I plan our “25 Days of Holiday Fun” without going crazy or breaking the bank!

Countdown to Christmas Series

This post is part of my Countdown to Christmas Series, where I share all the resources you need to create an amazing “Christmas Countdown” tradition your family will love (without adding stress or breaking the bank)! Be sure to check out each post in this series below!

• How to Plan 25 Days of Christmas Family Fun (Without Losing Your Mind) – you are here
• The FREE Countdown to Christmas Printable Planning Kit
• The Best (and Easiest!) Christmas Activities to Do as a Family
• How to Make a Christmas Countdown Chain – With a Cricut | Printable Version

Reality Check

Before I dive into the actual process of how I plan out our Christmas activities, I want to first preface this with some reality. These 25 days of Christmas activities are the ONLY thing we do to countdown/prepare for the holidays. We don’t do Elf on the Shelf…we don’t do Chocolate Advent Calendars…we don’t do 25 days of Christmas LEGO builds. Removing the chain link each day (and doing the activity inside) is the ONLY thing I have to plan for and (more importantly!) remember in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Part of what makes this tradition so manageable is that I put 100% of my attention on it. So if you have other traditions that you do daily (and love!), then this might be a lot of added work. But if you don’t have a Christmas countdown tradition in place and are looking for a great way to not only do some fun Christmas family activities but also simultaneously plan your entire holiday season…this is a great system to try!

My Holiday Season “Planner”

Our Christmas Countdown Chain is more than some strips of paper linked together. The chain itself is actually just the pretty delivery method for what is our entire holiday “schedule. ” Assigning a holiday activity to each chain link is my way of ensuring all the outings, events, and projects that we want to do actually get scheduled, AND that we aren’t overcommitted on any particular day too.

The real “money” of this system is that our Christmas Countdown Chain includes “normal” holiday activities such as decorating the Christmas tree, hanging the outside lights, and the neighbor’s annual party on Christmas Eve. The gaps are then filled in with small, easy activities that really help the kids feel like this is an extra special time. This approach keeps the entire concept easier and more realistic to accomplish.

Now having done this for four years in a row, I can say that all those holiday “want to dos” and “should dos” actually become a reality…and we all have SO much fun in the process!

My Process for Planning 25 Days of Christmas Activities

Okay, let me fully break down exactly how I plan out 25 days of Christmas activities, and share why and how it all remains so manageable!

NOTE: All the printables featured in this blog post are from my FREE Countdown to Christmas Planning Kit!

Step 1: Look at the December Calendar

Start by printing out a blank December calendar. Fill in any events that are already planned or have very specific dates. Here are some examples:

• School holiday events (e.g., concerts, pageants, etc)
• Annual parties with friends or family
• Local Concerts
• Local Parades
• Nativity Plays or Pageants
• Wreaths Across America
• Candy Cane Runs
• Deadlines for any local toy/coat/food drives (such as Toys for Tots)

Additionally, make notes about when certain seasonal events are open for business. These are activities that don’t need to happen on really specific dates; but knowing when they are/aren’t open can help you fit them in as needed. Here are some examples:

• Visits with Santa
• Local light displays (walking or driving)
• Ice skating rinks
• Christmas movies (new releases)
• Walking Nativity plays

Step 2: Make a Holiday Bucket List

Next, make a Holiday Bucket List of any and all activities you can or like to do each holiday season.

• Start by listing out events you normally do such as decorate the tree, bake Christmas cookies, mail Christmas cards, and visit Santa.
• Also include ideas you’ve seen, heard of, or always wanted to try such as a Christmas lights scavenger hunt, candy cane games, ornament making, or holiday charades.
• Finally, don’t hesitate to make ANYTHING into a Christmas activity, even if you would do it normally this time of year anyway. Special events like “wear Christmas jammies for the first night,” or “drink Christmas hot chocolate” become more intentional and special when incorporated into the monthly countdown.

TIP! Keep this list printed out and add to it to your Holiday Planner so you can reference all the activities you like to do (and which ones were duds!) year after year. This will make assembling future chains so much quicker!

Step 3: Schedule Your 25 Days of Christmas Activities!

Now that you’ve got a good sense of everything that needs to be done (or you want to do!) this holiday season, it’s time to assign a particular activity for each of the 25 days leading up to Christmas. This is more art than science, but here are some tips to guide you:

1. Print out a fresh December calendar and work in pencil so you can re-arrange things as needed.
2. Start by assigning events that have non-negotiable dates such as the neighborhood Christmas Party, the church Nativity Play, Santa Fun Run, etc. These things are technically “fun family events,” so use them to fill up your calendar; there’s no need to plan extra activities for these days!
3. Next, add activities that have to happen in certain windows. For example: ice skating may only be open on weekends; your favorite light event might only run 1 weekend during the month; etc. Make sure you plan these events for days you can actually do them!
4. Then, assign events that should happen during certain times of the month. For example, you likely decorate your tree toward the beginning of the month and bake cookies closer to Christmas Day. Place these activities accordingly on your calendar. Just like the pageants and parties, these “usual” holiday events still count as “family fun,” so there’s no need to plan anything extra!
5. Finally, fill in all the remaining gaps with fun Christmas crafts and activities. As you do this, though, it’s REALLY important to keep track of what other things you have going on, for example:
   • Save short activities like “New Christmas Socks” or a “Christmas Music Dance Party” for busy school nights.
   • For time-intensive activities like “Gingerbread Houses” or “Ornament Making,” pick a weekend afternoon.

TIP! Make sure you run the tentative schedule by your spouse or partner to ensure they are on board. This helps set expectations and deconflict things you might have missed.

Step 4: Populate the Countdown to Christmas Planner

Once you have your activities planned out, it’s time to get yourself well organized to actually execute each activity. This step is KEY to keeping this entire tradition as stress-free and manageable as possible!

Using my Countdown to Christmas Planning Kit, you can easily plan your activities, make supply lists, and even print out your activity strips all in one step!

1. Download and open my Countdown to Christmas Planning Kit.
2. Populate the “Days” column with the correct days for this year’s December.
3. In the “Activities” column, type in your assigned activity for that day.
4. In the “To Buy or Prep” column, type in any supplies, printables, tickets, reservations, etc that you will need to complete this activity.
5. As you type the activities in the Countdown to Christmas worksheet, notice that the activity strips auto-populate and everything is color coordinated!

Step 5: Make Your Christmas Countdown Chain

The next step is to make or assemble whatever Christmas countdown “mechanism” you want to use. We’ve found the paper chain to be quick, easy, and packs away really nicely. You can see my Cricut-made Christmas Countdown Chain HERE or make one with a pair of scissors using the templates included in the Countdown to Christmas Planning Kit.

However, just because a chain works for us doesn’t mean it’s the only option! Once you print out the activity strips, trim them out and then slide them into little drawers, mini stockings, mini bags, tiny gift boxes, envelopes or whatever else you like to use to countdown until Christmas!

Step 6: Prep Your Supplies & Activities

Finally, with your activities all planned out and your chain (or other Christmas countdown system) created, it’s time to order and prep your needed supplies for all 25 days of Christmas activities at one time. Use your printed Countdown to Christmas Planner as a guide; work down the list chronologically so that you have supplies ordered and tickets reserved in a timely fashion for each activity.

Although you may be tempted to prep a little every day as the month goes on, I highly recommend planning and prepping your Christmas countdown activities all at once. I spend an afternoon (typically right after Thanksgiving) ordering craft kits and gingerbread ingredients, printing coloring pages, and reserving Santa visit times. I stage everything on a high shelf in my office. When the kids open a link each morning, I have everything I need to quickly and easily make that activity happen sometime before the day is through!

Step 7: Enjoy an Amazing Holiday Season of Fun with Your Family!

The final step is pure execution of festive family fun! On December 1st, open the #1 link on your Christmas Countdown Chain (or other countdown calendar). With your supplies prepped and waiting, all you need to do is find time during the day to complete the activity. Some things like “Read a Christmas Story” can be done first thing in the morning; while others like “Christmas Family Game Night” might be best after dinner.

TIP! I highly recommend keeping the printed Countdown to Christmas Planner in your daily planner or somewhere else you will see it regularly. It’s VERY helpful to be tracking on what’s coming up next each day instead of being just as surprised as the kids are each morning!

---

Once upon a time, I’d watch other families do all these cute and creative things all Christmas season long. And it would make me feel behind, stressed or “less than” because I just couldn’t get my act together to do the same for my kids. Once I came up with this system of incorporating BOTH our usual Christmas to dos AND some fun family activities into our Christmas Countdown Chain…everything changed. We are now getting ready for our 4th Countdown to Christmas, and the whole family is eagerly waiting with anticipation. I just know my children will look back on this with all the warm happy memories, and I hope what I’ve detailed out here can help you create a similar tradition for your own family!

See You Soon!
Megan

Your Ultimate 25 Days Of Christmas Bucket List

By Lauren Porter ·
Updated October 26, 2020

01

Decorate Your Tree

Time to dust off those old ornaments and hang them along the tree with care. What do you put on your Christmas Tree?

KidStock/Getty images

02

Donate Old and Unused Items

Haven’t worn a sweater in ages? Don’t know the last time you used that old stuff? Donate it! Give back during the holidays by giving away old and unused items to local shelters and charities. 

JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty images

03

Volunteer at Senior Citizen Home/Homeless Shelter

Spend some time with the less forunate this season. Volunteer to read to senior citizens or serve food at your local homeless shelter. There is nothing like spreading some Christmas cheer by spending time with others!

KidStock/Getty images

04

Go Christmas Caroling

Fa-La-La-La-La-La-La-La! Take your kids caroling this year! Visit houses in your neighborhood or take a trip to the homes of friends. Sing a long to your favorite Christmas songs and make memories that will last a lifetime.  

Camille Tokerud/Getty images

05

Do Holiday Shopping

Time to hide all the gifts! Get your shopping done early this year then tuck them away until it’s time for Santa to make his delivery!

Getty images

06

Enjoy Winter Activity

Ice Skating is the winter classic so enjoy an activity made especially for the season! If hitting the ice isn’t your thing, enjoy a winter wonderland to bask in the cheer of the holiday time. 

Getty images

07

Binge Watch Christmas Movies

Curl up on the couch with the family and have a Christmas Movie Marathon! Watch some of the classics with snacks and treats and prepare for the best day ever.

Steve Debenport/Getty images

08

Get a Holiday Onesie

Kick your Christmas PJ’s up a notch with a festive onesie! There is nothing more comfy and cozy to curl up in during the season.

Boohoo.com

09

Create a Christmas Cocktail

Don’t let the season pass you by without having a try at creating your very own Christmas Cocktail! Your parties and dinners won’t be the same without it. 

Sarsmis/Getty images

10

Bake Holiday Cookies

Have a delicious treat full of sweet holiday joy with Christmas Cookies! Bake them and decorate them with the kids and nothing will be more exciting. 

Rita Maas/Getty images

11

Host Secret Santa Night

Calling all friends to have a very merry litmas! Host a secret santa night at your house and invite each friend telling them to bring a gift specifically for another guest. As the night progresses, let the guessing game begin and kick back to watch all the fun unfold!

Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury/Getty images

12

Decorate Gingerbread Houses

Who doesn’t like decorating Gingerbread Houses during the holidays! Have some fun with the kids or the one you love by turning the fun Christmas moment into a crazy competition.  

Ariel Skelley/Getty images

13

Cozy up with the one you love

When it comes to being naughty or nice, cozying up with the one who has your heart is a little bit of both and there is nothing wrong with that!

Reggie Casagrande/Getty images

14

Wrap All Your Presents

It’s wrapping time! Make those presents as ovet the top as you want! Have some fun with great graphic print wrapping paper and let them add to your decor for the season. 

Stockbyte/Getty images

15

Make a Christmas Playlist

Let Boyz II Men’s “Let It Snow” help you start the season off right! Fill a playlist with all the classic jams and let your holiday mood be inspired with some of the greatest Christmas songs of all time. 

Sean Justice/Getty images

16

Send Out Christmas Cards

There is nothing like opening a Christmas Card during the holidays. Take some time to sit down and write a heartfelt note inside each card before sending them off to family and friends. It’s a timeless and priceless gift that will always and forever be appreciated. 

Getty images

17

Have a Slumber Party Under Tree

Sleep tight under the Christmas tree lights. Curl up in your favorite pajamas with great snacks, and some hot cocoa to have a slumber party right near the action. It’s a great family idea! 

jonas unruh/Getty images

18

Go See Light/Holiday Decorations Around Town

Take a mini road trip in your own town! Drive around to take a look at all the different light and holiday decorations! The displays of holiday festive fun is always cherished memory. 

a_Taiga/Getty images

19

Make DIY Christmas Card Display

Show off all your Christmas Cards with a great DIY display. Not only does it add to your decorations (win!) but it’ll bring a smile to your face at each and every glance. 

mediaphotos/Getty images

20

Make your own 2016 ornaments

emmaduckworth/Getty images

21

Reconnect with an Old Friend or Family Member You’ve Lost Touch With

Set aside some time to reconnect with an old friend from college or a family member you’ve lost touch with. Even if it’s a 5 minute phone call to share that they were on your mind, the sentiment will be extra special during the holiday season. 

veronicagomepola/Getty images

22

Attend a Holiday Party or Event

RSVP yes hitting up to the holiday party scene. Dance the night away and have the time of your life all in spirit of Christmas!

Paffy69/Getty images

23

Fill your Home with Holiday Scents

Light those candles and bake those cookies to have your home smelling as great as the season feels!

oksix/Getty images

24

Play in the Snow

Calling all snow angels! Dream of a white Christmas and then go play in it! Have a snow ball fight with the family or make a snowman with the kids. Either way, it’ll be more fun that you could ever imagine just in time for the holidays. 

LWA/Dann Tardif/Getty images

25

Have the Merriest Christmas Of All!

On December 25th, have the merriest Christmas of all! Happy holidays everyone!

Tim Robbins/Getty images

TOPICS:  Get Lifted

DIY Advent calendar for adults: the most interesting ideas

Do you think it’s difficult to make a DIY adult advent calendar? Not at all! To create it, you only need a couple of hours of free time and a little imagination. To make a calendar, any materials that are at hand are suitable.

The Advent calendar, or Advent calendar, is a traditional European calendar that counts down to Christmas. It usually consists of 24 cells: the countdown starts on December 1st and ends on the 24th, on Christmas Eve. A small gift is placed in all cells of the calendar — one for each day.

In Russia, such calendars are most often made to count the days until the New Year, so there are not 24, but 31 cells in them (according to the number of days in December). Moreover, they create advent calendars not only for children, but also for adults. It is about these gifts for adults that we will talk today.

What to put in an adult advent calendar

What to put in the advent calendar for an adult? It all depends on the interests of the one to whom you are preparing a surprise. Let’s list the most traditional gifts that you can fill an advent calendar for a woman:

• cosmetics — one of the most common gift options for women: bottles of nail polish, tubes of lipstick, creams, lotions, scrubs, etc.;
• sweets are a traditional gift for the advent calendar. Chocolate, sweets, cookies and other «goodies» are often used as New Year’s surprises for both women and children;
• all kinds of beauty and care products: massage oils, bath salts, hair accessories, etc. ;
• Household goods: scented candles, soaps, pot holders, coasters and other kitchen appliances, etc.;
• gardener’s set will come in handy for a true summer resident. In this case, you can hide seed packs, herb growing kits on the windowsill, small packages of fertilizers, peat pots for seedlings, plant care accessories, etc. in the advent calendar;
• Cooking lovers will come in handy with cookie cutters, exotic spices or just sets of favorite spices, small cooking accessories, recipe book, etc.;
• for lovers of needlework — sets of necessary tools and materials.

Advent calendar gifts for men are, of course, more difficult to choose, but still possible. We will offer you several common options:

• The top line when choosing gifts for men (and absolutely for any holiday!) is occupied, of course, by socks and shaving accessories. For the advent calendar, they are just perfect: they take up little space and are never superfluous. And if you put a pair of socks in each cell, then you can provide a man with this wardrobe item for the whole year;
• tickets for the game of your favorite team;
• coffee or tea;
• set of spirits in small containers;
• calendar;
• favorite magazine.

In addition to material gifts, the advent calendar for adults can be filled with interesting wishes and New Year’s tasks. These can be tasks of different types, for example:

• write a letter with wishes to Santa Claus or the next year;
• make a plan for the new year;
• decorate the Christmas tree and the house for the holiday;
• come up with a New Year’s menu;
• buy gifts for relatives, etc.

Filling the advent calendar for adults is an exciting activity, it opens up a lot of room for imagination. But before you put gifts in it, you need to make a Christmas calendar. We have collected for you some simple and interesting DIY advent calendar ideas.

Hanging advent calendar

Hanging advent calendar is perhaps the easiest option. To create it you will need:

• containers for gifts,
• cord.

We would like to show you several ways to make a hanging Christmas calendar with your own hands.

If you know how to sew, then it will not be difficult for you to sew several dozen fabric bags. Cotton or fleece in holiday colors works well for this purpose. Cut out numbers from 1 to 31 from felt and glue them to each bag. Do not forget to sew a ribbon or cord around the edges: you will need them for hanging. When the preparatory work is completed, hang all the bags on a long rope and fill them with presents.

If you don’t know how to sew, it doesn’t matter either. Fabric bags can be completely replaced with paper bags. To make them look more interesting, decorate each bag with faux spruce branches, cones, nuts, cinnamon sticks, or dried orange slices. Do not forget to attach a tag with a number to each package. You can fasten paper bags on a long rope using ordinary clothespins. It will take you no more than an hour to do all the work — after that, all that remains is to fill the bags with pleasant little things.

If you don’t know how to hang a hanging advent calendar, use a regular wooden clothes hanger. Paint the wooden «hangers» with white or red acrylic paint (white is the most winter color, and red is always associated with the New Year), decorate with New Year’s decor and just hang the gift boxes on a hanger.

Ordinary boxes can be replaced with original paper houses with windows. Everyone can easily cut these out (on the Internet you will find a great many patterns of a wide variety of houses), and if you don’t feel like doing this, you can buy them in specialized needlework stores. These houses are quite inexpensive, but they look much more interesting than traditional boxes. If desired, paper houses can be painted and decorated.

Another way to hang your advent calendar is to hang the bags on a regular branch. When going for a walk in a park or forest, do not forget to look under your feet — and you will definitely find a branch of the size and length you need. It will perfectly fit into the New Year’s decor in eco-style, rustic or Provence style.

Advent calendar in a basket

If you don’t have time to create an Advent calendar, but you want to please your loved one, use any basket. Just put the packages with the numbers written on them into it — what could be easier! Don’t forget to put gifts inside!

No basket — any box will do, such as the one in which you store spices. Get them out of there and put them in another place before the New Year, and instead of bags, put boxes or envelopes with presents in a box.

Paper towel roll advent calendar

You can use paper towel or toilet paper rolls or long round cardboard cookie boxes to create this advent calendar.

Cut out a lid slightly larger than the diameter of the core for each cardboard core. Cover everything with wrapping paper with a New Year’s pattern. Glue all the bushings in such a way that a Christmas tree shape is obtained: on top — one bushing, the next row — two, etc. Place gifts inside, and then carefully glue the lids with any glue. Don’t overdo it: just a few drops of glue are enough to keep the lid on, but then it was easy to remove.

Canned advent calendar

Photo courtesy of look-what-i-made.com

Another way to create an advent calendar for adults out of scrap is to use jars. If you are a coffee lover, these will be coffee cans, if you are a big fan of cooking — spice cans, if you have a small child — baby food cans. The principle of creating a Christmas calendar from cans is similar: cover the jar with paper or cloth (you can also paint it, but in this case you will have to spend more time on making it, because the paint dries longer). Then glue the numbers on the lid or on the jar itself. Fill the jars with nice contents and place them in the right place.

But the arrangement of such advent calendars can be different. In the photo above — jars stacked on top of each other in the shape of a Christmas tree.

Photo courtesy of twigandthistle.com

To position the jars as shown in this photo, stick magnetic paper on the bottom of the jars. Such an advent calendar can be placed on the refrigerator door or other metal surface.

Advent calendar for the strong

Photo from studiodiy.com

And finally, for those for whom preparing for the holiday is a holiday in itself, we want to offer several more complex options for the advent calendar. Option one — getting gifts from such a box will not be so easy: every time you have to literally get them by using force.

To make this advent calendar you will need:

• large box,
• beautiful paper or wallpaper — for pasting the box,
• tracing paper or tissue paper,
• small plastic bowls,
• double sided tape,
• tinsel.

How to use:

1. Cover the box on all sides with paper. For this purpose, any paper with a bright pattern is suitable: packaging, wallpaper, self-adhesive film, etc.
2. When the glue has dried well, mark the locations of the holes. They can be placed in rows or randomly. Using a utility knife, cut out 31 holes. Their size should be slightly smaller than the diameter of plastic bowls, but such that a hand can freely pass there.
3. On the inside of the box, stick strips of double-sided tape around the edges of each side. Stick a sticker on them. If it’s too sheer, apply a few layers so the surprise gifts don’t show through.
4. Place a present in a plastic bowl. Using a hot gun, apply a bead of glue around the edge of the bowl and stick it to the hole on the inside of the box. So repeat with all the bowls. Close the box.
5. To hide the uneven edges of the holes on the outside of the box, cover them with bright tinsel.
6. Event calendar is ready. To get a gift out of it, you have to tear the tracing paper and put your hand through the hole.

Shoe Organizer Advent Calendar

Photo courtesy of elizabethjoandesigns.com

Another interesting advent calendar for adults. To make it you will need:

• fabric organizer for shoes,
• thick fabric,
• paint and stencil.

Operation:

1. Use paint and a stencil to paint the numbers on the organizer pockets. If you do not have a stencil, you can cut them out of thick paper or felt and stick them on your pockets.
2. Cut 4 strips from thick red fabric to create a frame for the calendar. Glue them to the organizer with hot glue. Trim the edges.
3. Attach small loops on the back side and hang the finished advent calendar on the wall. Fill your pockets with gifts.

Advent calendar with drink set

Photo from feastandwest. com

To create such an advent calendar, a set of spirits in small bottles or small cans of beer will come in handy. Whatever you choose, the product will turn out to be quite heavy, so it is not recommended to hang such a calendar on the wall — it is better to put it on something stable and away from children and pets.

To create this advent calendar you will need:

• 31 boxes large enough to fit drink cans or bottles inside,
• decoration ribbons,
• paper,
• glue (it is better to use a heat gun).

How to use:

1. Print the numbers 1 to 31 on the printer and cut them out.
2. Decorate the lid of each box by sticking a piece of tape and a circle with a number on it.
3. Use hot glue to glue first one row of boxes, and then all the others.
4. Glue all rows together. To make the design more reliable, stick a large sheet of corrugated cardboard on the back side.
5. After that, it remains only to fill the boxes with tinsel or paper chips so that the containers do not roll inside the boxes, and fill all the cells with gifts.

We hope our selection will inspire you to create your own advent calendar.

145 DIY advent calendar ideas and activities for kids!

New Year is coming soon, which means it’s time to think about what gifts you will give to your loved ones. Advent calendars are considered one of the most original gifts, you can choose and buy them on our website, or you can make them yourself. To do this, we have prepared 145 ideas and tasks for children and adults, as well as posted new ideas that were not available last year. Choose the ones that suit you and place them on your advent calendar.

1. Take winter pictures every day.

2. Draw a Christmas tree according to the video instructions.

3. Make different snowflakes out of colored paper.

4. Write a list of events that made you very happy this year.

5. Make a snowman out of scrap materials.

6. Write yourself a letter to the future for the next New Year, put it in a secluded place and open it in a year.

7. Take a family photo near the tree.

8. Write down at least 10 of your dreams for the New Year.

9. Draw your family near the Christmas tree.

10. Make postcards to your friends and put them in the mailbox, or if your friend is far away, mail them to him.

11. Collect unnecessary things and give them to those who need them more.

12. Make a Christmas tree star tip

13. Bake gingerbread cookies according to the recipe:

14. Write a letter to Santa Claus and put it in the refrigerator, so he will definitely receive it.

15. Make a Christmas tree out of thread according to the instructions.

16. Watch the New Year’s movie The Grinch Stole Christmas.

17. Draw patterns on the windows.

18. Make a bird feeder, or just take food and feed them.

19. Make a paper garland.

20. Learn any New Year’s verse.

21. Go outside for a walk for at least an hour.

22. Take food, go outside, feed stray dogs and cats.

23. Decorate an apartment (house, room) for the New Year.

24. Make cocoa with marshmallows.

25. Draw Santa Claus.

26. Find out about New Year traditions in other countries.

27. Cut out a tree from green cardboard, decorate it with toys and hang it on the tree.

28. Make cards for your parents/grandparents.

• d ,kjut

29. Look at your old photos with the whole family.

30. Write a fairy tale about the New Year.

31. Complete tasks on logic and counting.

32. Make a Christmas tree out of candy.

33. Collect cones in the park and make a New Year’s toy out of them.

34. Make the branches of the tree snowy.

35. Make Santa Claus and Snow Maiden out of ordinary plasticine.

36. Gather your whole family and decorate the tree together.

37. Make a garland out of beads, buttons, or whatever you have at home.

38. Arrange a New Year’s photo shoot for your whole family, you don’t have to have a good camera, you can take good pictures with your phone.

39. Make a snowman and a snow maiden out of snow outside.

40. Take soap bubbles and blow them in the cold.

41. Decorate the windows in the house with snowflakes.

42. Make homemade ice cream with this recipe:

43. Draw 3 different snowflakes.

44. Go to the rink.

45. Spend a day with your family.

46. Pour the snow with colored water from a bottle.

47. Find the biggest icicle.

48. Brew non-alcoholic mulled wine:

49. Hide and look for toys in the snow together with your family.

50. Dance round the Christmas tree in the square.

51. Make a tree of wishes, you will read these wishes on New Year’s Eve

52. Make a Christmas craft out of salt dough.

53. Find out why in Russia «Santa Claus» and abroad «Santa Claus».

54. Make a snow angel.

55. Play a board game with your family.

56. Do something that you have been putting off for a long time.

57. Go visit your relatives.

58. Buy tangerines.

59. In the evening turn off the lights at home everywhere and light candles, spend this evening by the light of candles.

60. Change your phone call to New Year’s.

61. Jump into the snowdrift.

62. Buy and light sparklers.

63. Make hot chocolate.

64. Draw a winter forest.

65. Brew and drink fruit tea.

66. Go sledding.

67. Discuss with your family and start a New Year tradition.

68. Read a new book.

69. Wrap yourself up in a blanket and watch the movie Home Alone.

70. Go for a walk in the park, forest, take hot tea and a camera with you, take winter photos.

71. Walk on a frozen puddle, listen to the crackling of ice.

72. Rearrange your room.

73. Put together a huge puzzle with a New Year’s picture.

74. Buy a figurine with the symbol of the New Year.

75. Have a pajama party with your family.

76. Bake a tangerine pie.

78. Make a wish on New Year’s Eve.

79. Turn on New Year’s songs and listen to them all day and be sure to sing along.

80. Go to the cinema to see a New Year’s movie or cartoon.

81. Play snowballs.

82. Learn something new.

83. Go to the library, take a book you like and read it in the evening.

84. Keep a gratitude journal and write down everything for which you are grateful for the past year.

85. Make New Year’s masks and have a photo session with the whole family wearing them.

86. Take apart the hard drive on your computer and put your desktop in order.

87. Spend the weekend at home without the Internet, computer or phone.

88. Make your own chocolate.

89. Buy and blow up confetti.

90. Draw a postcard with a deer.

91. Prepare and eat Olivier. You will need — boiled potatoes (preferably not young, but old) — 4 pcs. medium, boiled carrots — 1 pc., hard-boiled eggs — 4 pcs., boiled «doctor’s» sausage — 300 g, pickled cucumbers (fresh can be used) — 4 pcs. medium, canned green peas — 1 can of 200 g, mayonnaise — 200-300 g, parsley and dill leaves if desired, salt, freshly ground black pepper.

92. Make a Christmas wreath out of tinsel.

93. Bake homemade cinnabons.

94. Watch the cartoon “The Keepers of Dreams”.

95. Build a snow fort.

96. Drink tea with cinnamon and honey.

97. Make a Christmas cutlery napkin out of fabric.

98. Write for your loved one in the snow: “I love you!”.

99. Make a New Year’s wreath of tangerines.

100. Buy a chocolate bar, make a package in the shape of a snowman, and give it to someone you love.

101. Cut out a paper Christmas deer and glue it to the window.

102. Make Christmas toys for the Christmas tree out of tangerines.

103. Make some popcorn and watch the Christmas movie The Grinch Stole Christmas.

104. Make a snowman for the door.

105. Learn to make a Christmas tree out of napkins.

106. Make a garland of lanterns.

107. Make a list of gifts for your loved ones with your parents.

108. Write a list of your good deeds for the past year (you can also write “with parents”).

109. Make a list of ideas for good deeds for the coming year.

110. Ask an unusual riddle, and do a non-standard search for a surprise.
For example: remember which of the heroes of the fairy tale Geese Swans the girl refused to help. Look for a surprise there (in the oven)

111. Watch the New Year’s collection of Soviet cartoons on YouTube.

112. Wear pajamas all day and don’t make your bed.

113. Ask for forgiveness from everyone you offended in the past year.

114. Send congratulations to your old friends who you haven’t talked to for a long time.

115. Find out what names Santa Claus has in different countries.

116. Read New Year’s fairy tales, such as Frost, The Snow Queen, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.

117. Set up a home puppet theater or shadow theater.

118. Make a New Year’s handmade soft toy.

119. Play 12 notes. This is an interesting quest in which 12 clues are hidden in succession that will lead to a prize.

120. Play the game Crocodile. The essence of the game is that a person must guess the word that is written on the sticker on the forehead or guess the word according to the description, and you can also guess the word and show it without saying anything.

121. Go to the theater for a New Year’s play.

122. Play the Fanta game. You need to write different actions on pieces of paper and put them in a hat, and then pull them out and complete tasks.

123. Try new hobbies.

124. Make soap or a candle in the New Year’s style.

125. Write a to-do list for self-development in the new year.

126. Make «Pineapple» from a bottle of children’s champagne and sweets.

127. Learn how to make a masquerade mask.

128. Make a homemade bath bomb.

129. Prepare New Year’s contests.

130. Make balls of thread.

131. Establish relationships with those with whom you were at odds.