The Best Old-Fashioned Christmas Traditions

Christmas is a time rich in nostalgia for most people. Memories from our own childhood, as well as ones we are continuing with our own families are an anchor point for the entire year. It gives us something to look forward to no matter how crazy the world around us gets. Finding ways to foster tradition and family closeness, while focusing on the true Reason for the season, Jesus Christ, will always be so important. Without further ado, let’s jump into some of the best old-fashioned Christmas traditions that are worth keeping alive!

Cutting Down a Christmas Tree

Every year, without fail, no matter what, the day after Thanksgiving, our family goes on an excursion to a tree farm to pick out the perfect tree. We often go to the same local farm. Last year, we took a road trip, and it was so much fun to find this perfect little “Hallmark Movie” tree farm.

Most farms will serve you cocoa or hot cider. The one we went to last year also served complimentary popcorn! Almost all tree farms have a wagon ride you can take- some of them to the field to cut down your tree and some just a ride for fun! We usually get to see Santa as well during this trip. This is something we have always done with our kids and is one of our family’s favorite old-fashioned Christmas traditions! This is definitely one that is not as common anymore, and it’s worth bringing back!

Watching Christmas Classics

When we arrive back from the tree farm the day after Thanksgiving, we usually devour some leftovers from the day before and dive into setting up the tree! While we get the tree situated, we always watch some Christmas Classics! Always, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman, and we branch out from there!

Another favorite that I try to get to most Christmas seasons is “It’s a Wonderful Life.” We don’t pull these out until this day every year, and it is certainly one of the old-fashioned Christmas traditions we look forward to! There is definitely a place for the new, but if you are looking to bring back that old fashioned nostalgia of days past, may I suggest dusting off some of the classics!

A Traditional Christmas Tree

Speaking of decorating the tree, one old-fashioned tradition we keep is having a very traditional tree. We use colored lights and a mix of ornaments that mean something to our family.

Themed trees can be so beautiful, but it’s just not for our family! We fill our tree up with ornaments that we have collected through the years- special ornaments (more on that later), antique ornaments, and ornaments the kids have made. When I say we fill our tree, I mean that literally! There are no bare spots on our tree, and that’s the way we like it! I keep boxes clearly marked with ornaments that aren’t breakable so that the kids can help decorate. The kids decorate the bottom of the tree and then the glass ornaments go toward the top.

It is eclectic, and I’m sure not everyone’s cup of tea, but we love the old-fashioned vibe it has! Honestly, I don’t see us ever doing anything different. I usually add in a wooden bead garland that looks like a strand of cranberries to finish off the traditional look.

Decorating the House

Normally, I consider myself minimal-ish…but not at Christmas! Bringing all the boxes of decorations down from the attic is not on my husband’s top ten list of things he loves to do, but once the house is all cozy and Christmassy, I never have any regrets! I decorate the inside, and my husband is in charge of whatever lights go on the outside of the house.

We go all out just like my own mother has always done, and that keeps that old-fashioned Christmas feeling alive in our home.

I do add some pieces at times, but overall, I reuse our decor year after year, and that makes it even more nostalgic as we remember particular decorations that we love from year to year. I always loved to see the same decorations brought out when I was a child, and I hope my kids will feel the same way! Definitely a little old-fashioned, but if you’re looking to bring back that feeling of childhood, go all out this year!

Christmas Books

Another tradition we have each year for our kids is Christmas books. I have a whole box of children’s Christmas books that we have collected over the years. They only come out during the Christmas season, therefore, they seem fresh and new every year, and yet so familiar because they remember them from other years. They love sitting down and reading through them, even some of my bigger kiddos! Definitely an old-fashioned tradition worth hanging onto!

Listening to Classic Christmas Music

This one may be a little controversial, but I don’t love new Christmas music! A must in our house is all the Classic Christmas music! Think Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, the Carpenters, Johnny Mathis, and Dean Martin! Now, that said, there are a few tunes from my childhood (the late ’90s/ early 2000s) that I do love, but most new music does not bring me that old-fashioned Christmas feeling!

Growing up, my mom played Christmas music all day long during the holidays, and therefore I still love that. Of course, I’m showing my age, but that began with Christmas favorites recorded from the radio onto cassette tapes. Later, we had a collection of Christmas CDs we enjoyed!

What a time to be alive now where we have access to all of these old favorites with just a spoken word via Alexa devices. I’ve linked the playlist of My Christmas Favorites from Amazon music. I’ve carefully curated a playlist that is hours long and sure to give you that Christmas feeling you’re looking for! Amid all the newer Christmas albums swirling around, these are old-fashioned Christmas treasures are worth holding onto!

Yearly Ornaments

Another tradition we carry on from year to year is our yearly ornaments. Each year, we buy a family ornament. Often it has something to do with something that has happened during that year. The year we bought our home, we had a key ornament with the year on it. Some of our ornaments are from a family vacation that year or a special family outing.

In addition to our family ornament, each child loves going to the craft store to pick out a special ornament for themselves. In this way, we have been able to build an extensive collection of meaningful ornaments that keeps with that traditional feel.

It is always fun to review the memories from year to year- some are happy, and some are sad, but all of them are a part of our family story. From the year our son was not in school but insisted that his ornament be a school bus (the irony of this for our homeschooled kid haha) to the ornament that we bought on vacation one year as I was in the middle of miscarrying our first baby.

We treasure this old-fashioned Christmas tradition and will for years to come!

Our Elf- Jack

My mind has been blown over the last 10-15 years the lengths that people will go to for their “Elf on the Shelf.” It seems so stressful, which is why the Green family doesn’t have one! Haha What we do have is this quirky little elf I purchased years ago. His name is Jack, and his mission is simple! We pull him out of the box when we pull out our Christmas decor (he’s not magic) and my husband or I hide him in a different location every night. No complex scenarios, just a fun seek and find game.

We have done this every year since our oldest was little and he is one of our favorite traditions. The kids love getting up each morning and searching for Jack! We move him the last time on Christmas Eve when he moves to our nativity scene so he can take in the true meaning of Christmas–the Christ child. He stays there until we pack up the Christmas decor for the season.

Giving to a Need

In keeping with the season of giving, one thing we always try to do is to give a little extra. It helps to shift our focus as a family from greedy to grateful. Some things that we have participated in or plan to in the future include packing shoe boxes for Samaritan’s Purse, giving toward specific mission related needs, helping families in need, or donating to a pregnancy resource center. We just always try to determine what God would have for our family to participate in each year. This is probably one of the most important old-fashioned Christmas traditions we maintain.

Making Cookies

Making Christmas cookies is one of the more common traditions that we do from year to year, but nonetheless, one that our kids love! They love helping to mix up the dough and cutting them out! Depending on how adventurous I’m feeling, sometimes we will ice and decorate them. Sometimes, we just add sprinkles before throwing them in the oven. This is still super fun, but much less time consuming than icing them if you need something quick and fun!

Sometimes, I take the time late at night to really decorate them pretty, and while I’m no professional, I enjoy the quiet and the results! For sure, timeless, old-fashioned Christmas traditions we won’t let go!

Looking at Lights

Another thing our family looks forward to every year is looking at the lights while we drive around. I can still hear one of my girls when they were super little exclaiming “Christmas lights!!!” in her little baby voice every. single. house we passed that had lights! Sometimes, it is the simplest things that are the most fun! We also enjoy taking a short road trip to a nearby town that has an awesome light display and a Christmas train you can ride. The train isn’t something we do every year, but taking time to drive around and look at lights is something we generally do at least once during the season. Keep this simple old-fashioned pleasure alive!

Christmas Devotionals

I’ve saved the most important for last! Yet another tradition that our family has started is an Advent devotional. Sometimes we light candles, sometimes we don’t but it is special either way. The last couple of years we have used this devotional, Unwrapping the Names of Jesus and it is a fantastic way to keep your family’s focus daily on Jesus, the true Reason we celebrate.

This past year, I purchased these beautiful ornaments that go along with the devotional. The kids took turns hanging the names of Jesus each day and that was a super fun visual way to solidify what we had been learning in the devotional. If these are something you are interested in, you can DM Sawdust and Sage Studio on Instagram for orders!

I have also enjoyed the devotional “Jesus Calling for Christmas” in my personal quiet time. It has beautiful photography along with inspirational writings and Bible verses to help you maintain a clear connection to the Prince of Peace through this beautiful season.

Bonus: Fun Grandparent Tradition

I’ll end with one bonus tradition that was born in 2020 and was one of the great things to come out of the pandemic! Our family had the dreaded virus that year and was still under quarantine the week of Christmas. Rather than putting together stockings for our kids that year, my parents came three nights the week of Christmas once it was dark.

My mom has an old set of sleighbells, and she would ring the bells after they got out of the car to signal to the kids that they were coming up the sidewalk. The kids waited at the door in delight for her to get to the door. Of course, that year, we couldn’t even open the door, but she would leave a small gift for them outside the door. It might be a game, puzzle, craft, or even an edible craft that they can all work on!

They loved it so much that we have continued the tradition to this day! The kids love to listen for the sleigh bells the week of Christmas, knowing that Nanny and Papa have something special in store for them! This is a fairly new tradition while that “old-fashioned Christmas traditions” feel.

Conclusion of Old-Fashioned Christmas Traditions

I hope you have enjoyed this peek into some of the old-fashioned Christmas traditions our family is keeping this holiday season. Maybe some of them you already do yearly, but maybe you have come across some simple traditions that your family can begin this year! Merry Christmas and remember to keep Christ the center of your family this holiday season!

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