Christmas Bucket

We get a little Christmas crazy at our house. A few years ago, I came across the idea of doing an activity each day in December leading up to Christmas. The Christmas Bucket is sort of a Christmas bucket list slash advent calendar slash twelve days of Christmas all wrapped into one. I wrap small items or envelopes that correspond to each day in December (gift/envelope #12 gets opened on December 12th). Each gift/envelope includes directions for the day’s activity. Sometimes I’m even able to get our Elf on the Shelf, Elroy, in on the fun. We’ve created a lot of great Christmas memories and spent a lot of time together celebrating the season through the Christmas Bucket. Below you will find an itemized list of activities with needed supplies.

The Christmas Bucket

DAY #1 The true reason for the season

Jesus is the reason for the season, so it is important to me that we start the Christmas Bucket with Christ in mind. We read the Christmas story and set out the nativity. As the boys have gotten older, we’ve added lighting Advent candles and tracking Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
Day #2 Wrap yourself in the season
We set up the tripod and pose for a picture that will hopefully be decent enough to use for our Christmas card.
Day #3 Cut down and decorate the Christmas tree
I wrap up our hack saw and a note directing us to the nearest tree farm to find the perfect tree to take home and decorate.
Day #4 Trim a Christmas tree in your bedroom
Each year a couple new ornaments are wrapped up for the Christmas Bucket so each boy can add to the Christmas tree in their bedroom.
Day #5 Eat Dinner by the Christmas Tree
Indulge in the magic of the Christmas tree and eat dinner next to it.
Day #6 Donate to toys for tots
In the spirit of giving, the boys shop for a couple of toys and then donate them to Toys for Tots.
Day #7 Bake Christmas Cookies
Baking cookies is a must during the holidays. My mother in-law made the custom aprons for the Christmas Bucket. You could keep it simple and wrap festive spatulas with a note to preheat the oven for cookie baking.
Day #8 Lighted Christmas Display
We pack some of the cookies we made and a thermos of hot chocolate and head to Bentleyville in Duluth or the Kiwanis Holiday Lights in Mankato.
Day #9 Volunteer to help those in need
When they unwrap jingle bells, the boys know we will be Red Kettle bell ringers for the day.
Day #10 Write a letter to Santa
Wrap up Christmas letterhead and a fun pen so the kids can write letters to Santa.
DAy #11 Visit Santa
A visit to Santa to hand deliver the letters we wrote.
Day #12 Make a Christmas Ornament
Turn the Christmas list into a keepsake. This easy ornament is a wooden spool that I painted red then used basic white paper to hand write the gift ideas and the date. We repeat this ornament every year.
Day #13 Bake Christmas Cupcakes
We baked the cupcakes and did very simple decorations; multi-colored chocolate chips with a decorative pick.
Day #14 Make a gift for someone special
We decorated a 12×12 canvas with glittery letters and beaded stickers and then painted the bottoms of the boys’ feet to make this gift for the grandparents.
Day #15 Make a Gingerbread House
Don’t forget the Santa hats, antler headband or chef’s hat while putting the icing and candy on a store bought gingerbread house.
Day #16 Attend a special holiday event
We try to do something new each year for the Christmas Bucket. Pictured above is our ride on the North Pole Express in St. Paul. Read all about our adventure here.
Day #17 Wear Christmas Pajamas
Bonus for matching slippers to go with your coordinated Christmas pajamas.
Day #18 Show Kindness to others
Each year we try to spread Christmas cheer to those in our community through the Christmas bucket. We’ve packed snack bags for our schools Backpack Buddy program, we’ve left cookies for our mail carrier, taped codes for free movies at our neighborhood Red Box machine and delivered soda and popcorn to our neighbors for an at home movie night.
Day #19 Sleep by the Christmas Tree
Drag the bedding to the living room and let the kiddos sleep by the Christmas tree.
Day #20 Make Lefse
We use the Christmas Bucket to help pass down family traditions. Lefse is a Scandinavian treat we make during the holidays. Grilling the perfectly browned piece takes practice.
Day #21 Drink Hot Chocolate
More marshmallows please. Hot chocolate in snowman mugs tastes better.
Day #22 Watch a Christmas Movie
Almost every year, they choose to watch ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas.’ Probably because I make them Grinch Punch to go with their popcorn.
Day #23 Bake a cake for Jesus
Every birthday party needs cake. We bake a cake to celebrate the arrival of Jesus.
Day #24 Leave cookies and milk for Santa
Be sure Santa gets a snack on his long night of gift giving.

Day by Day Christmas Bucket List with Supplies

  • Day #1-The True Reason for the Season
  • Day #2-Wrap Yourself in the Season
    • package of lights or items you’ll use in photo shoot (blanket/scarves/etc)
  • Day #3-Cut Down and Decorate Your Christmas Tree
    • hand saw
  • Day #4-Trim a Christmas Tree in your Bedroom
    • couple of ornaments that fit your trees theme
  • Day #5-Eat Dinner by the Christmas Tree
  • Day #6-Donate to Toys for Tots
    • envelope with note
  • Day #7-Bake Christmas Cookies
    • cookies cutters or sprinkles; aprons
  • Day #8-See a Lighted Christmas Display
  • Day #9-Volunteer to Help Those in Need
  • Day #10-Write a Letter to Santa
  • Day #11-Visit Santa
    • envelope with note
  • Day #12-Make a Christmas Ornament
    • wooden spoil, paint and brush, black marker, string/ribbon. Instructions
  • Day #13-Bake Christmas Cupcakes
    • cupcake decorating supplies (sprinkles, picks, etc)
  • Day #14-Make a Gift for Someone Special
    • Instructions and supply list for Mistletoes canvas art here
  • Day #15-Make a Gingerbread House
  • Day #16-Attend a Special Holiday Event
  • Day #17-Wear Christmas Pajamas
  • Day #18-Show Kindness to Others
  • Day #19- Sleep by the Christmas Tree
  • Day #20-Make Lefse
    • whatever tool your holiday treat requires (rolling pin, lefse stick, etc)
  • Day #21- Drink Hot Chocolate
  • Day #22-Watch a Christmas Movie
    • holiday movie
  • Day #23-Bake a Cake for Jesus
    • cake mix
  • Day #24-Leave Cookies and Milk for Santa
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