15 Celebrity Christmas Traditions You Can Start With Your Family This 2023
As Christmas approaches, it's the perfect time to reflect on the traditions that make this time of year special.
Celebrities, just like everyone else, have their own unique Christmas traditions that they do every year with their families.
Here are 15 celebrity Christmas traditions that fans can consider incorporating into their family celebrations this 2023.
1. Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon revealed on Instagram in 2020 that she loves decorating gingerbread houses with her kids on Christmas.
The actress, who shares daughter Ava, 24, and son Deacon, 20, with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, as well as son Tennessee, 11, with her ex Jim Toth, also told People that they "have to have Advent calendars."
"These are things where you think, 'Oh, they're not noticing ...' but then I forgot the Advent calendars this year, and Deacon was like, 'Mom! Where are they?!' I didn't realize how important they were to him!" Witherspoon shared.
2. Jason Momoa
"Aquaman" star Jason Momoa takes his holiday celebrations to the great outdoors each year.
In addition to enjoying movies and good food with his kids, Nakoa-Wolf and Lola, Momoa revealed in a previous interview with E! News that his family goes on road trips and camping adventures around the world at this time of year.
This Christmas, fans can consider embracing the beauty of nature with their family -- whether it's a hike, a camping trip, or simply exploring local parks.
3. Kristin Chenoweth
Kristin Chenoweth had a Christmas tradition from her childhood that centered around a handmade ceramic tree her mother crafted.
The actress told Us Weekly that her family would light candles placed on each point of the tree and share what they were most thankful for.
4. Chrissy Teigen and John Legend
Unlike most celebrities, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend prefer a laid-back, low-key celebration during Christmas.
Teigen previously revealed to Today, "Christmas Day is more of like order McDonald's and go to the movies."
Legend confirmed this during a 2018 interview, saying, "It's a Chrissy tradition, for sure."
Sometimes breaking away from elaborate feasts and grand plans can lead to a relaxed and enjoyable holiday. Consider embracing simplicity for a stress-free Christmas Day.
5. Teddi Mellencamp
"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Teddi Mellencamp knows the importance of a good family photo during the holidays.
She told Us Weekly, "Our biggest holiday tradition is I get my whole extended family; we do Christmas PJs. And then I make everybody take photos."
6. Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood cherishes the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree with her son, Isaiah.
"I enjoy decorating with my oldest son, Isaiah. He loves helping, and he loves doing the tree," the country music star told Parade in 2020.
In addition, Underwood said her son also likes to help her in the kitchen and join her in making cookies.
7. Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba keeps the holiday spirit alive by hosting a big family and friend sit-down dinner.
Speaking to InStyle, she said their annual Christmas festivities include cooking a delicious dinner with her parents and her husband, Cash Warren.
The Alba-Warren family also enjoys Christmas caroling with an improv version of "12 Days of Christmas" and having their own version of a White Elephant that's "an ornament exchange for all of the adults."
8. Kris Jenner
Kris Jenner has a sweet tradition that involves custom gingerbread houses.
According to a December 2022 post by Poosh, the Kardashian-Jenner matriarch has been sending handmade gingerbread houses from California's Solvang Bakery to her kids every holiday season for almost 15 years.
This tradition stemmed from Jenner's love of the bakery, which her grandmother would take often as a child.
9. Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus has a heartwarming holiday tradition with her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus: playing football on his farm.
She revealed on "Good Morning Football" in 2020, "My favorite thing to do when I go home is we go and we throw the ball around outside on my dad's farm."
According to the "Flowers" hitmaker, the time she spent playing football with her father has been some of her "greatest memories."
10. Bryce Dallas Howard
Bryce Dallas Howard and her family dedicate a day to decorating cookies, and it gets "a little competitive."
She shared with Us Weekly last year, "We make all the cookies in advance, and then it's like a decorating party, and we all get together, and it's really fun, and it gets a little competitive."
The actress said her father, director Ron Howard, brings his skills as a "visual artist" to his cookie decorating.
11. Kristin Cavallari
Kristin Cavallari's mother introduced her version of Elf on the Shelf as a holiday tradition when the reality star and her brother were kids, and Cavallari now does the same with sons Camden, 10, and Jaxon, 8, and daughter Saylor, 6.
"So a week before Christmas [the elves] would come, and if we were good, we would get a little something in our stocking, and if we were bad, we would get coal," she told E! News.
According to Cavallari, she also typically makes homemade meatballs, sauce and pasta, a family tradition started by her father.
12. Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling's cozy tradition involves reading "The Night Before Christmas" with her kids.
While her daughter was too young to enjoy the book when Kaling initially started the practice, the actress told Us Weekly she hopes the child will be able to "get it more" as she grows older.
"And I've been talking it up a little bit. So we'll probably do that," Kaling shared.
The actress also said she likes to watch one of her favorite movies, "You've Got Mail," every Christmas, revealing that she is looking forward to making her daughter watch the film with her someday.
13. Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields takes a unique approach to gift-giving by opting for experience-based presents for her kids.
She shared with InStyle, "What we've started doing is taking them each Christmas or New Year's on an experience."
Among the places they visited during the holidays were Ireland and India.
Shields acknowledged that not many can afford such trips, but she noted, "Instead of just buying them things, which once you get past whatever sneaker everybody has that they want, you sort of whittle it down."
Like Shields, consider gifting experiences such as trips, outings, or activities that create lasting memories rather than material presents this year.
14. Joey Fatone
It isn't a true Christmas celebration in Joey Fatone's household unless he and his kids watch holiday movies together.
The former NSYNC member told Us Weekly that his favorites include the timeless classics "Elf" and "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas."
15. Steve Harvey
Steve Harvey's Christmas morning tradition sees him enjoying a huge feast with his sons.
In an interview with Us Weekly, the "Family Feud" host shared that some of their usual Christmas morning fares are fried oysters, Sister Schubert's rolls and eggnog.
While he admitted that the combination may not appeal to some, Harvey said he is a big fan of all three and having them all in one plate makes him "happy."
