Who says you have to leave your home to enjoy the true spirit of Christmas this year?

There’s no denying that Christmas is looking very different for many of us this year. Whilst the governments of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have agreed to allow up to three households to form a Christmas bubble in between the 23rd and the 27th of December (22nd to 28th in Northern Ireland), many may still feel uncomfortable leaving their homes this winter and mixing with others, regardless of the ease of restrictions. Not to mention that tis the season to be jolly... careful. That’s why we’ve put together a list of fun and safe ways to celebrate Christmas at home this year, allowing you to indulge in what may be an unusual but still very merry holiday season!

Make Homemade Gifts To Send To Your Loved Ones

There’s no denying that Christmas is the season for giving, and if you’ve opted not to mix with other households this year, you can still make someone’s day by sending them a gift in the post or leaving it on their doorstep, to show them they are in your thoughts this Christmas. From personal favourites to small and big surprises, giving a present is always a fun and loving part of the holiday season — a great way of spreading the festive cheer.

Why not try something different and a bit more sustainable this year, by making some homemade gifts? Yes, they do take a lot more time and effort, but that’s part of what makes homemade presents so special! DIY Christmas goodies are a really fun way to get yourself in the festive mood — not to mention, it’s a great creative activity for children to take part in too.

From home baked tasty delicacies and scented candles, to Christmas ornaments and personal hampers, there are so many gifts to be made at home that will truly make someone's Christmas as joyful as ever, especially when they know a lot of love and effort has been put into the gift. To add a little more magic, make sure you personalise the gift wrap too!

Bake Some Tasty Christmas Treats

Get those mittens out, it’s time to start baking!

There’s nothing better than baking some classic Christmas treats over the holiday season (and eating them of course). Whether you’re an avid baker and absolutely adore making festive tasty delicacies over the holidays, or are looking for something different to try this year, baking Christmas treats is not only absolutely mouth-watering, but also a really fun activity to do with children and other members of your household during the festive season!

From classic christmas cookies and iconic sticky toffee pudding to decadent cupcakes and extra-chocolatey fudge brownies, put your creative hat on and indulge in the endless number of Santa-approved Christmas recipes out there to excite both your friends and family, as well as your stomachs. We wouldn’t blame you if you decided to keep all the tasty treats for yourself anyway… especially if paired with a nice cup of hot cocoa or mulled wine. Make sure you don’t forget to leave a cookie or two out for Santa and his elves!

Host A Virtual Zoom Party

As many of us may not be able to spend Christmas with friends and family this year, that doesn’t mean you can’t still virtually celebrate.

Throughout the pandemic, many of us have used video calling a lot more than we thought we would, becoming very familiar with the likes of FaceTime, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype and even House Party. Now more than ever, it’s become very important to stay connected with your loved ones, especially if you can’t be with them in person. Although it may not provide the same levels of intimacy, take advantage of this fantastic technology and host a festive-themed virtual party. From pub quizzes to Christmas dinners, dress up in your favourite or most ridiculous Christmas jumper, gather some sparkle, and connect with your loved ones via these video-chat services. Not to mention, they make for a great work party too! So, send out a virtual invitation, get your festive treats and drinks ready, and celebrate this joyful season with the people you can’t physically be with.

Indulge In The Ultimate Christmas Movie Marathon

Snuggle up on the sofa and prepare yourself for the ultimate Christmas movie marathon. If there’s one way to get you in the mood for the festive season, it’s by enjoying a heartwarming Christmas movie or three, whilst indulging in some tasty holiday treats. Grab those snuggly blankets you have lying around the house, put your comfy Christmas pyjamas on, get the hot chocolate and cookies ready, and prepare for some quality holiday movie time! Whether you’re into the classic Christmas films that remind you of the good old times, or in the mood for something a little more current, there’s an endless list of holiday films to choose from. From the iconic scream of “KEVIN” from the 1990 film Home Alone, to the heartwarming and utterly magnificent Love Actually, click here to discover some of our favourite Christmas movies of all time!

Build A Gingerbread House

Once you’ve put up your glittering Christmas tree, decked the halls with your homemade decorations, put on some classic festive anthems and indulged yourself in a couple of movie marathons, it’s time to bake and decorate your slightly smaller home — the edible gingerbread house.

Gingerbread houses truly are the sweet epitome of Christmas. Utterly loved for their quirky fairytale design, spicy flavours and colourful decorations, there’s no better thing to do than make your very own gingerbread house. Whilst some may be put off by the whole baking process on top of the intricate decorating, there are many pre-baked gingerbread house kits from the store. So, turn on the festive music and start building your very own little house for your gingerbread men and cookies. Try not to snack on all of the decorations and the delicious icing as you build — it’s a constant struggle…

Make Your Own Festive Face Masks

Why not spruce up your festive look and have a little fun with your mask this winter by making your very own Christmas-themed versions?

Creating DIY face masks has become one of the most popular stay-at-home activities during the pandemic. Spread the Christmas spirit whilst not spreading coronavirus with your magnificent Christmas face mask. Seeing as social distancing where possible is still advised and wearing a face mask in all public places is compulsory, swap your ugly Christmas jumper for a gorgeous holiday face mask. From sequin-covered and glittery face coverings, to Santa’s beard and Rudolf the rednose reindeer, there are a myriad of ways to spruce up your plain facemask. Grab yourself some washable, breathable fabric, a couple of bands (or ribbons), some colourful paint and sequins, and any other Christmas decorations you’d like to add. Fun and safe, keep yourself and others safe this Christmas with your fantastic festive-themed face covering.

Create Your Own Christmas Ornaments & Wreaths

As most of us are going to be spending even more time at home this holiday than we usually would be, we may as well fill our time and our homes with some gorgeously homemade Christmas ornaments. There’s no doubt that this year has been unexpected and very different to how we would have imagined it, and although many of us are able to mix with three households over the festive period for five days, this 2020 holiday season is unquestionably bound to be unique. Take the positives from this unique time and make a Christmas-themed ornament to remember it by.

Do you remember ever making your own Christmas decorations from your little arts and crafts box when you were younger? And do you remember how happy you were that you got to help decorate the Christmas tree and the house with some of your masterpieces? Well, homemade decorations truly make for sentimental keepsakes. Not to mention, they’re a really fun and creative decoration to make to help get you into the festive mood. From cookie cutter ornaments and paper snowflakes, to christmas wreaths and knitted baubles, why not save a bit of money and create some fantastic memories to end the year with.

Make A Festive Cocktail… Or Two

If you need a little boost through the festive season, be sure to indulge yourself in a couple of delicious Christmas cocktails this winter. Skip the beer, wine and cider and put some extra cheer into your season with some seriously festive jingle juices.

As this year will be slightly different when celebrating the holiday season, there’ll be no need to stock up on bottles of beer and wine, or mix a big bowl of Christmas punch for the family crowd. So try something a little different this winter and replace those bottles with some bubbly and some liquor, gather your home baked treats, and bring out your inner bartender by mixing up a couple of fancy Christmas cocktails to pair with your tasty homemade treats. From Gingerbread Eggnog and Peppermintinis, to Christmosas and Santa Clausmopolitans, spice up your drinks this Christmas and get creative!