Eleven Ideas for New Sober Christmas Tradition
When you quit alcohol and are faced with your first alcohol-free Christmas, it can feel quite daunting. It may be that your old Christmas traditions all revolve around alcohol. One of the best ways to keep the magic of the festive season whilst sober is to start making your own new, alcohol-free traditions. So, here are eleven of our favourite alcohol-free Christmas traditions to bring the festivity back into your festive season.
1. Get Outdoors and Have an Adventure
Christmas can be chilly in the UK, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get outside for a fun festive adventure. The UK is filled with gorgeous hikes and cycle rides you can do to enjoy the winter scenery. Frosty fields, icey spiderwebs, and frozen streams are Christmas card-worthy sights that are sure to make you feel jolly.
If we are lucky enough to get snow, getting your boots, coat and scarf on is a must. There are snowball fights to be had, snowmen to be made and some perfect hills to sledge on. So why not take the opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the wintery nature, to get in the Christmas spirit?
2. Snuggle in for a Movie Marathon
When it gets dark and cold in the evenings, there is nothing nicer than snuggling under the blankets and watching a movie marathon. There are Christmas movies galore for you to enjoy, for example, the old classics like Home Alone, Elf and Love Actually. Invite some friends over, bring some snacks and settle down to establish whether Die Hard is a Christmas film or not!
3. Create a Christmas Eve Package
Christmas Eve can be tricky if you are trying to avoid alcohol, this is typically when people head down to the pub. So, if you want to avoid temptation, why not start a brand new Christmas Eve tradition and make yourself a Christmas Eve package? This is basically just an excuse for early Christmas presents.
Gift the family or household a new set of pyjamas each, some snacks, and maybe a movie or board game. Then settle down for a cosy pyjama party where you do all the festive activities you can think of. Or, just relax in your pyjamas with a hot chocolate. Don’t forget the marshmallows!
4. Treat Yourself to an Exciting Advent Calendar
Back in the day, advent calendars were pretty pictures with doors to open up, but nowadays, there are so many different types of advent calendars. So, to hype yourself up for Christmas and get into that festive spirit, treat yourself to an exciting advent calendar. That way you get a daily treat to keep yourself feeling jolly.
There are advent calendars for everything from soap to sex toys, tea to Lego and even luxury popcorn flavours. JOMO do their own Christmas advent calendar, where you get a different alcohol-free goody for each of the 12 days of Christmas. JOMO’s 12 Days of Christmas calendar is the perfect way to hype yourself for a sober Christmas.
5. Make Christmas Crafts
Homemade Christmas gifts and cards make the most thoughtful gifts. So Christmas is a great time to get crafting. Learn a new skill, knit Christmas hats, or craft for the sheer joy of it. Some easy Christmas crafts include:
Making paper snowflakes to decorate with
Making your own wrapping paper
Hand-making Christmas cards
Making your own scented soap as a gift
Make easy Christmas tree ornaments
6. Get Baking
Want to use your hands a different way? Then Christmas baking is one of the most festive things to do. There are so many delicious Christmas foods to bake. To name just a few you could bake:
Iced Christmas cookies
Gingerbread men
A Christmas cake
Mince pies
Stollen
A chocolate log
A wintery crumble or strudel
Switch on the Christmas music and sing your heart out while making delicious treats to share with your loved ones. Or eat it all by yourself. I'm not going to judge you!
7. Have a Tree Decorating Party
Gather around the Christmas tree! The Christmas tree is an iconic symbol of Christmas, and everyone decorates their tree differently.
One great way to get into the Christmas spirit is to invite your family and friends around to help decorate your Christmas tree. The house might feel a little chaotic with everyone singing and running around with tinsel, streamers and baubles. But it will be the epitome of merriment and festivity. And, after that, you will have a Christmas tree to look at whenever you want to feel festive!
8. Go Ice Skating
Ice skating is such a fun Christmas activity. Put on your gloves, hat and scarf and head to the local ice rink, or skate on the local ponds and lakes if it is safe. You might get a chilly red nose, but slipping and sliding on the ice, or spinning and gliding if you are a pro skater, is a great festive tradition for people of all ages.
9. Plan Festive Surprises for Your Family and Friends
One of the most festive things you can do is give back. It is the season of giving after all. So, a great way to keep the magic of Christmas alive is to spend time planning festive surprises for your family and friends. Some fun surprises could include:
A surprise family or friends day out
Surprise stockings from Santa on Christmas morning
Letting the elves decorate your house overnight
A DIY advent calendar for a loved one
Unexpected gifts or flowers
A surprise visit home
10. Go on a Christmas Lights Tour
Christmas lights cheer up any neighbourhood, so why not take a wander around the neighbourhood to enjoy the Christmas decorations? Or, if you want to take it up a notch, a great festive evening out is to book a spot on a local Christmas lights tour. These happen at many stately homes such as Blenheim Palace and are incredibly Christmassy.
11. Enjoy a Christmassy Alcohol-Free Cocktail
Are Christmas cocktails the drink that makes you feel festive? Then don’t worry! You don’t need alcohol to enjoy a delicious and festive-flavoured cocktail. There are over 500 different alcohol-free spirits available, with new ones coming out regularly. So you can play around with a huge range of ingredients to make an alcohol-free cocktail that tastes sophisticated and festive.
Sign Up for JOMO for the Perfect Alcohol-Free Christmas
If you want inspiration for non-alcoholic drinks and mocktails, then make sure to check out the JOMO alcohol-free subscription box.
With a JOMO subscription box, you will receive a new alcohol-free cocktail recipe, with ingredients, garnishes and even snacks, right to your front door every month or quarter.
On top of that, you will get a mixture of pre-made, ready-to-drink cans. That way you can discover all of the fantastic, alcohol-free drink options that exist, from big brands, right through to smaller, indie alcohol-free companies.
With a JOMO subscription, you will never run out of delicious alcohol-free drink ideas and you can truly have the booze-free Christmas of your dreams!