December 1, 2021

The holiday season is a time to reflect on the good, connect with family and friends, and celebrate annual traditions. But it is easy to get caught up in the excitement so, how do you make each hour of the holiday season feel special?

Fun Things to do for the Holiday Season

Each family household has different holiday traditions. But here is a list of fun Christmas activities for kids and adults that you may add to the traditions this year.

Build a Gingerbread House

Are you looking for a Christmas activity that you can do from home? Nothing beats building something that you can eat after you are finished.

You have an option to learn how to make a gingerbread house at home. Gingerbread house recipes are just as fun to eat as they are to make and decorate. You can also make gingerbread men that go along with the house.

Supermarkets have gingerbread house kits during the holidays. The kits contain the bare essentials required to put up the four walls and roof of the house. Make your construction project more fun for the kids by adding a few treats from the candy aisle.

A few ideas to incorporate candy into your gingerbread house include:

  • Marshmallows for snowmen and snow bundles
  • Pretzel sticks for fence posts
  • Shredded coconut for snow on the roof or you can dye it green for grass
  • M&M’s for coloring the roof tiles

Go for a Holiday Lights Drive

The allure of giant candy canes, lighted snowflakes, gingerbread men, Santa Claus on a sleigh, and hundreds of lights strung from trees is enough to make one forget about the cold. A drive-through lights display is the best way to enjoy the show without freezing.

In the past, families would pile into the car and drive around their neighborhood to admire their neighbors’ lit-up yards. The drive today means so much more. It is a chance to see illuminated inflatables, lights dancing to music, and millions of twinkling lights.

Make sure you brew a thermos of hot chocolate, get into the car, and play holiday music as you see the best light shows near you.

Drive to a Tree Farm

It is easy to drive up to a megastore or parking lot and pick a tree, but this time of year is about creating memories. An exciting holiday activity for both kids and adults involves driving to a tree farm and selecting a tree that will look the best in your house.

Purchasing a tree close to home is an excellent way to start a new family tradition with several added benefits. This new tradition is good for the environment, the economy, and your local community. A trip to the tree farm is also a chance to snag a unique holiday décor.

The fresh fragrance of your evergreen tree also adds an instant holiday cheer to your home. It is also a constant reminder of the special day that you spent looking for it.

When choosing a tree, some things to keep in mind include:

  • Your requirements, such as space available, the tree’s ability to support the weight of your decorations, and the overall appearance of a tree
  • The species of tree you are choosing
  • The freshness of the tree

Help Your Kids Write a Letter to Santa—and Get a Reply

Maybe your 4-year-old wants to write to Santa, or your 9-year-old wants to confirm his existence. Perhaps, you want your kid to receive a letter from Santa that says getting a pet wild animal is not a good idea.

Fortunately, there are ways you can make communication with Santa happen.

The first option is a hand-written letter to Santa via USPS. Make sure you include the return address on the envelope so the postal workers do not lose the reply in the holiday mail. Teaching your kids letter writing skills and how to address an envelope is an excellent life skill to squeeze in during the holiday season.

The second option is to send an online letter to Santa for a personalized instant reply via Letters to Santa and Northpole.com Mailroom. Younger kids may need your help to read and send the emails and then check their mailbox.

Volunteer

You can also think about how you can give back to the less fortunate during the holiday season. After all, the best way to spread holiday cheer is to give back.

There are many holiday volunteer opportunities, some of them include:

  • Sponsoring a family—This means adopting a local family for gift giving through social service agencies. Databases such as VolunteerMatch match you with a family and suggest the gift they would appreciate.
  • Pack up kits—Create a family assembly line for bagging up supplies for low-income families in your location. Some things to include are bulk quantities of rice or pinto beans. Get in touch with your local food bank to help distribute the packs.
  • Visit—Many people are in care facilities and hospitals during the holiday season, and many of them do not receive visitors. You can help them feel less lonely by sharing your time and volunteering at the hospital. However, make sure you call the facility to find out the best time to visit and carry some homemade treats or small gifts.
  • Join educational organizations—While schools are closed for the winter break, their students may still require help. Some organizations, such as Let’s Get Ready, let you help students with their essays and college applications. org allows you to make a financial gift towards specific classroom projects.

Go up to New York for the Lights

Electric bills skyrocket throughout New York City as homes and established landmarks try to outdo one another during the holiday season. Driving up to the city lets you into a world of dazzling lights whichever direction you turn.

While all the seasonal decorations in NYC are beautiful, there are a few spectacular lights worth visiting, including:

Make Your Holiday Season Extra Special

As the holidays roll in, ‘tis the season to be jolly, and you can feel even more joyful by participating in these fun activities that are sure to fill you with cheer. Make your holiday season easy and affordable without breaking the bank. A vacation loan can come in handy to cover the costs.

Visit Mariner Finance and apply for a vacation loan today to cover the costs of the upcoming holiday season.

Blog posts are for informational purposes only.