Why not do something different and new? Here are some new and old ideas to get you started--if you come up with an idea, please share in the comment section!

Christmas Eve Traditions:

• Act out the Christmas Story: While one family member reads the Christmas story out of the Bible or a storybook, the other family members act it out.
• Biblical Meal: Research what kind of food Jesus grew up on. Serve this on Christmas Eve.
• Birthday Party for Jesus: Have a birthday cake, with "Happy Birthday Jesus" written on it in icing. Put in one candle for each person present. Sing to Him, speak some wishes to Him, and blow out the candles.
• Biblical Birthday Celebration: Research what kind of ways, if any, the Jews of Jesus' day celebrated birthdays. Do an authentic birthday celebration in honor of Him. If this is too much, then just find a cake recipe from Biblical times, and use that as Jesus' birthday cake.
• Hor D'oevres: Make the Christmas Eve meal solely out of fun hor d'oevres. Have the kids help prepare then ahead of time. This could include jello jigglers, homemade chocolate creations, cold shrimp with cocktail sauce, smoked weiners, cheeses and crackers, fresh fruit and veggies, etc.
• Open One Gift: After other festivities are done, each person gets to open one gift on Christmas Eve.
• Sing Carols: Some families sing together in the home on this evening, others go caroling, either in their neighborhood, or at the local nursing home or hospital.
• Sit Around the Fire: You can do this if you have a fireplace, or if you can safely build a fire outside. There's just something magical about sitting around a fire in the evening. Sing together while around the fire.
• Think of a Meaningful Ceremony: My idea this year: Make sure I have a candle in a candle-holder for everyone present. Light them and hand them out. Turn out all the lights. The group stands in a circle, like a birthday cake. Everyone says a prayer to the Lord, acknowledging how we are His lights shining on His cake, how His wishes have been fulfilled and now we are His forever, etc. Pray and think on the Lord as long as everyone wishes. Then the group can blow out their candles, or go outside, hold up their candles and let the wind blow them out (like Jesus blowing out the candles on His living cake).
• Refrain from putting any presents under the tree. On Christmas Eve, after all the kids have gone to bed, bring out all the presents and arrange them under the tree for a Christmas morning Wow! Be sure to leave a few gifts unwrapped, as coming from Santa.
• Don't forget to leave out cookies and milk for Santa! And don't forget to eat most of it and leave some crumbs (after the kids are in bed, of course).