12 Dates Before Christmas

Christmas one year, I had a fun idea to do "12 Dates Before Christmas" for my husband. I have done a countdown to Christmas with different "themes" each year since we have been married. You can tweak any of the dates or choose a different theme or just do some of these for a date night throughout the holiday season!

It is such a great way to remember to make time for each other even in the busy days leading up to Christmas. Also, remember that any of these dates can be changed to at home dates or all out of the house dates too. Do what is best for your time, budget and what you and your spouse like to do.

I would put whatever items we needed for the date in a brown paper bag. It would say on the front of the bag "On the First Date Before Christmas... Jenna and Greg... and state the activity." I set out a new bag everyday after my husband went to work so it was a surprise for him when he'd get home. 

On the First Date Before Christmas... Make a Countdown to Christmas. 

Every year growing up, my mom let us make candy countdowns to Christmas. So, I thought it would be fun to bring that tradition into our home too. We wrote our favorite things about each other and added the notes with the candy. We cut one off every day to countdown to Christmas. It was one of our favorite things we did!  

(I put the candy in the brown bag and set out the supplies we needed) 

On the Second Date Before Christmas... Spa Night.  

We like to do spa nights at home. We like to do face masks and pedicures! It’s a fun way to relax and serve one another. 

(You could buy a new face mask to put in the brown paper bag with some towels rolled up ready to go) 

On the Third Date Before Christmas... Christmas Movie Night! 

We tend to watch the Grinch but any Christmas movie will do! Make some popcorn and grab some treats and snuggle up for a movie night.  

(You could put popcorn and treats in the brown paper bag and then set it up by the tv or make a fort and have it ready for when they get home)

On the Fourth Date Before Christmas... Hot Cocoa Run!

We love the holiday drinks at Starbucks so we always are happy to make a drink run. It's 

a cheap option and a way to get out of the house for a minute. It allows you one on one time in the car to talk and catch up for the day.  

(You could put a gift card to Starbucks or your favorite drink place or hot cocoa packets in the brown paper bag)

On the Fifth Date Before Christmas... Game Night at Home!  

I bought a new card game called "Did We Just Become Best Friends" and a Family Feud card game. Just plain old cards or a board game will do too! It’s a fun way to make bets, laugh and spend time together.  

(You can buy a new card game or pull out all the games you have and set it up ready to pick a game out for the night)

On the Sixth Date Before Christmas... Make a Christmas Treat.   

Our Christmas treat last year was gingerbread men. We made the dough from scratch and then had leftovers we took to Christmas eve for the kids in my family to make some too. You can make a pie, cookies, brownies, a cake or even do a bake off. We have done that and it was so much fun! Start a tradition of making a favorite Christmas treat for the years to come.  

(Buy a new cookie cutter, put the mix or the supplies in the brown paper bag)

On the Seventh Date Before Christmas... Go See the Lights.   

Go for a drive around your neighborhood or the popular Christmas light streets to see the Christmas lights. Or find a spot where lots of Christmas lights are and go walk around. For us in Utah, Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake is our go to spot to walk around to see lights.

(You can put a picture of lights or a strand of lights or put the brown paper bag in your Christmas tree with the lights on to resemble the date idea)

  

On the Eighth Date Before Christmas... Favorite Treat Run!  

We started a tradition when we got married, every year for Christmas we go get a box of our favorite chocolates from See’s Candies. You can grab any treats you like! Just get out of the house together and grab a yummy snack.  

(You can put a gift card to your favorite treat place or put a few options on paper and let your spouse pull a place out from the brown paper bag)

On the Ninth Date Before Christmas... Go Down Memory Lane. 

Look at old pics, tell stories about your childhood Christmas memories, traditions, make goals and wishes for your own family and traditions, take a Christmas pic for this year and start making your new year goals. You can even wrap gifts while you talk about your memories too! 

(print off questions and then take turns pulling them out of the bag or gather old pictures to look through)

A few examples of questions you could use...

1. What was your favorite Christmas memory?

2. What was the worst present you have ever gotten for Christmas?

3. What traditions did you have?

4. Why is Christmas important to you personally? 

5. What was your family parties like for the holidays? 

On the Tenth Date Before Christmas... Fancy Christmas Dinner!

I have always wanted to get dressed up fancy and go out in the cold winter air to a fancy restaurant to celebrate the season. We have some neat restaurants here in Utah that we could definitely do that. Or dress up fancy for a at home dinner too! 

(Set out some fancy clothes for your spouse or you could make it a surprise where you're going with clues in the brown paper bag or think of an interactive dinner that you can make together)

On the Eleventh Date Before Christmas... "Reese'n" for the Season (Read the Christmas Story and eat Reese's)

My husband loves Reese’s candy so I thought that's a cute way to prep him for the date. The whole purpose of the season is to celebrate Christ so it’s important to remember the reason for the season. And what better way than to do it for a date night together eating Reese's while we are at it!  

(Grab a pack of Reese's to put in the brown paper bag or just print out the Christmas Story or pull out your bibles and have it all ready to dive into)

On the Twelfth Date Before Christmas...Christmas Eve Breakfast!

A girl I work with always does breakfast with her family on Christmas Eve morning and I loved the idea. I figured it would be cool for a date with your spouse to get up early and go to breakfast before the hustle and bustle of the evening starts. We love Kneaders for their all you can eat French toast and cinnamon rolls! 

(Wake up your spouse with it as a surprise or plan it the night before but either way give them the last brown paper bag with the clue of the date!) 

What dates would you do during the "12 Dates Before Christmas" countdown? And what are your favorite Holiday activities throughout the season?