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Christmas Eve has a magic all its own. The anticipation, the twinkling lights, and the little preparations for Santa’s arrival can make it one of the most memorable nights of the year.
For children, it’s often the familiar details that mean the most: choosing cookies for Santa, setting out carrots for Rudolph, and snuggling up for one last Christmas story. A few simple Christmas Eve family traditions can turn those little moments into memories they carry with them as they grow.
Before bedtime, invite your children to choose a few cookies for Santa. They might pick their prettiest decorated sugar cookie, a favorite gingerbread person, or the chocolate chip cookies your family bakes every December.
Give this tradition a special place in your home with a personalized Santa plate and a mug of milk. Our colorful, hand-illustrated Christmas dinnerware adds a cheerful touch, and your child’s name makes helping prepare Santa’s snack feel even more personal.
Let the children decide where to leave the treats and add a handwritten note or drawing. A simple “Thank you, Santa!” is a sweet finishing touch.
Bring out the same plate each Christmas Eve, and it can become one of those familiar holiday pieces everyone looks forward to seeing again.
Santa isn’t the only one with a busy night ahead! Setting out carrots for Rudolph and his friends gives little ones another important job.
Our Rudolph plate creates a special spot for the reindeer’s snack beside Santa’s milk and cookies. Invite each child to add a carrot, count how many you’ve set out, or write a little message for Rudolph.
It’s a small gesture that adds to the excitement—and reminds children to think about everyone helping make the night special.
Before the pajamas go on, gather the children to make a little magic reindeer food. This easy Christmas Eve activity gives everyone a chance to scoop, stir, and join in the preparations.
Mix together:
½ cup of plain, uncooked rolled oats
A small pinch of colorful, edible sugar sprinkles
Divide the mixture among small bags or bowls, then head outside together to scatter a little on the lawn. Use edible sprinkles rather than craft glitter.
As you sprinkle, invite the children to imagine Rudolph spotting your home from the sky. You might say, “A little Christmas wish and a sprinkle of cheer—Rudolph and friends, we’re ready over here!”
If the weather isn’t cooperating, leave a little bowl beside Rudolph’s carrots instead. The fun is in preparing a welcome together.
“Where is Santa now?” may be the most frequently asked question of Christmas Eve!
Visit NORAD Tracks Santa on December 24 to follow Santa’s Christmas Eve journey. Gather around the screen for a few minutes and look at the places along his route.
For older children, it’s also a chance to find different countries on the map and talk about how families around the world celebrate Christmas.
Make one final tracker check part of your bedtime routine, then tuck everyone in with something wonderful to dream about.
You don’t need a packed schedule to make Christmas Eve special. Choose a few activities that fit your children’s ages and leave time to enjoy them.
Some simple favorites include:
Christmas pajamas and a family photo: Take a picture each year before setting out Santa’s treats.
A favorite holiday story: Read the same book every Christmas Eve, letting older children help with familiar lines.
A Christmas lights walk: Bundle up for a short stroll to enjoy the neighborhood decorations.
A moment of gratitude: Ask each person to share a favorite memory from the year.
A special bedtime song: Sing a Christmas carol together before saying goodnight.
Children grow, their handwriting changes, and their bedtime questions become a little different. But bringing out the same Santa and Rudolph plates can connect one Christmas Eve to the next.
Over time, those pieces become part of your family’s story: the cookies they carefully chose, the carrots they counted, and the excited goodnight before Christmas morning.
Start with a few little traditions, make them your own, and enjoy the magic of being together.
