The pandemic may have thrown everyone’s holiday plans for a loop, but there are still tons of ways to celebrate Christmas this year (and the next!) without stepping foot outside of the house.
It might sound impossible, but it’s actually very easy and a lot of fun in spite of the fact that we might not be able to celebrate with our extended family and friends.
Missing grandma? Have a virtual Skype party and read her a holiday story! Dying to hang out with your cousins from far, far away? Play an online game like Among Us until the break of dawn. Tired of the same old Christmas feast? Set up a frothy cocktails and desserts table for the whole family and indulge!
Here are 15 lovely ways to celebrate Christmas without leaving the house:
1. HOST A VIRTUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY
It’s the 21st century, and thanks to apps like Zoom and Skype, it’s now easier than ever to throw a virtual holiday bash with friends and family across the world. So, gather the family around the couch and reach out to your loved ones. You can all log in at the same time and do some holiday karaoke or simply talk and catch up.
2. MAKE A GINGERBREAD HOUSE WITH THE KIDS
Decorating gingerbread houses is a holiday tradition that everyone can get into because it’s such a blast! You can play holiday music in the background or watch a holiday movie while you bake, paint, and decorate away! But for those of us who can’t bake to save our lives, there are pre-baked gingerbread house kits you can get online so that the kiddos can have some fun decorating without breaking a sweat in the kitchen.
3. DO A CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN
It’s sort of like an advent calendar countdown but instead of doing 25 days, you do 12 days. Simply display or hang the Christmas Countdown Calendar on a kitchen or living room wall. Write an inspiring quote, a special holiday recipe, a Christmas story, or a holiday wish under each number flap. Then, have the kids remove one every morning leading up to the big day.
4. HAVE A HOLIDAY STORY TIME
We all have a traditional holiday-themed book that we’ve been dying to share with our little ones since they were born. So, dust that book off or buy a new one online and start a tradition of reading a holiday story with the kiddos.
But before everyone snuggles up on the couch, add a little Christmas magic and bring a big tray of holiday desserts like Gingerbread cookies, snowflake pretzels, Panettone muffins, and of course, a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows.
Suggested Christmas stories for kids:
5. SET UP A NON-ALCOHOLIC COCKTAIL AND DESSERTS TABLE
Set up a kid-friendly cocktail and dessert table filled with some tasty mocktails that everyone can drink, such as Grinch Punch (but skip the rum to make it kid-friendly), milk and cookie shots, and classic eggnog punch.
And a ton of Delicious Holiday Drinks the Whole Family can Enjoy:
6. DELIVER GIFTS AND COOKIES TO FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS
There’s nothing cooler than surprising people with gifts and cookies around the holidays. So, consider baking a batch or buying a couple of inexpensive cookie baskets. Then hand them out to the neighbors or head to a nursing home and gift them to the elderly, which is guaranteed to put a smile on their faces. Just make sure to practice social distance and wear a mask.
7. HAVE A HOLIDAY MOVIE NIGHT
Nothing will get you into the holiday spirit quicker than watching a few holly jolly Christmas movies. So, gather the whole family around the TV, nuke some popcorn, and do a mini-thon of Christmas movies on Christmas Eve.
You can also watch one Christmas movie every day on the 12 days leading up to Christmas. Here are a few films that will definitely put everyone in the mood:
- Klaus
- The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
- Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
- Home Alone
- Arthur Christmas
- Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
- The Christmas Chronicles
- Olaf’s Frozen Adventure
- The Santa Clause
- A Christmas Story
- Polar Express
- Miracle on 34th Street
- Elf
8. LEARN HOW TO DECORATE CHRISTMAS COOKIES
To get creative with holiday baking projects and learn how to decorate Christmas cookies, head to YouTube and search for a few tutorials by some of the top cookie artists in the world. You can even have a family competition and bake different variations of the same type of cookie – like sugar or gingerbread – and then choose which one looks best before everyone dives in!
9. HOST A VIRTUAL GIFT EXCHANGE
Since it’s not always possible or safe to host an in-person gift exchange during the holidays, you could always turn this activity into a virtual one. All you have to do is set up a Zoom meeting with the extended family and let everyone participate from the comfort of their own homes.
It’s also an excellent way for people who can’t be together in person, like military families whose members are overseas, to still enjoy the fun of exchanging gifts with each other. Just make sure to allow enough time for mailing presents so that they arrive on time.
10. HOLD A KARAOKE COMPETITION
What better way to celebrate Christmas than by singing your favorite holiday carols out loud? Everyone can grab a homemade microphone and belt out their favorite festive tunes! To add even more fun and excitement, you could create a list of Christmas carols and turn it into a karaoke competition.
The family can judge based on the most festive performance, best vocal display, or even comical or quirky renditions! There’s no way you won’t be laughing your socks off at the end of this activity.
For some great karaoke songs to sing:
11. HOST AN ONLINE CHRISTMAS PARTY
Why not host an online Christmas party with all your friends while staying safe inside? Just jump onto Zoom, HouseParty, Skype, or FaceTime and get ready to have a good time. And don’t forget to dress up, decorate your living room, and set up a photo booth with some festive props!
You can also plan online activities like group cooking competitions or holiday trivia games to keep everyone entertained.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure that it is fun and interactive for everyone involved!
12. CRAFT YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
If you want to get crafty this Christmas season, why not try making your own decorations? You could use simple materials like construction paper, paint, glitter, glue sticks, and pipe cleaners – all of which can be found around the house – to create cute Christmas ornaments. This is an especially great activity to do with the kids, as they will love coming up with creative ideas to decorate their Christmas trees.
You can also try making your own wreaths or paper snowflakes for a bit of extra festive cheer.
And if you need some inspiration and guidance, there are plenty of tutorials online that will help you make beautiful Christmas decorations in no time!
13. PLAY A CHRISTMAS GAME ONLINE
Are you looking for a fun group activity to keep everyone entertained during the holidays? Why not try playing an online game like charades, Pictionary or Heads Up? All of these games require minimal setup and provide hours of entertainment.
Or if you want to add a festive twist, why not play some Christmas-themed trivia or a digital scavenger hunt?
You’ll be surprised at how much fun you can have with just a few clicks of the mouse!
14. SING CHRISTMAS CAROLS WITH AN ELF
If you want to get your whole family singing along in harmony, why not invite an elf over to join in on the caroling? There are plenty of apps that allow you to engage with virtual elves and sing your favorite Christmas tunes. You can even add special effects like snowflakes and firecrackers to make it more exciting.
It’s sure to bring smiles all around!
15. HAVE A HOT COCOA BAR NIGHT
For a delicious Christmas treat, why not set up a hot cocoa bar in your living room? You can choose from a variety of tasty toppings, like mini marshmallows, crushed candy canes, and chocolate chips, to create the perfect cup of hot cocoa.
You can even make it a challenge by seeing who can come up with the most creative concoction!
This is sure to be a hit among kids and adults alike – just don’t forget the whipped cream for an extra bit of sweetness!
In Conclusion
Christmas doesn’t have to be all about going out and celebrating – there are plenty of ways to make the holiday season special while staying in the comfort of your own home.
From karaoke competitions and hot cocoa bars to online Christmas parties and festive craft projects, you can find something for everyone this holiday season without ever leaving the house. So go ahead and get creative – it will definitely make for an unforgettable Christmas experience!
