Christmas Eve family night

What it is

A family tradition evening on 24 December. Everyone opens a Christmas Eve box, eats a relaxed buffet, plays games and goes through the bedtime rituals of leaving treats for Santa and his reindeer.

Plan ahead

• Two weeks before: fill a Christmas Eve box for each child (and adult!): new pyjamas, a book, a hot chocolate sachet, a small toy or treat.
• The day before: make or buy the buffet; it should need almost no cooking on the night.

Activities

• Christmas charades: films, songs and characters.
• Christmas quiz: easy questions for kids, harder for adults.
• Reindeer food: oats mixed with a little sugar (no glitter - it harms wildlife), sprinkled on the lawn.
• Track Santa: several websites show his journey around the world.
• The plate: a mince pie, a drink and a carrot for Rudolph.

Food and drink

• Buffet: pigs in blankets, sausage rolls, cheese board, smoked salmon, crisps
• Christmas cake or a yule log
• Hot chocolate and mulled wine

Tips

• Keep cooking to a minimum - tomorrow is the big day.
• Take a family photo in matching pyjamas.