Christmas is the time when we can get together with our nearest and dearest and be merry – the time when little rituals can mean so much. An evening spent making cookies with the kids or writing cards to friends can strengthen bonds with the people we love most.

So whether you'll be cosying up on your own or looking for new ways to have fun with your family, these new Christmas tradition ideas will become a custom in your home year after year. Click or scroll through for inspiration...

There are so many wonderful ways to keep family traditions alive during the holiday season, and one of the best has to be decorating the tree with special ornaments.

Whether they’re family heirlooms passed down for generations, souvenirs from holidays, or works of children’s art, make the most of the memories by talking about what makes each ornament significant.

There is something about Christmas that makes us all behave festively foolish in a way we probably wouldn't the rest of the year, so wearing matching clothes during the holidays is A-OK!  

Whether it's a novelty Christmas jumper or a whole family of matching snuggly pyjamas, the silly seasonal attire adds to the Christmas excitement. 

Hot chocolate is the perfect winter treat, so why not create your own hot chocolate station? Style up a corner of a kitchen worktop with a tray and add jars of hot drink toppers and syrups. 

There are so many ways you can make it festive with just a few simple seasonal additions. Try stirring in a candy cane for a minty kick, adding a sprinkle of cinnamon and cloves for a warming finish, or dropping in some novelty Christmas marshmallows that kids will just adore!

Fill up the firepit and head outside with blankets and mugs of hot chocolate for an alfresco night out under the stars in your garden.

Choose a clear night when you have just finished the outdoor Christmas decorations and enjoy your very own light show Scandi style.

Keep the magic of Christmas alive by encouraging the kids to write letters to Santa.

Not only does this beloved tradition inspire young imaginations, but it helps remind them to be appreciative and to think about the importance of giving.

Make Christmas tree decorations memorable by making them yourself. It's a festive activity that will bring the family together that can be continued each year.

Set up a Santa's workshop-style space and paint or embellish ornaments on blank decorations bought from craft shops. 

While most families gather for a big festive feast on Christmas day, why not make Christmas Eve just as special with a formal dinner?

Cook up some seasonal favourites, lay a beautiful table, break out the crackers, and start the big day a bit early!

Dress your bed for the holiday season with fun Christmas bed linen. This is a super simple swap out that will transform the look and feel of your bedroom in an instant.

Add to the cosy scene with an indoor wreath and a small bedside table display of fragrant festive foliage in a vase. 

Add festive fort-making to your Christmas activities and feel like a kid again no matter what the situation is outside.

Create a Christmas grotto with twinkling fairy lights, a gingerbread-style house full of festive treats or hygge up your home with a snuggly family den that is perfect for enjoying a warming punch and Christmas stories next to the tree. 

Pets are part of the family so now's the time to spoil them rotten.

From novelty Christmas coats to animal-friendly festive treats and pet palaces your furry friends will love being involved during the 'howlidays'.

Treasure hunts aren't just for Easter or pirate parties! Why not wrap up warm and head outside for a Christmas present hunt in the garden?

Laminated pictures and clues (which will withstand any wet or snowy weather) can lead to a pile of gifts and perhaps a warming cocoa at the end of the game. 

Stockings hung by the fire are an age-old Christmas tradition, but why not give them an update by adding embellishments and name tags for a unique touch for each?

And, don't worry if you don't have a genuine mantelpiece as a Christmas stocking weight or holder means your new creations can be hung almost anywhere. 

Involve the children by transforming their bedroom into a Christmas grotto. Start with a mini Christmas tree and then let them choose their theme or colourway. They could paint their ornaments and make paper Christmas wreaths and garlands too.

Plus, it's a way to steer the bright and bling decorations their way if you prefer a more sophisticated decorating theme in the rest of the house. 

Join the crusade against non-recyclable plastic by making more sustainable Christmas crackers for the Christmas table setting. For these eco-friendly table toppers, all you need is three toilet roll centres, recyclable wrapping paper, twine and cracker snaps.

Then, fill them with personalised presents that last or sweets that can be quickly devoured by hungry guests. 

If it's too chilly to go out to sing carols this year, gather around the piano to perform festive songs together indoors. It's a nostalgic tradition that never tires and can be brought up to date by downloading a singalong Christmas playlist.

Or why not invite round the family and do some Christmas karaoke with relatives who can hold a high note? 

Make or buy an advent calendar that can be brought out, year after year. Again, this is a more sustainable and fun way to count down to December 25th.

Fill the drawers or pouches with sweets, candy, small toys and little notes offering good cheer each day.

Christmas Eve boxes get more popular each year. The idea is a to gift a personalised box to children or loved ones on the 24th December that starts the magic of Christmas day a little early.

What's inside is down to personal choice – they usually contain objects that make Christmas Eve all the more fun. Try novelty pyjamas, a Christmas mug or a gift for little ones to leave out for Santa. The suggestions are endless!

If you have children, then it's likely you will have heard of the troublesome Elf On The Shelf. But if you prefer not to commit to the full pixie project, there are plenty of other ways to sprinkle a little elf magic around the house. These cheeky figures make lovely advent calendar gifts.

Or instead, perhaps try tiny elf props, Santa's magic key, food for reindeer or elf-shaped cookies could appear somewhere in the house in the lead up to Christmas.

Be sure your games cupboard is fully stocked with Christmas-inspired quizzes and activities to keep the entertainment flowing throughout the holidays. Double the fun by giving games a festive twist.

Who Am I can be adapted by guessing Christmas characters, Bingo cards could have a festive theme and forget the donkey, when there is Pin The Red Nose On Rudolph instead. 

We simply can't bake enough sweet treats at Christmas so why not perfect a showstopping Christmas cake?

From a Yuletide chocolate log to a winter wonderland of white chocolate frosting, it will no doubt wow family and friends. 

Decorate your front door with Christmas decorations that set you apart from the rest. Add the all-important wreath and have fun with props and potted firs for an evergreen forest look.

Then, take a Christmas stroll one evening to enjoy other homes' outdoor decorating displays in the neighbourhood.

Start a family gingerbread recipe by trying out different versions and then create an incredible gingerbread village display. Hobbycraft has downloadable templates that include three house variations and a how-to recipe.

When it's ready to be demolished, create a voting system to decide on the most delicious dwelling.

A huge part of Christmas is food, so start the feast early on Christmas morning with a delicious festive kitchen breakfast.

Indulge with a menu that's fancier than usual and get little ones involved by helping with easy extras like toast and fruit. 

Christmas is about giving, and it’s always incredibly important to remember that not everyone is lucky enough to celebrate the season with big meals, gifts, and cosy firesides.

Take the opportunity to teach children about giving back – gather up outgrown clothes, books and toys and donate to a local charity shop which will help make someone else’s holiday a bit brighter.

Thanks to technology and social media, the art of Christmas card sending and receiving has slowed in recent years. So now is the perfect time to resurrect the long-standing tradition by dusting off your address book.

Why not DIY cards or have a fun Christmas family photo session to get the perfect seasonal snap that can be turned into Christmas cards online?

Continue the gifting ritual by starting an extra present exchange just before Christmas dinner.

Choose a game with a set low budget (it's all the more fun) such as Secret Santa, or a Santa's sack lucky dip. Guessing who bought what after dinner is so much fun. 

There are so many classic Christmas movies that will make you laugh, cry, cringe, and everything in between. So, pop some corn, heat up some cocoa, and prepare to get cosy with whatever your favourite Christmas film might be.

There’s nothing better than curling up by a twinkling tree or a crackling fire with a nostalgic, feel-good flick!

Read more: 30 Style shortcuts for no-hassle Christmas décor