12 Days of Christmas Family Challenge
Well, first off, did you know that the 12 days of Christmas begin AFTER Christmas?
The 12 days of Christmas is the period that marks the span between the birth of Christ (Nativity) December 25 and runs up to January 6 Theophany (Epiphany) which is when we celebrate Christ's baptism in the Jordan! These 12 days in between offers the faithful a festal period of great joy!
As Orthodox Christians, we mark the 40 days Advent leading up to the Nativity as a period of fasting, increased prayer, and giving alms and services in order to preparing ourselves spiritually to receive the coming Lord.
After any fast, we feast! Christmas is not a one day event! In fact, we spend this period of time FEASTING in all senses of the word ... celebrating with loved ones, enjoying the all the foods we have abstained from, and joyously celebrating the Lord who is with us 🎉
So don't rush to put your Christmas decorations away! Embrace this period set aside for our joy to continue!
Join the Challenge
Ascetic Life of Motherhood
So what is the 12 Days of Christmas Family Challenge?
For this challenge, I encourage you to find one thing per day that helps cultivate family culture in your home, create family bonds and glorify God in your family. Carve out time intentionally and find things you all enjoy together! As a visual aid, I created a printable to help you enjoy these days in a sustainable way.
Many of these activities don't need to cost money and I’ve added blank pages to both the “tickets” and “bingo card” pages so you can feel free to make your own!
Here’s what you’ll get in this 5 page download bundle:
-12 Days of Christmas Family Challenge Print
-Bingo Card with Family Challenge Bucket List. Just cross off whatever you accomplish during the 12 days of Christmas!
-Blank Bingo Card with Create-Your-Own Family Challenges
-12 Days of Christmas Tickets - Cut out and have your kids pick what Christmas activity for the day.
-12 Days of BLANK Christmas Tickets - Create-Your-Own tickets to cut out and display or have your kids pick!
Final Thoughts
If you're feeling overwhelmed trying to add MORE to your life, don't over think it. The challenge is to embrace your family the best way you know how - and by marking this special season of our Lord. It can be as simple as "make a special warm drink each evening before family prayers"!
Whatever you do, I pray it is a blessed Christmastide!
Khouria Destinie
You might also enjoy:
A Simple Way to Live the Orthodox Calendar at Home
One of the greatest treasures of the Orthodox Church is the Liturgical Calendar. Through feasts, fasts, saints, and hymns, the Church teaches us how to see time itself as holy. And yet—especially for families—it can also feel overwhelming. There is so much to remember, prepare for, and explain to our children. Over the years, I’ve learned that living the Orthodox faith at home doesn’t mean doing everything. It means doing a few things intentionally. That conviction is what led me to create my new Monthly Orthodox Family Calendar Printables for 2026.