It’s the most wonderful time of year… or is it? Ever since I was a little girl I’ve loved Christmas time. The lights, the music, the food, hot cocoa, family, friends, gifts, volunteering, everything that is the magic of Christmas time. As I get older it becomes easier to forget about the fun and joy of Christmas time because I get so caught up in the stress that also comes with the season and with being a high school student. So, to get back in the Christmas spirit and to make the most of these 25 days until Christmas, I decided to make a bucket list full of fun Christmas activities.
Put Up Christmas Decor and Decorate the Christmas Tree
What better way to get in the Christmas spirit than decorating your house. It’s kinda hard to not feel the joy of the season when you’re surrounded by it in your house. My family always says the magic of Christmas is in the Christmas tree, and in my opinion, it’s pretty true. The best way to get into the Christmas spirit is by putting up the Christmas tree, putting on your favorite Christmas songs and decorating the Christmas tree with your family. I know that always helps me feel more like it’s Christmas.
Listen to Christmas Music
I may or may not be one of those crazy people who starts listening to Christmas music on November 1st, but it’s fine because it makes me happy. Anyway, the point is that Christmas music sets the mood for the season and it makes you feel so happy. I personally love anything by Pentatonix, my personal favorite songs are Sleigh Ride, Little Drummer Boy, and O Come, O Come Emmanuel, but all of their songs are amazing.
Have Christmassy Foods and Drinks
What better way to make it feel like the holidays than drinking hot cocoa and eggnog and eating candy canes. I love making hot cocoa in my fancy mugs and adding a little bit of whipped cream and candy cane bits to make it feel extra special and delicious. Another amazing holiday snack is mint M&M’s. Those are absolutely delicious and a necessity in my house. Lastly, you can’t forget Christmas cookies, delicious and there are so many types to choose from.
Bake Christmas Cookies
This kinda goes with the last one, but I felt like it deserved its own section. Baking Christmas cookies is always a huge ordeal for me because I go all out. I usually do between two to six batches of different types of cookies depending on how motivated I feel. Anyway, baking cookies with some Christmas music in the background is always a lot of fun for me, and as an added bonus it makes the house smell like cookies.
Watch Christmas Movies
All I’m going to say about this is that it’s not really Christmas until you’ve watched all the classic Christmas favorites. My Christmas favorites are Elf, The Polar Express, The Grinch, Home Alone, and A Christmas Story. Another really good Christmas movie is Noelle, which is Disney+ original.
Go Look at Christmas Lights
One of my family’s traditions that I look forward to every year is driving around to look at Christmas lights. There’s something magical about driving around late at night and looking at all the brightly decorated houses. Another fun tradition is we go on a hayride through a neighborhood that goes all out with decorating, and that’s always one of the Christmas traditions I look forward to the most.
Take Pictures With Santa
The way I see it, you’re never too old to take pictures with Santa. My family always goes to Bass Pro to take pictures with Santa right around Thanksgiving, and I have no shame about it because it makes me feel like a little kid again. It may seem dumb, but if you go with some friends or family it can actually be fun.
Have a Christmas Party
Now, this has to be one of the most fun things on this list. Getting together with close friends to hang out, drink cocoa, eat cookies, and watch some Christmas movies is so much fun. If you’re feeling extra crafty, you could think of some fun Christmas themed games to play, and maybe even some Christmas truth or dare questions.
Make Paper Snowflakes
This is another simple, yet fun, activity that will bring you back to your childhood. All you need is some paper, scissors, and you are all set. Once you make a few you can hang them up in your bedroom as some extra festive decor.
Volunteer and Do a Random Act of Kindness
Christmas is known as the season of giving, so its the perfect time to do some service and volunteer work. My personal favorite place to volunteer is the animal shelter, I love animals and it is an enjoyable experience for me. Some other ideas of acts of kindness and service are running a toy drive for needy kids, making donations to animal shelters and homeless shelters, and even just finding someone to compliment every day.
Organize A Secret Santa Exchange
My friends and I have done a secret Santa exchange every year since 6th grade, and it’s always a lot of fun. It’s always a lot of fun to see what other people get you and get gifts for people you might not always get gifts for. Secret Santa exchanges don’t have to be complicated or expensive, in fact usually my friends put a $20 limit on the gifts. Secret Santa exchanges are just all around a great way to have fun and exchange gifts with friends.
Build a Gingerbread House
Last, but certainly not least on my Christmas bucket list is making a gingerbread house. Despite the fact that they taste absolutely disgusting and are extremely messy, they are so fun to make and to show off. We always have a competition with my cousins over who can make the best gingerbread house, and I always win of course. The point is though that decorating gingerbread houses is a fun and perfect activity to do with friends and family.
Christmas time lasts for only a month out of the year and there are so many things to be done in that month that it’s easy to forget about the magic of Christmas. I hope that this list will encourage you to go and enjoy Christmas time and remember the magic of Christmas.
-Emily
Bookworm Girl 
Wonderful post!
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