There is something wonderfully British about Christmas. The first mince pie disappears before anyone admits to eating it, the school hall fills with paper stars, and somebody in the family always knows every word of the pantomime before the actors do. When Santa’s Scout Elf arrives, those familiar moments can feel magical all over again.
Looking for Christmas traditions to enjoy with children in the UK? Start with the ones your family already loves. Here are 12 cheerful ways to bring your Scout Elf into the excitement, without buying lots of props, making elaborate scenes or adding another task to a busy December.
How can a Scout Elf join your family’s Christmas traditions?
Once you have adopted and named your Scout Elf, their Christmas magic lets them visit Santa at the North Pole each night and appear in a different spot the next morning. Your family can enjoy activities together while your elf watches from a safe perch. Children should look rather than touch, because handling a Scout Elf may affect that special magic.
There is no need to take your Scout Elf on an outing or make it part of every occasion. A small clue beside the breakfast table, a festive book or a funny new hiding place is often enough. These are family activities first, with a little North Pole inspiration woven in.
12 British Christmas traditions to try with children
1. Start the Advent countdown
Whether your family opens chocolate-calendar doors, shares a daily story or adds a decoration to the tree, Advent turns the wait for Christmas into lots of little moments. Try making a simple paper chain together and taking off one link each day. When your Scout Elf returns, they might be discovered looking over the countdown, as curious about the big day as everyone else.
2. Wear your silliest Christmas jumper
From reindeer noses to flashing snowflakes, Christmas jumpers are practically a winter uniform in many British schools and offices. Let children choose their favourite jumper, take a family photo or invent a silly festive fashion-show name. If your Scout Elf is nearby, they can be perched beside a tiny paper jumper drawing. Check your school’s own charity-dress-up dates rather than assuming every school celebrates on the same day.
3. Write proper Christmas cards
A handwritten card can travel a lot further than a quick message. Help children choose someone who would appreciate a note, perhaps a grandparent, neighbour or teacher. Little ones can draw a picture while older children write their own greeting. A Scout Elf might be found near the envelopes and pens, ready to admire the post. Remember to check Royal Mail’s current posting deadlines before sending cards far away.
4. Make a day of the school nativity or concert
The school nativity, winter concert or end-of-term performance often becomes a family story retold for years. Ask your child which part they are excited about, help them practise their line or enjoy a favourite song together. Afterwards, create a “well done” message for the performer. Your Scout Elf can watch from home, perhaps sitting beside the programme the next morning.
5. Go to a pantomime and shout along
“He’s behind you!” Pantomime is one of Britain’s most distinctive festive treats, filled with audience participation, colourful costumes and familiar fairy tales. If you are going to a local panto, explain the call-and-response fun to younger children beforehand. No theatre tickets this year? Put on a five-minute family panto at home, with a scarf for a cape and an outrageously dramatic villain. Even the North Pole would applaud that performance.
6. Look for Christmas lights on your local high street
You do not need a big city light trail to enjoy this one. Wrap up warm, walk along a familiar street and see how many stars, reindeer, trees and sparkling windows the children can spot. Pick a favourite display and say why you like it. For a longer game, take turns inventing extra clues of your own. It works just as well on a short neighbourhood walk.
7. Bake mince pies or another family favourite
Warm pastry and festive spices make a kitchen feel instantly Christmassy. Children can help cut shapes, spoon cooled filling or choose which treats to share with a neighbour, while adults handle hot trays and ovens. If your household prefers something different, biscuits or a favourite family bake count too. Your Scout Elf can watch from a clean, dry shelf, away from food preparation, heat and small loose decorations.
8. Discover the surprise inside a Christmas cracker
Christmas crackers are a familiar sight on UK festive tables: a paper crown, a tiny surprise and a joke that makes everyone groan. Make a family competition out of telling the best deliberately terrible cracker joke. Children can also create their own riddles on ordinary paper. If you buy crackers, choose age-appropriate contents and keep small parts away from younger children. No pulling is needed for a good joke.
9. Sing a carol or favourite Christmas song
Whether it is a school carol concert, a community singalong or a kitchen performance while washing up, a familiar Christmas song can draw everyone together. Ask each family member to choose one song for a short festive playlist. Your Scout Elf may be found beside the music the next morning, quietly appreciating the family’s enthusiasm. Keep the choice joyful rather than making it another performance to perfect.
10. Stir the Christmas pudding and make a wish
Stir-up Sunday is a traditional late-November moment for families to prepare Christmas pudding and make a wish while stirring the mixture. In 2026 it falls on 22 November, just before Scout Elf Return Week. If your elf has not arrived yet, save a wish to tell them later. Our separate Stir-up Sunday guide explores the history and child-friendly ways to join in, so there is no need to squeeze a full pudding-making project into this list.
11. Visit a local Christmas market or festive fair
Some of the nicest festive outings happen close to home: a church hall craft fair, a school fundraiser or a town-centre market. Set children a simple challenge to spot something handmade, listen for a Christmas tune or choose a small gift for somebody else. A free stroll is every bit as festive as buying things. Take a picture to show the family later, then let the Scout Elf discover it from their usual perch.
12. Get ready for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve
For many UK families, Christmas Eve means hanging stockings, choosing pyjamas or setting out a mince pie and a carrot for Father Christmas and his reindeer. Most Scout Elves return to the North Pole with Santa on Christmas Eve, so the day can also include a gentle goodbye. Share a favourite memory from the season, leave a note or read the original storybook together. There is no need for an extravagant farewell scene.
A simple way to make traditions feel like your own
Pick just two or three activities that fit your family. Some children adore crowds and pantomime noise; others would rather decorate a card at the kitchen table. Some households celebrate religious traditions, others focus on family time, and many blend customs from more than one culture. A British Christmas does not have to look exactly the same in every home.
If your family is new to The Elf on the Shelf® tradition, begin with the official storybook and choose your Scout Elf’s name. After that, the best memories tend to be the ordinary ones: laughing at a cracker joke, listening to a child tell you about their school play, or spotting a familiar red hat peeping out between the books.
British Christmas traditions: quick questions
What are popular Christmas traditions in Britain?
Common traditions include Advent calendars, Christmas jumpers, pantomimes, school concerts, Christmas cards, mince pies, festive lights, crackers, carols and Christmas Eve preparations. Families celebrate in different ways across the UK.
Can children take their Scout Elf to a pantomime or Christmas fair?
It is best to leave a Scout Elf resting safely at home rather than carrying or handling them. Children can still share the outing through a drawing, photo or story when they get back.
What if our Scout Elf has not arrived by Stir-up Sunday?
That is perfectly fine. Most return during Scout Elf Return Week, from 23 November to 1 December in 2026, although each family’s timing can differ. You can enjoy Stir-up Sunday and save a wish for later.
Does our Scout Elf stay for Christmas Day?
Most Scout Elves return to the North Pole with Santa on Christmas Eve, ready to help prepare for another year. The festive family traditions can continue long after the elf has flown home.
Keep the Christmas magic going
Explore our official Elf Ideas gallery for easy inspiration, discover more about the Christmas tradition, or find a new festive activity for your next family afternoon.