How do you create holiday magic in your home?

While experiencing holiday magic as a kid was amazing, the gift we get as parents to make that magic and spread joy is wildly special. When our kids remember Christmas, they'll carry with them the feeling. To quote Helen Keller, "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched—they must be felt with the heart." And, as Ali shares, "Since my kids were babies, I’ve always said, “The magic of Santa is real!” Because even as they’ve grown older, I want them to understand that the magic is real — it’s us. We are the ones who create those moments of wonder and joy." Below, we each share the special things that we do during December to keep that magic alive. From the slow moments, to the baking, the elf, the lights, the daily reminders, we share our favorite magical ideas.

Rebecca, Woman's Leadership Coach from @PleasantlyAggressive

Eating all day while still in pajamas definitely makes holiday break feel like a BREAK! For teenagers, it's all about the presents, but they also love the downtime of Christmas break. Each year, we try to buy some gifts that we can enjoy together. Last year, it was a tabletop pickleball game, and this year, it will be some new board games. We also try to find individual gifts for the kids to dig into over break. They will still make Lego sets, but it could also be a new computer, piece of technology, or gear that they can tinker with.

Underneath it all is a lot of cooking. Since my husband and I take most of the 2 weeks off with the kids, I’ll spend most days baking and cooking our favorite meals while a fire burns in the fireplace and Christmas music or a Christmas movie plays in the background. The overall vibe is “we have no place to be, so let’s just take our time,” which feels like the opposite of how we live most of the year, which makes it feel pretty magical.

Ashley, Millennial Mom Nutrition Coach from @AshleyBreaksTheCycle

Holiday magic in our house is all about simple traditions done together. I hold off on decorating until after Thanksgiving. I’m a firm believer that turkey deserves its own moment! But once we pull out the bins, the kids fully take over the tree. No perfection, no matching ornaments—just pure joy, creativity, and memories layered year after year.

My oldest daughter has officially taken over the elves this season, which brings her so much joy… and frees me from late-night “elf panic,” so it’s a win-win. This year, we’re staying home for Christmas, and I’m genuinely excited to soak up more slow family time. One tradition I’m bringing back is attending Christmas Eve church with my kids—something I loved doing with my mom growing up. Singing carols together always made the holiday feel real to me.

And, one of the most magical things our town does? The luminaria bags that line every street on Christmas Eve. We drive around in our pajamas looking at the glowing neighborhoods—it feels like a movie every time.

Add in cozy nights, holiday cards hung in the kitchen, and the kids buzzing with excitement… and that’s how we make the season feel special. It’s short, but we make the most of every minute.

Emilee, Book Aficionado from @The BookClubCart

We travel over Thanksgiving, so I usually like to have most of my decorations up by then. However, we always save the tree for Thanksgiving weekend when we come home to decorate together and that always feels like the true start of the holiday season.

A couple years ago a friend suggested we add the Star From Afar to our Christmas traditions, and it has become a family favorite! Like Elf on the Shelf, we move the Nativity star each night and then in the morning the kids have to find it and move the 3 wise men under the star. It is so fun watching them get excited about it. YES we have an Elf too. Lots of excitement each morning in our house!

We have a very busy basketball season in the month of December, but we try to make time for a couple exciting Christmas-filled moments; whether that is a day in Chicago, a Santa brunch, or driving around to see holiday lights.

As for adult holiday magic, one of my favorite traditions has been our book club’s holiday party each year. This year we have a theme and we are making it a couple’s night! I also loved our Christmas cocktail/book pairing Ali and I created last year for The Book Club Cart. That was such a fun series!

Holiday magic is so fun to create and enjoy, I always find it hard to take down our Christmas decorations. I usually keep it up until after New Years. I am never ready to say goodbye to the pretty lights and the holiday coziness!

Ali, Book Aficionado from @The BookClubCart

This time of year is when I truly come alive! I think I wake up every morning with the same excitement as Christmas morning itself. There’s just something about the magic of the holidays that fills every corner of our home and my heart.

Since my kids were babies, I’ve always said, “The magic of Santa is real!” Because even as they’ve grown older, I want them to understand that the magic is real — it’s us. We are the ones who create those moments of wonder and joy.

For us, holiday magic shows up in both the big and small things. We start by reminding our kids that giving back is one of the most magical parts of the season — that we’re lucky to have the chance to give and spread kindness. Our elves also play a big role in the fun! My husband and I love coming up with creative ideas (even if it means a few late nights). Those years of innocence and imagination are so precious, and we soak up every one of them.

Christmas Eve is another favorite tradition —the kids mix up their own special blend of oatmeal, sprinkles, and edible glitter to make reindeer food. Watching them dash around the yard in their Christmas pajamas, giggling as they toss it into the night, is one of those moments I’ll never forget.

And of course, baking is a must in our house. From sugar cookies to gingerbread, we spend the month of December in a cloud of flour and laughter, creating memories one batch at a time.

To me, that’s the true holiday magic — the laughter, the giving, the belief, and the joy that fills our home all season long.

Kim, Home Connoisseur from @Reverie.and.Root & Founder of Spilling Goodness

Holiday magic - what is that feeling that makes this time of year feel so special? For me, it is a lightness, a twinkle and an anticipation that is married with knowing that the days in the countdown are as meaningful as the reveal. How do we create that feeling? I think we can set the stage for that feeling and then we have be to present enough to recognize it. In our home, that means a combination of little daily reminders and some fun annual activties.

On the daily, we enjoy holiday music and dancing while we make lunches, an advent calendar treat (the $1 ones from Trader Joe's are my favorite!), watching holiday movies while enjoying my favorite holiday popcorn and displaying holiday cards from friends near and far. When my kids were little, I filled an advent calendar with a daily "fun thing to do" - things like snowman coloring pages, a candy cane hunt, ice skating, etc.. It was a fun way to include a little excitement in everyday.

Once they went to school and their friends told them about "the elf" we transitioned to her shenanigans. However, we don't follow any of the elf rules. My apologies to all the parents of kids my kids have told, but we can touch our elf, she travels with us, sits at the table - it's a thing. Our elf isn't super creative, but boy do my kids (still!) love that thing. It is really a love/ hate - I forget most nights, my husband saves the day and then our youngest will spring out of bed each morning full of "that feeling" to find her. As much as we love our fun annual holiday activites too, it's really the little daily things that make this season's magic.

Jen, Bespoke Travel Designer from @GlobalonDemandTravel

When it comes to creating “holiday magic,” I’ll be honest—I’m not the mom overflowing with energy or orchestrating picture-perfect moments. And there is definitely no Elf on the Shelf making mischief in our house. What we do have are simple, meaningful traditions. We decorate the house together, even if it ends up a little mismatched and chaotic. The kids each choose an organization to support, and we make sure our Angel Tree gifts are picked with care.

The magic here doesn’t come from elaborate setups; it comes from all of us doing our best. It’s the small acts of kindness, the shared moments, and the feeling that we’re showing up for each other. That’s our kind of holiday magic—and honestly, it’s more than enough.

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How do you create holiday magic in your home?