Christmas is a really special time in our lives. It is a time of year where people come together, catch up and spend quality time with each other. Family traditions are a really big part of what makes Christmas so exciting for people. Little and large rituals come to be the check-points that structure the holiday season. Having the opportunity to share those traditions with our children is a really special experience.

When two people start a family together these traditions and rituals begin to merge and before you know it the time has come to create some of your very own traditions together.

Here are some really lovely Christmas Eve traditions to start this year with your family

This can be as simple or as extravagant as you would like it to be. All you need is some kind of box (a shoe box covered in wrapping paper is perfect) and to fill it with some goodies. The idea is that the treats inside the box are to be enjoyed on Christmas eve itself. A Christmas themed DVD or book is something a lot of people include. You can add Christmas PJs or socks as well as treats like popcorn, hot chocolate and Candy Canes.

The wonderful thing about this tradition is that you can tailor-make it to suit your family. You could pick up a larger box and do a combined Christmas eve box for the whole family or you can do smaller individual ones. It is a lovely tradition to start and as the kids get older you can alter it to include different items such as board games, bath bombs and face masks etc.

We all love to leave a treat out for Santa but how lovely would it be to make a special treat for him yourself? This is a lovely tradition to start with the kids. This year he might enjoy Brownies but next year cookies could be on the agenda. What a lovely ritual to share with the kids.

With all the excitement of Santa stopping by the kids may be feeling restless and possibly even a little anxious on Christmas Eve. Encouraging all of the kids to sleep in the same room is a really sweet idea. They’ll stay up late whispering and wondering about when Santa will arrive and what he might bring but they’ll soon drift off only to wake up together in a fit of excitement for the day ahead.

A lot of people take an annual trip out to The Phoenix Park on Christmas eve or the days leading up to it. How exciting to see Santa’s helpers up close and personal. Just remember that the official rules are that the deer are not to be fed. It is also important to keep your distance for the safety of you and your children.

Gingerbread house sets are available in pretty much every supermarket in the lead up to Christmas. It is a great way to gather the kids in one space and do something creative together. This is a tradition that we plan to start this year at our house and I’m really looking forward to it.

Tracey is a happy mammy to four-year-old Billy. She is a breastfeeder, gentle parent and has recently lost five stone so healthy family eating is her passion! You can find her at www.loveofliving.ie.