Discover the heartwarming joy of Christmas tree decorating traditions and how this cherished activity can bring families together, reflect your faith, and create lasting memories in your home this holiday season.
When the holiday season rolls around, one of my favorite moments as a homemaker, wife, and mom is decorating our Christmas tree. It’s not just about hanging ornaments or stringing lights; it’s a beautiful tradition that weaves together faith, history, and family connection. For our family of six soon to be seven, the Christmas tree becomes a symbol of joy, memories, and hope during the winter solstice season.
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Why Traditions Matter
Traditions are the glue that binds a family together. They offer a sense of continuity, comfort, and belonging, especially during the Christmas season. As I reflect on our family’s traditions, one of my favorite times during the holidays is our Christmas tree tradition. Most people have some sort of Christmas tree tradition and I hope by sharing our traditions and how I make it more than just about decorations, I can encourage others to think more deeply about their traditions.
This week I was listening to the holiday edition of the Art of Home Podcast, which gets a high level of recommendation from me, and I heard one of the guests tell a very odd, but insightful Christmas boundary. The guest explained that a number of years ago she was evaluating Chrsitmas and what was bringing their home joy and what was not. She realized that the first thing that needed to go was the Christmas tree, which was a significant amount of work, plus brought tension and a lack of joy to her family.
She went on to say that she still decorates but just doesn’t do a Christmas tree. I found her entire perspective on evaluating Christmas decorating quite inspiring and I would encourage you to give it a listen.
In the heart of the Christian homemaker’s life lies a deep call to cultivate not just a home, but a legacy of faith. Traditions are one of the most beautiful ways to answer that call. They are more than nostalgic routines or seasonal customs; they are intentional acts of faith-building, love, and connection that shape our families and keep Christ at the center of our homes.
Traditions Root Our Families in Faith
Traditions provide an anchor for our families in the ever-changing tides of the world. In a culture that often dismisses the sacred and glorifies the fleeting, traditions can ground our children in the eternal truths of Scripture. Intential traditions point ourselves—and our children—back to God’s faithfulness and love.
For the Christian homemaker, traditions aren’t just habits; they’re spiritual disciplines passed down, giving our children tangible ways to experience the goodness of God.
Traditions Strengthen Our Family Identity
Traditions are like a family’s fingerprint—they make your household unique. They tell the story of who you are and what you value.
When you bake a specific recipe each holiday, pray together at certain times of the year, or even do something like decorate a Christmas tree, you’re building shared memories that say, This is who we are as a family. These moments create unity and a sense of belonging that becomes harder to fracture as your children grow.
Traditions Bring Beauty into Our Home
God is a God of beauty and order, and traditions reflect His character. As homemakers, we have the privilege of creating rituals that honor Him through the beauty of the seasons, the rhythms of the year, and the joy of family life.
Think about the beauty of decorating your home with handmade ornaments or teaching your children the hymns of Christmas. These moments bring a sense of joy and anticipation into the ordinary, reminding us of the abundant life Christ promises.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Luke 2:20 ESV
May our family, likewise, glorify and praise God as we understand the Christmas story in depth.
Traditions Pass Down a Legacy of Faith
One of the greatest joys when thinking about traditions as a homemaker is knowing that the traditions you start today might one day be carried on by your children and grandchildren. This legacy doesn’t just include recipes or routines; it includes a heritage of faith, love, and commitment to God’s Word.
When your children work on an advent tradition they love, or share memories of tree decorating, they’ll remember the heart of the home you cultivated—a home centered on Christ.
Traditions like these remind us that Christmas is more than just a festive season; it’s about cherishing the gift of family, celebrating the birth of baby Jesus, and creating moments that become cherished memories for generations.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11 ESV
In a world that often prizes convenience over connection, traditions invite us to slow down and remember what truly matters. They are a reflection of our values, a connection to our history, and a gift to our children. For the homemaker, traditions are more than a nice addition to family life—they are an act of worship, a declaration of faith, and a legacy of love that can echo into eternity.
Christmas Tree Decorating Traditions
In our home, the Christmas tree becomes the centerpiece of our celebrations. Each year, we set up two different Christmas trees. The first is our downstairs tree, which is more of the kid’s tree with lots of ornaments they have made, plus some that are just more gaudy. It’s not that I don’t want these on our main tree, but sometimes a mama needs to separate certain ornaments just for sanity’s sake. Or maybe I’m alone on this and a bit crazy.
We also visit a local Christmas tree farm to find the perfect balsam fir, which is always an expense that amazes us, but we have so much fun at our local farm that it’s worth the memories.
We always let the kids have a say in picking “the one.” This year it took much longer than I typically remember because everyone is coming into their own opinions, which was actually fun to witness. After all, family traditions are better when everyone’s voice matters. Once the tree is home, we settle into our living room with hot cocoa and Christmas carols playing in the background.
The tree isn’t just about decorations—it’s about storytelling. Every ornament on our family’s tree has a story. There are two fragile glass balls from before Danny and I had children, I remember Danny and I going to a fancy store after Christmas and there was a huge Christmas ornament sale, I thought those big glass ornaments were so beautiful and Danny encouraged me to buy a couple, which would have normally been way out of our price range.
There are also typical ornaments like baby’s first Christmas, family vacations, and ornaments from my time as a teacher that children gave me. Each one tells a story and my boys, especially Wyatt will spend an extravagant amount of time bringing them to me to tell the backstory of the ornament.
Decorating Our Christmas Trees with 5 Boys
Let me tell you, decorating a Christmas tree with four boys is anything but boring! While some families opt for elegant, themed trees like the ones you might see in department stores, both our decorated Christmas tree is a lively, chaotic blend of mismatched ornaments and pure joy.
The day before we went and chopped down our main Christmas tree from local Christmas tree farms, I spent a ridiculous amount of time in the kitchen making some holiday treats. You know what, my boys ate exactly none of them! They were too excited, amazed, and inspired by the decorating process.
One of our favorite recipes during the holiday season is my caramel popcorn which also happens to be sugar-free. Don’t get too excited because it also has a lot of fat, so I wouldn’t necessarily call it a weight loss-friendly treat, but I would say it’s super delicious and a better option than other caramel popcorn recipes.
It’s a super easy recipe to try if you want to give it a go. Every Christmas there are three sweet recipes that everyone in my family enjoys, so they are certainly a requirement to make while we decorate our trees!
These are delicious, guilt-free treats that are perfect for snacking as you untangle lights, hang ornaments, and create lasting memories around the tree. The popcorn specifically has a rich caramel flavor and healthier twist, so this popcorn is sure to become a festive favorite in your home!
My Christmas Ornament Box Tradition
One of my favorite Christmas traditions tied to our Christmas tree decorating traditions is my kids’ Christmas ornament boxes. This tradition has grown and changed over the years and I really love where it’s at right now. Each child has a box that includes ornaments each year that represent that year for the child. It also includes any homemade ornaments that they make. Each year I also put in our Christmas card and a letter written to the child that celebrates their accomplishments that year and reminisce about my favorite moments with them as a mother.
Every year, I add a new ornament to the box, often one that represents a milestone or meaningful moment. This year Wyatt received a glass fish that represented his newfound love of fishing. Westy received a marshmallow man with a campfire to represent our camping trips and our family campfire night that the boys still talk about. Wylder is only two and I tend to represent 1 and 2-year-olds years with something that symbolizes their birthday party, which for this year was Bluey.
It’s not about decorations but more about celebrating what God has done in their lives that year. This year we sat down together and read the letter from last year and talked about each ornament in their box and its significance. It’s always such a beautiful time with each of my boys.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17 ESV
Christmas Decorations
Of course for all my people out there who like ‘hands-on links’ here are a few of my favorite Christmas tree decorating tradition favorites.
- Soft Twinkle Lights
- My favorite Christmas lights are the twinkle incandescent smooth mini lights from Target. They have the perfect soft lighting and soft twinkle.
- Wooden Beads
- Another favorite for our kids’ tree downstairs is these wooden beads from Mongolia. It think they are perfect to add a little class to a more chaotic Christmas tree!
- Square Ornament Boxes
- These gift boxes make a great ornament box for each child. They are sturdy and reasonably priced each year.
- Tree Collar
- I’ve tried a few different tree collars and I really like how this brand stores in two separate parts, which means less storage room, and I like how it clips together!
- Gold Ribbon
- I’m a big fan of how ribbon can add an extra element to an otherwise boring tree. This gold ribbon from Kirkland also is huge and lasts for many Christmases!
- Old World Christmas Ornaments
- These are my favorite ornaments for Baby’s First Christmas!
- Vintage Distressed White Ornaments
- These are not the exact ones we are hanging on our tree as they are not available any longer, however they are a close copycat! I love the distressed vintage look of these!
Making It All Connect – A Christmas That Matters
At the end of the day our decorated tree isn’t about perfection. It’s about connection. It’s about bringing our family together to celebrate, remember the Light of the World, and create an atmosphere where joy and faith flourish.
Even something as simple as a tree topper—a shining star reminding us of the one that guided the wise men to Bethlehem, can lead to meaningful discussions. As our family members sit together on Christmas morning, surrounded by the twinkling lights of our family’s tree, I’m reminded that these traditions, however small, are part of something much bigger.
Final Thoughts
Christmas tree decorating is more than just a task; it’s a cherished part of Christmas celebrations and a family tradition. Whether you’re decorating a fir tree, small trees, a Norway spruce, or even artificial trees, the act of coming together with your whole family to add Christmas ornaments, lights, and love is a tradition worth treasuring.
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So, as you prepare for this holiday season, consider starting or continuing your own special Christmas tree traditions. And remember, no matter how chaotic it gets—whether you’re wrestling with lights or debating the perfect spot for the candy canes—it’s these moments that make a Christmas matter.
What are your favorite traditions when decorating your Christmas tree? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your story!
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