10 Things I Love About December

Reflections on December

List making is one of my very favorite things. This article is part of a series of reflections on things I love about each month of the year. My hope is that in making these lists, I’ll slow down, take note of beauty, and contemplate the moments that matter. Here’s my list of 10 things I love about December.

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1. Christmas Carols

I love Christmas carols and this year I especially enjoyed listening to Matt Maher’s album, “The Advent of Christmas,” “The Christmas Waltz” by JOHNNYSWIM, and Kim Walker-Smith’s album, “When Christmas Comes.”

2. Hot Cocoa Bar

For the past few years we’ve set up a hot cocoa bar with hot chocolate, candy canes, marshmallows, and chocolate stir spoons, along with apple cider, tea, and mocha mix. It’s been a fun treat for the whole family to enjoy throughout the month of December.

3. Christmas Parties

In general, I prefer a night at home with a book to a social occasion, but there’s something about the Christmas season that makes me glad to attend a party or two. I love the festive atmosphere and the combination of gatherings that combine a dash of glitz and a dab of tradition.

Read: What to Do in November

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4. Charcuterie Boards

Cheese plates are my favorite! December means lots of charcuterie in our house. I usually bring a board to one or two events and I always make extra for our family to enjoy the next day too.

This charcuterie board setup is the one I use year after year.

5. Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars

I’ve made this caramel snickerdoodle bar recipe for at least three years now and everyone loves them. This year I cut way back on the amount of Christmas baking I did, but these little squares of deliciousness still made the cut.

6. Game Night

One of our family’s most requested Christmas traditions is our game night with treats. We basically prepare a dinner of appetizers and Christmas treats and play as many games as we can fit in. This year our favorites were Blank Slate and Tapped Four.

Blank Slate is especially fun with a large group (we played with way more than the max participants listed on the box) and absolutely everyone can play.

Tapped Four is a pretty fast-paced card game that’s easy to learn and fun to play with a few or a bigger group.

7. Nutcracker

My daughter has been dancing in the Nutcracker since she was about 4 years old and this was her final Nutcracker performance as she is a senior this year. Sniff, sniff. I may have gotten something in my eyes when she came out on stage at the last performance with her “senior 2026” sash. It’s been such a fun tradition for our family to attend the Nutcracker ballet each year, and an amazing experience for my daughter to be part of a professional production.

8. Christmas Gifts—Books!

Every year when I’m asked for my Christmas wish list, I go straight to my book wish list. I cannot imagine a Christmas without books under the tree! I gift books to others and request them for myself. Christmas means my TBR list appears in physical form ready for a great reading year. I can’t wait to dive into some of my books next year.

Here’s a quick list of a few books I received in December 2025.

How to See Life: A Guide in 321 by Glen Scrivener
Reading Between the Lines (Old Testament) by Glen Scrivener
Reading Between the Lines (New Testament) by Glen Scrivener
The Bible Is For You by Raechel Meyers and Amanda Bible Williams
Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler
Illuminated Scripture Journals (New Testament)
Sacred Seasons by Danielle Hitchen
Beholding and Becoming by Ruth Chou Simons

Read: 10 Best Habits and Routines to Stay Organized and Productive

9. Quiet Week after Christmas

One of my very favorite weeks of the year is the week between Christmas and New Year’s. I begin the week by cleaning up the Christmas clutter of wrapping paper and boxes, then move on to reviewing the year that is coming to a close while making leftovers last as long as possible. I spend some time reading, tidying, listening to music, and dreaming about the year to come.

10. Setting up New Planner

I’m sure it’s no surprise that I take great delight in planning for the new year. I love the process of thinking through what I want to track, prioritize, plan for, stop doing, start doing, or keep doing in the new year. I want my planner to have a place for writing out goals, making weekly lists, monthly lists, and adding my own random lists.