Christmas is perhaps the most beautiful time of the year. People exchange presents, enjoy meals with their loved ones, and eagerly await the arrival of Santa Claus. While there is still some time for the grand day, individuals can drum up excitement by engaging in fun activities with their family and friends. Here are 11 exciting ideas to bring in the Christmas cheer, create new traditions, and give back to the community.

Deck the halls together
One of the easiest ways to get into the Christmas spirit and prepare the house for the festive season is by decorating together. So, gather the family (or roommates) for an evening of decorations. Many love to put up a tree, hang stockings, and install lights around the house to mark the beginning of Christmas festivities. This team-building exercise is a great way to knock off two birds with one stone—put up decorations and create a sense of togetherness and bonding.

Bake Christmas cookies
The festive season would be incomplete without all those delicious treats! Christmas cookies are perhaps the most popular snack around this time of year. So, consider setting up an afternoon of baking with friends and family. Decorating cookies with flavored dough and festive cookie cutters is an excellent way to have fun and get in touch with one’s creative side.

Host a Christmas movie marathon
The winter is usually marked by the release and comeback of festive movies. So, there’s perhaps nothing better than setting up a cozy indoor movie theater with blankets, popcorn, and sodas and inviting loved ones over. Scatter the movies across the Christmas season or have a marathon event.

Make personal Christmas cards
Besides baking and decorating cookies, preparing hand-made Christmas cards is another way to get creative. Set up a craft station at home with art supplies, glitter, and festive décor, where people can make their own cards to express their love, appreciation, and gratitude toward their friends and family. This adds a personal touch and can help loved ones spend time together. Other spectacular ways to use this creation station include:

• Making a countdown Christmas sign for the yard (an excellent idea to get children excited).
  
• Creating custom snowflakes with white paper and using them to decorate the windows.
• Making homemade wreaths or salt dough ornaments.
• Designing a paper chain decoration in red and green to hang around the house.

Have a themed scavenger hunt
Walk around the neighborhood and check out the decorations in other homes. Then, use this as a guide to create a local Christmas scavenger hunt for the family. Write down a set of clues, such as “the home with the Santa Claus display” or “the snowman wearing a Christmas hat,” and let people walk around town to find them.

Embrace kindness
Extend a little extra kindness around the holidays. Some quick ways to do so include:

• Leaving a big tip when eating at a restaurant or café.
• Writing a note or card for a stranger.
• Paying a genuine compliment.
• Using the magic words please, sorry, and thank you.

Come up with more ideas with family and friends, and follow them throughout the festive season!

Head to a community event
There are several community events across the country during this time of the year, such as tree-lighting ceremonies, parades, and carol groups. Take some time to explore these local events and join in on the celebrations! It’s a fabulous way to get into the Christmas spirit without splurging.

Try a Christmas fragrance
For most people, certain fragrances are reminiscent of Christmas. So, try to scent up the house with these smells. One easy way of doing so is by buying scented candles, essential oils, or incense sticks. Some people love making a simmer pot with simple ingredients like orange peels, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and fragrant flower petals. Let those nostalgic smells waft around the home and transport everyone into their Christmas dreamland!

Play Christmas carols
Carols are one of the most well-known traditions of Christmas. Get in the Christmas spirit by playing carols at home or take the family out for an evening of caroling. Visit local nursing homes or hospitals (with prior permission) and spread the festive joy with everyone!

Sign up with a charity organization
The holidays are also the season for giving. So, take this time to donate to charity organizations, such as food drives, soup kitchens, animal shelters, and non-profits. Another option is volunteering at nursing homes, orphanages, and shelters as a family. This can be a powerful bonding experience and an opportunity to interact and bring smiles to the larger community.

Host a Secret Santa
Add the element of surprise to those Christmas gifts with a Secret Santa event. See which friends and family members want to participate and create a list. Several websites can help people curate anonymous drawings. Set a time and place to meet to exchange these gifts or have them mailed to the other person for a fun and exciting gift exchange!

Christmas is all about having fun and spreading joy. If everything else feels overwhelming, just remember to smile, greet people, and wish them a Merry Christmas to lighten their mood!