Ideas For a Unique Christmas Day

Alyson Tse-Ching Yuen

Many people are preparing for festive fun with their friends and family on December 31st. However, if you are interested in trying something new for Christmas instead of the typical traditions, here are some ideas for a way to bring a twist to the usual gingerbread cookies and Christmas tree.

Instead of a Christmas ham or chicken, try a cultural dish

If you are enjoying Christmas dinner with friends from different ethnicities, you can try bringing dishes from your respective cultures. This will bring new flavors to the table and also offer a chance to share parts of your culture with your loved ones while enjoying the parts of their cultures that they share with you. You can even do a dish that you feel has personal significance if you do not have an idea for a cultural dish.

Replace your tree decorations

Instead of the typical glass or plastic ornaments, try using items that you wouldn’t typically find on a Christmas tree but have value for the memories they hold. For example, a cat toy for the family’s pet cat is a great way to bring a personal touch to the Christmas tree and to show appreciation for a member of the family. 

Gift giving games

Gift giving is an aspect of Christmas that many look forward to. However, you can make it more interesting by introducing a little competition to the process. You can play a competitive game to decide who gets to unbox their gift first on Christmas day or compete for the best gift given whether it be in extravagance, thoughtfulness, or ridiculousness.