The holidays can be stressful. And if your family is traveling, it can be complicated to figure out how to incorporate Santa while on the road.
Here are a few options for when you don’t wake up at home on Christmas!
Ideas for Christmas on the Road
Stalling Christmas
I’ve done this several times now. Every other year we fly over the holidays and I’m not checking extra bags for gifts.
Get some fun stationary and have the kids send letters to Santa letting him know they won’t be home. These can be sent before you leave, or as late as the night before — the North Pole mail is magically fast!
Under the tree, leave a response from Santa that he received the letter and will “see them” on whatever date makes sense.
We’re always at the grandparents house so the gifts from relatives fill the space under the tree and still make it feel like Christmas morning. And you can also add small toys that double as airplane activities for the flight home!
Pack the Stockings
Speaking of small gifts, having Santa stuff the stockings while on the road is a great way to incorporate the magic of Christmas, without the hassle of schlepping all the gifts with you.
Bump Up Christmas
If you can stall it, you can move it up!
If you plan to travel before the 25th, write a letter earlier to let Santa know you need him to stop by before you leave. This allows you to celebrate at home.
Santa Comes While You’re Gone
If Santa still visits on the 25th, make sure you’ve got a good poker face and a plan.
With everyone packed in the car, you’ll need a solid excuse to run back into the house for a few minutes to quickly put the gifts under the tree. Wrap and sort all the gifts earlier to make this go smoothly. Also, make sure everyone has used the bathroom to avoid that last minute trip inside when all the gifts are already out.
Pack the Gifts
I only recommend this if it’s a road trip and your kids are little. Keep the gifts in inconspicuous packaging and wrap them when you get there to avoid any mishaps.
Send the Gifts Ahead of Time
Again, this is for a road trip and make sure you consider car space for the ride home. And you’ll want whoever is on the receiving end to agree to stash the gifts somewhere safe. Then you can wrap them when you arrive.
Blend Traditions
It can get tricky if you’ve got multiple families with different ideas for Santa’s visit. Chatting ahead of time will make this go smoother.
Santa may come Christmas Eve for some, and Christmas Day for others. But remember, there’s nothing that a letter to Santa can’t fix! And seal the deal with a response from Santa confirming the plan is great and something he’s done before.
Elf on the Shelf Can Travel
If you participate in the Elf on the Shelf tradition, you can tackle this a few different ways.
I’ve always smuggled the elf into our destination before the kids get a chance to look for it. It holds a prewritten note asking how their trip was, etc. The elf also delivers the mail to Santa.
If you leave later and the elf is at your home in the morning, you can have the elf appear the next day at your destination.
Or, you can have the elf write a note saying they can only travel to your house and the North Pole. That’s the magic of the elf, it’s as simple (or complicated) as you make it!
There you have it! Bottom line: the magic of Christmas isn’t tied to just one day, it’s also in all the things leading up to and after the 25th. Try not to stress too much over tradition and do what makes sense for your own family each year.
Do you have any other tips for celebrating Christmas on the road? Let us know in the comments below!
