My Favorite Simple Christmas Tradition
If you want to add some extra laughs (and funny pictures) to your holiday this year, try a wrapping paper jump. This simple Christmas tradition is a fun, no-effort way to celebrate after all the presents have been opened.
Christmas morning is magical. Little footie-pajama clad kiddos stand wide-eyed looking at colorful, wrapped packages. Giggles and squeals of glee accompany the sound of ripping of paper. The piles of paper grow bigger, and bigger until…it’s all over.
What do you do with the wrapping once all the presents have been opened?
If you’re looking at your screen quizzically right now thinking “…uh, throw it away?” then you’re missing out!
My favorite Christmas tradition happens right after the last present is opened.
In my family growing up, we designated one person each year as “Santa”. That person donned a red cap and passed out presents one at a time for each member of the family to open.
Another person was the designated paper-runner. That person’s job was to gather up the wrapping paper and pile it in the entryway of the house by the front door. By the time all seven of us had opened all our presents, we had quite a mountain of paper. Then came the fun…
The Wrapping Paper Jump!
The five of us kids would gather around the pile and on the count of three, we would jump into our massive paper pile like it was a ball pit. We’d throw paper up like confetti, and wad it up to chuck at each other like snowballs. We’d burrow underneath, and then pop back up like a jack-in-the-box. It only lasted a few minutes, but it was always a fun and celebratory way to end the opening of presents (which otherwise is a little depressing once you see the lonely tree with no presents billowing from underneath).
I’ve started doing this with my own boys now, and they think it’s great! I mean, what little kid wouldn’t love rolling around in a bunch of shiny, crinkly paper and making a huge, fun mess?
There you have it, my favorite Christmas tradition. It’s simple. It’s free. It’s fun. What more do you need?
Try it out this year. I bet it won’t be a one-time thing. Merry Christmas!
What is your favorite simple Christmas tradition?
My Grandma always marched around the house singing “A merry heart does good like a medicine.” and your post reminded me of just that. I love your heart to create a fun and festive atmosphere for your family 🙂 Visiting from the #MMBH
Thanks so much, Angela! Your grandma sounds like my kind of lady!
Oh my gosh! The wrapping paper jump! My LO is really into pillow parties right now, where we dive into all the pillows. We will have to have a wrapping paper jump for sure.
It’s perfect for toddlers. I mean, they are most excited about the boxes, wrapping paper, and bows anyway, right? Have fun!
I love this! In my family it usually becomes a snowball fight, but I love the idea of jumping into it!
Our jumping usually involves a snowball fight of sorts. 🙂
Love this tradition! I usually end up putting every bow on my head or my shirt. 🙂
The simplest things bring the greatest joys! My son would love this 🙂 Saving it for Christmas morning aftermath!
I hope you have fun!
How fun!! My toddler is 2 this year, so I think she would thoroughly enjoy the wrapping paper jump : )
I have a two-year-old as well, and I can’t wait to do this with him. 🙂
Haha, what a fun idea! Simple, unique and I’m sure the kids will love it!
Thanks, Fiona. Simple is my go-to these days. If it’s not simple, it’s probably not going to happen. Enjoy!
What a fun tradition! We’ll have to try it this year!
How FUN! My boys would love to do this! I’ll have to try it this year, thanks for sharing!
This sounds like a great tradition to start! So fun and I love that it’s free! My son is three and I think he would really love jumping into a pile of wrapping paper. Thanks for sharing!