12 Days of Christmas Activities: Fun Ideas for Families, Work, and School
The holiday season is the perfect time to spread joy, and what better way to celebrate than with 12 days of Christmas activities?
Whether you’re looking for fun ideas for families, engaging activities for kids at school, or festive challenges for the workplace, this guide will help you make the countdown to Christmas even more magical.
From 12 days of Christmas activities for adults to creative ideas for preschoolers, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
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Get ready to fill your holiday calendar with festive cheer and exciting activities that make every day leading up to Christmas unforgettable.
🎄 12 Days of Christmas Family Activities to Create Magical Memories
The holiday season is the perfect time to strengthen family bonds and make lasting memories. Here are some family-friendly ideas to get everyone involved in the spirit of Christmas:
1. Decorate the Christmas Tree Together
Start your 12 days of Christmas with a joyful family tree-decorating party. Put on your favorite Christmas playlist, pour mugs of hot cocoa, and unpack your treasured ornaments. You can make it extra special by crafting a few new decorations together—think salt dough ornaments, photo baubles, or even DIY ribbon garlands. Let each family member hang an ornament that holds a special memory, turning your Christmas tree into a collection of family stories.
2. Christmas Movie Night
There’s nothing cozier than gathering under a blanket to watch a classic Christmas movie. Prepare a tray with popcorn, candy canes, and marshmallow-topped hot chocolate. Let a different family member pick the movie each night—whether it’s Home Alone, The Grinch, or The Polar Express. You could even turn it into a “12 Days of Christmas Movie Marathon” with themed snacks to match each film.
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3. Bake Christmas Cookies
The smell of fresh-baked cookies instantly fills the home with cheer. Spend an evening baking festive cookies together—gingerbread men, sugar cookies, or peppermint crinkles. Kids will love decorating with icing, sprinkles, and edible glitter. Package extras in tins to gift to neighbors or friends.
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4. Christmas Crafting Night
Set aside a night for creativity! Gather supplies like glitter, colored paper, markers, and ribbon to make homemade Christmas cards, ornaments, or gifts. You can even try DIY snow globes or mason jar candle holders. This is a wonderful way to encourage kids to make something from the heart while creating keepsakes you’ll cherish year after year.
5. Host a Family Game Night
Bring on the laughter with a festive family game night. Dust off your favorite board games or play Christmas-themed charades, trivia, or bingo. You can even create your own holiday scavenger hunt around the house. Add in some prizes like candy canes or small stocking stuffers for extra fun.
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6. Visit a Christmas Light Display
Pile into the car, turn on Christmas music, and take a drive to see the best holiday light displays in your area. Many towns host elaborate walk-through or drive-through displays. Don’t forget to bring along thermoses of cocoa and cozy blankets for the ride. It’s a simple but magical way to enjoy the season’s sparkle together.
7. Write Letters to Santa
Make a fun family night out of writing letters to Santa Claus! Younger kids can share their Christmas wishes, while older children can write thank-you notes for blessings they’re grateful for. Seal the letters with stickers and festive stamps, then “mail” them to the North Pole—or tuck them away as a memory keepsake for years to come.
8. Read Christmas Books by the Fire
Snuggle up with cozy blankets and a glowing fire (or even a YouTube fireplace!) and read a different Christmas book each night. Choose classics like The Night Before Christmas or modern favorites like Bear Stays Up for Christmas. You can also create a 12 Days of Christmas Reading List, unwrapping a new book each evening for a fun surprise.
9. Host a Family Talent Show
Turn your living room into a festive stage! Let everyone showcase a holiday-themed talent—singing carols, telling Christmas jokes, reciting poems, or performing short skits. You can even record the show to create a holiday video memory that becomes an annual tradition.
10. Attend a Christmas Concert or Church Service
Music is at the heart of Christmas. Attend a local holiday concert, choir performance, or church service to truly feel the spirit of the season. Singing carols together or listening to live music can be a beautiful way to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the meaning of Christmas.
11. Make a Gingerbread House
Spend an evening building your very own gingerbread masterpiece. Use a store-bought kit or bake your own gingerbread pieces from scratch. Decorate with icing, candy, and plenty of imagination. Make it a friendly competition or collaborate as a team to create a sugary winter wonderland.
12. Christmas Eve Pajama Party
Wrap up your 12 days of Christmas celebration with a cozy Christmas Eve pajama party. Everyone can wear matching holiday pajamas, snack on cookies, and share stories about favorite Christmas memories. Read ’Twas the Night Before Christmas together and set out cookies and milk for Santa before bedtime. It’s the perfect way to end the countdown and welcome Christmas morning with love and laughter.
12 Days of Christmas Activities for Work to Boost Office Holiday Spirit
The workplace doesn’t have to be all business during the holidays! Bringing a little festive fun into your office can help boost morale, strengthen teamwork, and make December feel merry and bright. Hosting 12 Days of Christmas activities for work is a great way to spread cheer, encourage creativity, and show appreciation for your team’s hard work all year long.
Below are twelve creative and easy-to-organize ideas that will transform your workplace into a joyful, engaging, and connected community this holiday season.
1. Desk Decoration Contest
Kick off your 12 days of festivities with a Desk Decoration Contest! Encourage employees to decorate their workspaces with Christmas themes—think twinkling lights, tinsel, mini trees, or even funny cubicle makeovers. Set a judging day at the end of the week and offer small prizes for categories like Most Creative, Most Festive, and Best Team Theme. Not only does this add color to the office, but it also creates friendly competition and lots of laughter.
2. Secret Santa Gift Exchange
No holiday season feels complete without a Secret Santa! Set a budget (like $10–$20) and have everyone draw names anonymously. Encourage thoughtful or funny gifts that reflect the recipient’s personality. You can even host a gift-reveal party where everyone opens their presents together. It’s a fun and meaningful way to build camaraderie and spread kindness.
3. Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
Bring out everyone’s inner fashion faux pas with an Ugly Christmas Sweater Day! Whether it’s covered in jingle bells, blinking lights, or reindeer patterns, the wackier, the better. Organize a mini runway walk or vote for winners in categories like Funniest Sweater or Most Original Design. This easy activity always sparks laughter and lightens the workplace mood.
4. Holiday Potluck Lunch
Food brings people together—and a holiday potluck lunch is a delicious way to celebrate. Ask employees to bring their favorite homemade dish, dessert, or traditional holiday recipe. Decorate the breakroom with festive tablecloths and music to set the mood. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn about different cultural traditions and share a meal as one big office family.
5. Christmas Charades or Pictionary
Take a break from the work grind with some laughter-filled holiday-themed games like Charades or Pictionary. Use prompts like “wrapping presents,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” or “building a snowman.” Games like these encourage teamwork, communication, and a few hilarious moments that everyone will remember.
6. Office Christmas Bingo
Turn everyday office moments into holiday fun with Christmas Bingo! Create cards filled with festive actions like “wore red today,” “drank hot cocoa,” or “complimented someone’s sweater.” Distribute them at the start of the day or week and offer small prizes for the first few people to get Bingo. It’s a simple, low-effort way to keep the festive energy flowing all day long.
7. Cookie Decorating Contest
Sweeten up the office with a Cookie Decorating Contest! Provide plain sugar cookies, frosting, sprinkles, and edible decorations, then let creativity shine. You’ll be amazed at the artistic (and sometimes hilarious) results. Give awards for Most Creative Cookie, Best Theme, and Most Delicious-Looking. This activity doubles as a team-building event and a tasty treat break!
8. Holiday Trivia Challenge
Bring out everyone’s competitive side with a Holiday Trivia Challenge. Prepare questions about Christmas songs, movies, traditions, and even company holiday history. Play individually or in teams and keep score for fun prizes like gift cards or extra coffee vouchers. It’s an engaging way to combine learning and laughter during lunch breaks.
9. Christmas-Themed Team Building
Strengthen connections with holiday-inspired team-building activities. You might decorate the office Christmas tree together, organize a gift drive for a local charity, or volunteer as a group at a community event. These shared experiences create lasting bonds and remind everyone what the season of giving is truly about.
10. Hot Cocoa & Coffee Bar
Give your coffee station a festive makeover by setting up a Hot Cocoa & Coffee Bar! Offer whipped cream, candy canes, marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, and flavored syrups so employees can customize their drinks. Add some holiday mugs and cheerful signs for that Instagram-worthy touch. It’s an easy morale booster that warms both hearts and hands.
11. Holiday Playlist Contest
Music sets the mood! Invite everyone to submit their favorite Christmas songs and create a collaborative office playlist. From classics like White Christmas to modern hits by Mariah Carey, you’ll get a great mix of styles and memories. You can even have a mini competition to see whose song gets the most votes as “Office Favorite.”
12. Christmas Eve Breakfast
Wrap up your 12 days of Christmas activities for work with a cozy Christmas Eve breakfast before the holiday break. Serve pancakes, pastries, and seasonal drinks while everyone reflects on the year’s successes and shares a few laughs. It’s the perfect send-off before everyone heads home to celebrate with their loved ones.
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🎄 12 Days of Christmas Activities for School: Fun & Educational Classroom Ideas
The holiday season is a magical time for students—and it’s the perfect opportunity to make learning extra joyful! Bringing 12 Days of Christmas activities for school into your classroom keeps students excited, engaged, and full of holiday cheer. Whether you teach preschoolers or upper elementary kids, these festive activities balance fun with meaningful learning moments.
Here are twelve creative, classroom-friendly ideas to celebrate the season while building teamwork, creativity, and kindness.
1. Christmas-Themed Crafts
Kick off the festivities with a hands-on Christmas craft session. Let students create ornaments, paper snowflakes, or handmade Christmas cards to bring home. Provide materials like glitter, ribbons, buttons, and colored paper, and watch their imaginations shine. You can even set up craft stations for different projects—like pinecone ornaments, popsicle stick trees, or paper garlands. These crafts make great keepsakes for parents and help students practice fine motor skills.
2. Holiday Storytime
There’s nothing quite like the magic of a Christmas story to spark imagination. Read a different holiday-themed book each day, followed by a short discussion about the story’s message—kindness, generosity, or the joy of giving. Some classroom favorites include How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Polar Express, and Bear Stays Up for Christmas. You can also have students illustrate their favorite scene or write their own alternate ending.
3. Christmas Around the World
Take your students on a global adventure with a Christmas Around the World theme! Teach them how different countries celebrate the holiday—like Germany’s Christmas markets, Mexico’s Las Posadas, or Japan’s love for festive lights. Assign each student (or group) a country to research, then let them create a short presentation, poster, or art project. It’s a fun way to incorporate geography, culture, and art all in one lesson.
4. Write Letters to Santa or the North Pole
One of the most heartwarming classroom activities is writing letters to Santa Claus. Encourage students to express not only what gifts they want but also what good deeds they’ve done this year or what they’re thankful for. Younger children can draw pictures instead of writing full letters, while older students can practice formal letter writing skills. Create a classroom “North Pole mailbox” to collect all the letters!
5. Christmas Song Sing-Along
Nothing brings people together like music! Organize a Christmas carol sing-along where students can perform favorites such as Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, or Frosty the Snowman. You can even add simple instruments like bells or tambourines for extra fun. This is a wonderful way to build confidence and celebrate the spirit of togetherness.
6. 12 Days of Kindness Challenge
Encourage compassion and character development with a 12 Days of Kindness Challenge. Each day, give students a small kindness goal—like helping a classmate, saying thank you to the janitor, or writing a kind note to a friend. Create a kindness bulletin board to track their good deeds with stars or stickers. It’s a beautiful reminder that the holiday season is about giving, not just receiving.
7. Holiday Coloring Sheets
Sometimes, a little calm creativity is all you need. Provide Christmas-themed coloring sheets featuring trees, reindeer, snowmen, and Santa. Add sparkly markers, crayons, and glitter glue for a festive touch. This is a relaxing activity to start the morning, wind down after recess, or fill a few minutes before dismissal. Display the finished artwork on your classroom walls or door for a cheerful winter gallery!
8. Christmas Dress-Up Days
Add a playful twist to your week with themed dress-up days. Students can come in their coziest pajamas for Pajama Day, show off Santa hats for Christmas Hat Day, or wear festive colors for Red and Green Day. It’s a simple but highly anticipated way to keep spirits high all week long. Teachers can join in too—it’s a great way to build connection and fun classroom memories!
9. Christmas-Themed Math Games
Who says math can’t be merry? Turn lessons into fun with Christmas-themed math games. Try activities like “Snowball Counting” for younger students or “Reindeer Math Relay Races” for older kids. Use story problems featuring Santa’s sleigh, presents, or elves to make math engaging and festive. These games keep learning on track while adding a sprinkle of seasonal excitement.
10. Classroom Christmas Party
As the holidays approach, host a small classroom Christmas party on the final day before winter break. Include holiday snacks, hot chocolate, music, and simple games like Christmas Bingo or Pin the Nose on Rudolph. Encourage students to exchange cards or small treats and celebrate all their hard work from the semester.
11. Christmas Science Experiments
Bring some magic to your classroom with holiday-themed science experiments! Try making “snow slime” with glitter and shaving cream, creating a baking soda and vinegar “Christmas volcano,” or growing a “magic crystal Christmas tree.” These experiments blend fun and learning, introducing scientific concepts through hands-on holiday excitement.
12. Christmas Tree Decorating
End your 12 days with a joyful classroom tree-decorating session. Set up a small artificial Christmas tree and let students hang their handmade ornaments, paper chains, or name tags. Play Christmas music in the background and take class photos by the finished tree. It’s a heartwarming way to celebrate creativity, teamwork, and the season’s spirit before heading into the holiday break.
12 Days of Christmas Activities for Adults
The holiday season isn’t just for kids — adults can enjoy 12 Days of Christmas activities too! Whether it’s with friends or as a couple, here are some fun and festive ideas for adults:
- Christmas Cocktail Making
Learn how to make festive cocktails and enjoy them together in a cozy setting.
- Holiday Baking Challenge
Host a baking competition where friends or family can compete to create the best holiday treats.
- Christmas Movie Marathon
Set up a movie marathon featuring classic and modern Christmas films, complete with festive snacks.
- Attend a Holiday Market
Visit a local Christmas market to shop for gifts, enjoy festive foods, and take in the holiday atmosphere.
- Volunteer at a Charity Event
Give back by volunteering at a local charity event, food bank, or toy drive.
- Christmas Lights Tour
Take a group of friends or loved ones on a tour of the best Christmas lights in your area.
- Christmas-Themed Book Club
Read a holiday novel and discuss it over hot drinks with your book club.
- DIY Christmas Gifts Night
Gather friends to create homemade gifts for loved ones, from candles to personalized ornaments.
- Christmas Karaoke Night
Host a karaoke night featuring all your favorite Christmas songs.
- Holiday Photoshoot
Set up a fun, festive photoshoot with friends or family, complete with props and ugly Christmas sweaters.
- Gingerbread House Competition
Have a competition to see who can build and decorate the best gingerbread house.
- Attend a Christmas Concert or Show
Finish your 12 days by attending a festive concert, ballet, or theater performance.
Conclusion
Whether you’re planning for families, work, school, or adults, the 12 Days of Christmas activities offer endless opportunities to spread holiday cheer.
From cozy nights at home with loved ones to fun events at work or school, there are so many ways to make each day leading up to Christmas special.
Choose your favorite ideas, get creative, and let the festivities begin!
