Christmas is usually the time when we can get together with our nearest and dearest and be merry. While this year could be a little different, there is no need to put the holidays on hold. Now is 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. 

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. 

There are so many Christmas movies to watch we could probably play one every day of the year. So, clear an afternoon or whole weekend, to binge watch some festive film favourites. Get the full cinema experience, like Fresh Mommy Blog – pull out the projector, pop on the festive pyjamas and serve popcorn and sweets from a Christmas snack station. 

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.

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! As we are being encouraged to social distance outdoors, 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 with time on our hands 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. 

If you can't 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, Christmas karaoke, or a Zoom call 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 Rudolf instead. 

We simply can't bake enough sweet treats at Christmas so why not use these quieter times to 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. And, if they can't be there to enjoy the dessert, the pictures will certainly make them jealous. 

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

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, Yankee Swap or a Santa's sack lucky dip. Guessing who bought what after dinner is so much fun. 

If you can't take a Christmas vacation then bring the holiday vibe home with a wintery wallpaper mural that can be easily removed after the festive period. This Snowy scene of Central Park conjures up the spirit of Christmas in New York entirely. 

Decorate the hallway console table with fragrant candles, pretty ornaments and festive foliage. Then, echo the scene by wrapping the banister with a matching garland and twinkling lights. If guests are sparse this year the decked entryway will warm the heart every time you return home from an errand run.

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. 

There is something about Christmas that makes us all behave festively foolish in a way we probably wouldn't the rest of the year and 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. 

Give your home a celebrity vibe and set up a cocktail evening. Why not set up a Zoom call with friends and family to enjoy a virtual cocktail making class? What a fun new tradition to learn how to make delicious festive drinks together. Once mastered, you can then enjoy the refreshments year after year once we are all back together. 

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. 

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