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.
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 Activities for Families
Content Summery
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:
- Decorate the Christmas Tree Together
Start your 12 days with a family tree-decorating party. Make ornaments or hang meaningful decorations together.
- Christmas Movie Night
Watch a classic Christmas movie with hot cocoa and popcorn. Let different family members choose the movie each night.
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- Bake Christmas Cookies
Spend an evening baking cookies and decorating them with festive icing and sprinkles.
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- Christmas Crafting Night
Make homemade Christmas cards or gifts for friends and family.
- Host a Family Game Night
Bring out holiday-themed board games or play festive charades to keep the fun going.
- Visit a Christmas Light Display
Find a local light display or take a drive around the neighborhood to see the best-decorated houses.
- Write Letters to Santa
Have the kids write letters to Santa, expressing their Christmas wishes.
- Read Christmas Books by the Fire
Choose a different Christmas-themed book to read each night. You can also create your own 12 days of Christmas reading list.
- Host a Family Talent Show
Let everyone show off their holiday-themed talents — from singing carols to performing Christmas skits.
- Attend a Christmas Concert or Church Service
Find a local event that offers holiday music or attend a Christmas Eve service to round out the celebrations.
- Make a Gingerbread House
Spend an evening building and decorating gingerbread houses as a family.
- Christmas Eve Pajama Party
End your 12 days with a cozy Christmas Eve pajama party, complete with stories, snacks, and preparing for Santa’s arrival.
12 Days of Christmas Activities for Work
The workplace doesn’t have to be all business during the holidays. Organizing 12 Days of Christmas activities for work can help boost morale and foster teamwork. Here are some festive ideas to bring holiday cheer to your office:
- Desk Decoration Contest
Encourage employees to decorate their workspaces and hold a contest for the best-decorated desk.
- Secret Santa Gift Exchange
A classic gift exchange where employees anonymously give small presents to one another.
- Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
Invite everyone to wear their ugliest Christmas sweaters and vote on the best (or worst) one.
- Holiday Potluck Lunch
Have employees bring in their favorite holiday dishes for a festive shared lunch.
- Christmas Charades or Pictionary
Take a break with some light-hearted team-building games like Christmas-themed charades or Pictionary.
- Office Christmas Bingo
Create a Bingo card with holiday-related tasks (e.g., “compliment someone’s Christmas sweater”) and offer prizes for the first person to get Bingo.
- Cookie Decorating Contest
Bring in pre-baked cookies and let employees decorate them with holiday designs. The best-decorated cookie wins a prize!
- Holiday Trivia Challenge
Test your team’s knowledge of Christmas movies, songs, and traditions with a fun trivia game.
- Christmas-Themed Team Building
Engage in activities like decorating the office Christmas tree or organizing a holiday charity event as a team.
- Hot Cocoa & Coffee Bar
Set up a festive beverage station with hot cocoa, coffee, whipped cream, and holiday sprinkles for everyone to enjoy.
- Holiday Playlist Contest
Invite employees to submit their favorite Christmas songs and create a collaborative office playlist.
- Christmas Eve Breakfast
End the 12 days with a festive breakfast on Christmas Eve to celebrate the season before the holiday break.
12 Days of Christmas Activities for School
Bring holiday excitement into the classroom with 12 Days of Christmas activities for school that are educational and fun. Here are some great ways to engage students:
- Christmas-Themed Crafts
Have students make ornaments, paper snowflakes, or Christmas cards to take home.
- Holiday Storytime
Read a Christmas story to the class every day and discuss the message or theme of each one.
- Christmas Around the World
Teach students how Christmas is celebrated in different cultures and have them create art projects or presentations based on what they learn.
- Write Letters to Santa or the North Pole
Let students write letters to Santa, expressing their holiday wishes and dreams.
- Christmas Song Sing-Along
Organize a classroom sing-along with classic Christmas carols to get everyone in the holiday spirit.
- 12 Days of Kindness Challenge
Encourage students to perform a small act of kindness each day, such as helping a classmate or writing a thank-you note to a teacher.
- Holiday Coloring Sheets
Provide festive coloring sheets and let the kids decorate them with glitter, markers, and crayons.
- Christmas Dress-Up Days
Organize themed dress-up days, such as Pajama Day, Christmas Hat Day, or Red and Green Day.
- Christmas-Themed Math Games
Make learning fun by incorporating Christmas-themed math puzzles or games into your lessons.
- Classroom Christmas Party
Host a small classroom party on the last day of school before the holiday break with snacks, music, and games.
- Christmas Science Experiments
Try out fun holiday-themed science experiments, such as making snow slime or creating a “magic” Christmas tree.
- Christmas Tree Decorating
Have students decorate a classroom Christmas tree with handmade ornaments or crafts.
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!
