The 12 Days of Christmas: Rediscover Holiday Spirit
How celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas allowed us to reclaim the true spirit of the holiday season + shift the focus from materialism.
Two years ago, I found myself overwhelmed by the pressure to buy more + more. We already had more than enough stuff + I dreaded the thought of a Christmas morning dedicated to promoting the materialism that has become so ingrained in our culture.
With a 2 + 6 year old, I knew it was the time to shift the focus of the season + set our family traditions based on our values. I did not want to embrace the consumer-driven culture that has become synonymous with the holiday season. I wanted to focus on joy, togetherness, creativity + slowing down during a season that can blow by.
Extending the joy throughout the season.
After a conversation with my daughter’s preschool teacher, I was inspired to do something different. I wanted to create new traditions for our children, based on our values, while minimizing the emphasis of a Christmas morning spent tearing through gifts.
And still, I wanted Christmas to feel magical for our kids.
Remembering that the true spirit of the season lies in generosity, love + connection, we started a 12 Days of Christmas celebration. Rather than confining the spirit of giving to just one day, this tradition encourages us to spread festivity + joy over an extended period. This also has the intended affect of shifting the focus from a materialistic Christmas.
Our girls look forward to this tradition + I am now excited to plan the activities, celebrations + magic of the season.
As the holiday season approaches, I felt I had to share our family’s traditions so that you could feel grounded, calm + present while also shifting the emphasis away from material things. By sharing the process of how I created our tradition + my 12 Days of Christmas template, I hope to inspire you to embrace the magic of the holiday season + create lasting memories with your loved ones.
The 12 Days of Christmas not only bring a sense of festivity + an opportunity to treasure moments that the season brings, but also offer a way to remove the focus from Getting. All. The. Things.
Introduce a delightful rhythm into your festivities + join us in embracing this heartwarming + joyful tradition! Keep reading to find out how.
How the 12 Days of Christmas work
Our tradition is filled with activities, gifts + experiences. Many of our celebrations are things that already happen during the season—baking cookies, looking at Christmas lights. Each day, an envelope is opened to reveal the surprise. By emphasizing the focus on each day, we are able to be present for the experience, rather than rushing to the next thing. We are intentional about what we have chosen to do during this season + we are passing that on to our kids.
Here’s the run down:
We begin our countdown on December 13 + end on December 24, Christmas Eve.
I created a set of numbered envelopes dedicated to each day. These envelopes live in a little Christmas tin I found at the thrift store.
TIP: I bought A2 envelopes at Paper Source in green + red.
Inside each envelope is a printed note. Each day, the kids open an envelope marked with the number for the day. The time of day that we open the envelope depends on if it’s a weekend or a school day + what’s going on.
TIP: Download my template to start your own 12 Days of Christmas tradition.
Each day features a theme (The Season to Sparkle), activity (Make cookies), gift (Christmas PJs) or experience (Visit Santa) for the holiday season.
Some days have accompanying gifts. For example, our first day is often Hot Cocoa. So I refill the jars with cocoa mix + mini marshmallows, then wrap these items together. Other days are just an experience + there is nothing to open.
On Day 12, as a nod to my childhood tradition, the girls open one gift on Christmas Eve. This leaves 11 other days to plan.
Planning Your Way to a Stress-Free 12 Days of Christmas
Start Early
The holiday season can bring about a fair share of stress + overwhelm—the whole reason I started the 12 Days of Christmas. To ensure a smoother + more enjoyable experience, heading into the season with a well-thought-out plan is crucial.
Throughout the Year: Ideas
I keep a note in my planner for any ideas that pop up. I also keep my eye on the thrift store for anything holiday I may like to incorporate. This is when I look for holiday PJs + sparkly clothes for the girls.
October: Review
I review last year’s ideas + decide what new things I’d like to add + what things I want to repeat. I like to have a list of about 15 things to choose from. Keep reading for ideas of how we celebrate each day.
November: Schedule + Shopping List
I look at the calendar + decide which dates to assign to each item. Anything that is date specific gets assigned first. I always do something specific to honor the Winter Solstice on December 21. Things that require more time are scheduled on weekends. I allow for a bit of flexibility in case I need to change things up last minute, like say I’ve planned a night Christmas light walk + it’s freezing rain outside. Or it’s going to snow, so I DO want to do the night Christmas light walk for the added magic.
Once I know what we’re doing, I make a list of anything I might need to buy: baking supplies, marshmallows, craft supplies, etc. I also purchase tickets to events we’re attending.
End of November/ Early December: Shopping + Wrapping
Now it’s time to purchase the items on my shopping list. The thrift store is always my favorite place to find things. I never know what I’ll find so if I can’t find what I need, I take advantage of the Thanksgiving sales, where possible + I love shopping at TJ Maxx for baking supplies + other random items. I also pick up stocking stuffers while I’m shopping at this time—anything to help get ahead of Christmas.
I create + print any new notes for the year. These go into their corresponding envelopes. Download my FREE 12 Days of Christmas Template to make creating the notes easy.
With everything purchased, I take an evening after the girls are in bed to wrap everything + get finalized for the season. It can be helpful to put a numbered tag on the wrapped gifts so you know which one goes with which day.
The night before we begin, the Christmas tin + wrapped gifts go under the tree. By the end of November, the girls are already asking “When do the 12 Days of Christmas start?”
Enjoy the Journey
By beginning my preparations in advance, I give myself ample time to accomplish tasks for the 12 Days of Christmas without feeling overwhelmed. With everything taken care of by the beginning of December, we roll into the 12 Days of Christmas able to enjoy the experience + be present for the magic.
With the 12 Days of Christmas in place, I can navigate the season with ease + find true joy in the moments that matter most: spending quality time with my family + creating memories.
Make it Yours
Remember, this tradition is not about conforming to strict rules or rigid rituals. It's about infusing your holiday season with joy, meaning + magic. Feel free to adapt the tradition to suit your preferences + family traditions. The key is to embrace the essence of the 12 Days of Christmas + create a memorable experience for yourself + those around you.
Ideas to Jumpstart Your Celebration
Hot Cocoa Station: set up a place to easily make hot cocoa, complete with festive toppings.
Smell of Christmas: candles, diffuses or essential oils with winter scents.
Season to Sparkle: hair tinsel kit or body glitter.
Christmas Clothes: try coordinating holiday outfits + a fun family photo.
Christmas PJs: check the thrift store for kids’ pajamas.
Movie Night: pair with Moose Munch popcorn + watch Elf, or your family’s favorite holiday movie.
Christmas Light Drive or Walk: load up in the car with snacks + drive to the neighborhood with the best light display or walk you neighborhood with hot beverages.
Light Up the Night: experience the glow + dazzling display of a local light display. In Denver, consider: Blossom of Lights, Trail of Lights, Luminova Holidays, Denver Zoo Lights, Denver’s Parade of Lights or An Extravaganza of Lights at Hudson Gardens. Be sure to buy your tickets in advance.
Gingerbread Houses: we buy kits from World Market to simplify the process. With an older group, consider making it a competition + build themed houses.
Ornament: pick out a special ornament that will remind you of the year.
Outdoor Ornament: add giant ornaments or other outdoor holiday decor to your yard.
Winter Solstice Dinner: to celebrate the shortest day of the year, enjoy a candle lit dinner.
Bake Sugar Cookies: making cut-out sugar cookies is a tradition from my childhood. I add new decorating supplies as needed each year.
Christmas Craft: browse Pinterest for age appropriate crafts + provide the supplies to create together. Or coordinate with an out of town relative for a Zoom craft together.
Visit Santa: visit the mall or experience the magic of the North Pole near Colorado Springs.
Christmas Carols: serenade your friends + neighbors with your favorite Christmas songs.
Make it easy: Download my FREE 12 Days of Christmas Template.
By celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas, we shift the focus from materialism to magic, connection, gratitude + wonder.
These simple activities allow us to cultivate a deeper appreciation for the true spirit of the holiday season + infuse Christmas celebrations with meaning, creativity + a sense of anticipation.
In conclusion, our cherished tradition is more than just a collection of activities, gifts + experiences. It is proof of the beauty of simple joys + the importance of being present in the moment. By incorporating familiar rituals like baking cookies + admiring Christmas lights, we infuse each day with anticipation + delight.
Opening an envelope each day adds an element of surprise, prompting us to fully engage with the experience at hand rather than constantly seeking the next thing. We are intentional in our choices for this season + we are instilling in our children a sense of mindfulness + appreciation for the traditions we hold dear. With each passing year, we pass down not only the activities themselves but also the values of living with intention + savoring the magic of the present moment.
So, are you ready to make this holiday season truly unforgettable? Embrace the tradition of the 12 Days of Christmas + let the magic unfold.
Let the countdown begin! 🎅🏻🎄
