Our Family’s Favorite Holiday Traditions + How We Do “Christmas School” in December
December is one of my favorite months of the year—not just because of the holidays, but because of the way everything feels a little more magical. Over the years, our family has created a handful of simple traditions that we look forward to every year, and because December can be such a busy season, we also switch to what we call “Christmas School”—a light, fun, festive way to keep learning while soaking in the holiday spirit.
Today I’m sharing some of our favorite holiday traditions around Charlotte and a peek into how we homeschool during December.
🎄 Cutting Down Our Christmas Tree at Penland Christmas Tree Farm
Our holiday season kicks off with a visit to Penland Christmas Tree Farm to choose and cut down our tree. The kids love searching for the perfect tree, and we always stay a little longer than we need to because the farm itself is such a beautiful and fun place to hang out.
Once we bring the tree home, we turn on Christmas music, pull out the ornament box, and decorate together. There’s a certain magic about the house filling with pine smell and twinkly lights, and it always feels like the official start of the season in our home.
🚗 Hot Cocoa + Christmas Lights Drive
Another tradition we never skip: grabbing hot cocoa and a snack and going on a Christmas lights drive around the city. We pile in the car, pick our favorite neighborhoods, and crank up our favorite festive music. It’s the simplest activity, yet it always ends up being one of the most memorable.
✂️ Holiday Crafts with Michaels Kids Workshops
Every year, Michaels hosts their Kids Club “12 Days of Christmas” Crafts starting December 1st, and we love joining in when we can! Their online classes are free, easy to follow, and available live or on-demand.
Some years we join the live virtual workshops, and other years we watch them later when it fits our schedule. Either way, the kids love getting creative, and I love that all the materials are easy to grab from Michaels.
🎢 WinterFest at Carowinds
One of the highlights of the season is visiting WinterFest at Carowinds. The lights, the music, and the rides have made this a must-do December outing for our family. The kids love the festive atmosphere, and it’s the perfect way to get out of the house and enjoy something magical together.
🍪 Cookie Baking Day
The week of Christmas, we’ll have our official cookie baking day. We spend the afternoon making our favorite holiday treats, usually a mix of classics like chocolate chip and peanut butter blossoms. The kids take over half the baking process, while I get to sneak in a baking lesson mixed with math and science.
⭐ How We Do “Christmas School” at Home
December tends to be extra full with activities, events, and family plans, so instead of trying to stick to our regular schedule, we switch to something lighter, more flexible, and more fun: Christmas School.
Here’s what Christmas School looks like for us:
📄 Fun Worksheets + Low-Prep Activities
I print out themed worksheets (usually courtesy of Teachers Pay Teachers)—math, writing, reading, puzzles, and games. It keeps the kids learning without feeling heavy and adds just enough structure to our school day.
📚 An Educational Holiday Series
Each year, I choose one focused topic for us to learn about throughout December.
Last year, we explored Holidays Around the World, learning traditions, foods, and celebrations from different cultures.
This year, we’re diving into the history behind the Christmas traditions we celebrate in the United States. Christmas trees, caroling, gingerbread houses, and more, all have a rich history that is surprisingly fascinating and educational. To add to the fun, we’ll take a field trip to visit Gingerbread Lane at Ballantyne Hotel to help bring our learning to life!
Christmas School allows us to keep learning, stay connected, and enjoy the season without feeling overwhelmed. It’s become one of our favorite parts of homeschooling.
❤️ Wrapping Up
From cutting down our tree to baking cookies, from WinterFest to Christmas School, December is a month of memories and magic in our home.
If you’re a homeschool family looking for ways to make December both fun and educational, Christmas School might become one of your favorite traditions too.
Let me know what some of your family’s favorite holiday traditions are. And don’t forget to check the calendar for more ideas and holiday happenings around Charlotte!
