Your Ultimate Christmas Eve Checklist
Make sure Santa can deliver his presents on time by following these simple steps before Christmas Day
Come Christmas Eve, the aim is to be able to enjoy time together with friends and family, sip Champagne or mulled wine, eat a delicious meal, put your feet up and look forward to the big day itself. However, if you’re hosting Christmas lunch or dinner, the Christmas Eve can feel more like a mad panic of last-minute baking, wrapping, sorting and tidying. In order to ensure that this last day goes as smoothly as possible, follow this checklist for guidance on last-minute tasks and those all-important finishing touches.
Keep children entertained with Christmas Eve baking
Everyone knows Christmas cookies fresh out of the oven are the ultimate indulgence, and they will make your home smell delicious. If you’re planning to bake on Christmas Eve, get your baking ingredients and equipment organised in advance. Ensure you have enough flour, sugar, sprinkles, decorations, yeast, baking powder and anything else you may need stored in an easily manageable system. Colour-coding and labels are particularly useful (and fun) if you’re going to have lots of little helpers in the kitchen.
Everyone knows Christmas cookies fresh out of the oven are the ultimate indulgence, and they will make your home smell delicious. If you’re planning to bake on Christmas Eve, get your baking ingredients and equipment organised in advance. Ensure you have enough flour, sugar, sprinkles, decorations, yeast, baking powder and anything else you may need stored in an easily manageable system. Colour-coding and labels are particularly useful (and fun) if you’re going to have lots of little helpers in the kitchen.
Write letters to Santa (or last minute cards)
This is a tradition that your children, nieces and nephews will remember for years to come. Also keep a stash of blank Christmas cards on hand for any neighbours or friends who have accidentally been left off the list.
Drunk Uncles and 99 More Christmas Day Crises
This is a tradition that your children, nieces and nephews will remember for years to come. Also keep a stash of blank Christmas cards on hand for any neighbours or friends who have accidentally been left off the list.
Drunk Uncles and 99 More Christmas Day Crises
Stock up on candles
A roaring fire on a cold, snowy night may be a classic Christmas image, though in Australia’s sweltering festive season, candles are often a more comfortable choice. Try grouping plenty of candles together on your mantlepiece, dining table, living room and even a scented candle in the bathroom for a massed effect.
If you are determined to light a fire, clean out your fireplace or fire pit first and stock up on plenty of firewood to get you through the evening. Store your wood in a dry place to ensure it burns with a satisfying glow.
A roaring fire on a cold, snowy night may be a classic Christmas image, though in Australia’s sweltering festive season, candles are often a more comfortable choice. Try grouping plenty of candles together on your mantlepiece, dining table, living room and even a scented candle in the bathroom for a massed effect.
If you are determined to light a fire, clean out your fireplace or fire pit first and stock up on plenty of firewood to get you through the evening. Store your wood in a dry place to ensure it burns with a satisfying glow.
Water the tree
A Christmas tree inside the house dries up quite quickly, particularly in our hot climate. Make sure your tree stays as fresh as possible by watering it often, especially on Christmas Eve, to ensure it looks lush and green the next day. After all, no one wants to wake up on Christmas morning and be greeted by a floor littered with dead pine needles.
Browse more contemporary white interiors
A Christmas tree inside the house dries up quite quickly, particularly in our hot climate. Make sure your tree stays as fresh as possible by watering it often, especially on Christmas Eve, to ensure it looks lush and green the next day. After all, no one wants to wake up on Christmas morning and be greeted by a floor littered with dead pine needles.
Browse more contemporary white interiors
Add last-minute relaxing touches
Christmas Eve is the time to relax at home with family and friends and plenty of good food and drink. Create an inviting and leisurely atmosphere by adding luxurious little touches, and leave plenty of cushions and picnic rugs stacked up in wicker baskets so you and your guests can kick back, put your feet up and get into the Christmas mood.
Christmas Eve is the time to relax at home with family and friends and plenty of good food and drink. Create an inviting and leisurely atmosphere by adding luxurious little touches, and leave plenty of cushions and picnic rugs stacked up in wicker baskets so you and your guests can kick back, put your feet up and get into the Christmas mood.
Make preparations for the little ones
Whether you have small kids at home or whether your guests will be bringing theirs, you should be prepared. Set aside a space for kids to play and draw once they get tired of all the grown-up talk. On a small table, arrange a selection of toys, paper, ribbons, glue and coloured pencils and pens. An ornament-crafting station or a stationery set for writing letters to Santa are good ways to encourage kids to participate in the seasonal festivities in an engaging way. A designated kids’ corner will also give them a sense of their own special space where they can retreat to play with their new toys come Christmas Day.
Whether you have small kids at home or whether your guests will be bringing theirs, you should be prepared. Set aside a space for kids to play and draw once they get tired of all the grown-up talk. On a small table, arrange a selection of toys, paper, ribbons, glue and coloured pencils and pens. An ornament-crafting station or a stationery set for writing letters to Santa are good ways to encourage kids to participate in the seasonal festivities in an engaging way. A designated kids’ corner will also give them a sense of their own special space where they can retreat to play with their new toys come Christmas Day.
Prepare Christmas Eve drinks
If you’re hosting on Christmas Eve, welcome friends and family into your home with unique touches, such as a DIY hot chocolate station. Leave out plenty of marshmallows and candy canes for both young and old to enjoy, and perhaps set out some Amaretto for those adults who like their hot chocolate with a bit of a kick. If it’s a balmy evening, have plenty of chilled beverages and ice on hand for when guests arrive.
What’s Your Christmas Decorating Style?
If you’re hosting on Christmas Eve, welcome friends and family into your home with unique touches, such as a DIY hot chocolate station. Leave out plenty of marshmallows and candy canes for both young and old to enjoy, and perhaps set out some Amaretto for those adults who like their hot chocolate with a bit of a kick. If it’s a balmy evening, have plenty of chilled beverages and ice on hand for when guests arrive.
What’s Your Christmas Decorating Style?
Get the wine ready
You’ve stocked up on wine and fizz for the big meal tomorrow, so make sure you have them all chilled (or warmed), ready for when guests arrive. Store your wines in a cool place and stick whites, prosecco, champagne and beer in the fridge (or an ice bucket if you’re short on fridge space) a couple of hours before your guests are due.
Tip: Grab a bag of ice on Christmas Eve to help keep beverages cool in the summer heat.
You’ve stocked up on wine and fizz for the big meal tomorrow, so make sure you have them all chilled (or warmed), ready for when guests arrive. Store your wines in a cool place and stick whites, prosecco, champagne and beer in the fridge (or an ice bucket if you’re short on fridge space) a couple of hours before your guests are due.
Tip: Grab a bag of ice on Christmas Eve to help keep beverages cool in the summer heat.
Set the table for Christmas
To save yourself one more job on Christmas Day, try to set the table on Christmas Eve before you go to bed. That way you can spend time and care making it look beautiful, rather than rushing it on the big day.
And remember to spare a moment before the little ones go to bed on Christmas Eve to set out a few treats for Santa and his reindeers to nibble.
To save yourself one more job on Christmas Day, try to set the table on Christmas Eve before you go to bed. That way you can spend time and care making it look beautiful, rather than rushing it on the big day.
And remember to spare a moment before the little ones go to bed on Christmas Eve to set out a few treats for Santa and his reindeers to nibble.
Put the presents under the tree
If you’re celebrating with kids, make sure they’re truly asleep before Santa puts the presents under the tree. Go to bed with a warm glow, anticipating the delighted faces and excitement on Christmas Day!
Tell us
How do you prepare on Christmas Eve? Share your tips in the Comments below, save this story for handy reference next Christmas, and join the conversation.
More
Browse more inspiring Christmas images
If you’re celebrating with kids, make sure they’re truly asleep before Santa puts the presents under the tree. Go to bed with a warm glow, anticipating the delighted faces and excitement on Christmas Day!
Tell us
How do you prepare on Christmas Eve? Share your tips in the Comments below, save this story for handy reference next Christmas, and join the conversation.
More
Browse more inspiring Christmas images
Make a note of the different courses you’re serving, your cooking timings, and what needs to go in the oven when, so everything comes together triumphantly for your Christmas feast. Try to cook or prepare as much food as possible in advance. Depending on what recipe you’re using and if you’re planning to serve traditional fare, you may need to roast your turkey or ham for a number of hours in advance, so plan accordingly. Once your main dish is getting comfy in the oven, you’ll have time to focus on other tasks that need to be done on the day.
Tip: If your oven is on the small side, make sure it will fit the roast of your choice. Many a Christmas Day has unravelled when the big bird doesn’t fit inside the small oven…