78 Virtual Advent Calendar Christmas Activities
When Christmas 2020 came around, or the lack thereof. We wanted to find a way to feel together as a family, minus the parties or cross-country flights.
Twenty-Twenty was the year we created the Virtual Advent Calendar, and we are beginning preparations for our 3rd year, not because we need to but because it was so much fun!
Christmas Activity Example
Post a photo of you recreating a famous holiday scene
We plan to do it every year as a way to feel close to our family near and far.
If your family is spread across the globe, or if your family is local, but you don’t get to see them as often as you would like, then this tradition is for you.
The Virtual advent calendar will get you talking, laughing, and engaging with one another every day throughout the month of December.
So what is a Virtual Advent Calendar?
A virtual Advent Calendar is a new way to experience the Christmas season online with your family, near and far, throughout the month of December.
There will be a small task to accomplish and post each day, such as posting a photo from a past Christmas or a picture of you with a candy cane.
On the weekends throughout December, we include larger activities that need more time to accomplish, such as creating a lip-sync video to your favorite Christmas song or recreating a Christmas Scene.
As you can imagine, seeing what family and friends come up with and post is entertaining, to say the least. You can include many options, such as a family Secret Santa event, creating Christmas crafts, and more.
How to Set Up a Virtual Advent Calendar on Facebook
While there may be other ways to set up a Virtual Advent Calendar, we have found Facebook to be easy to set up and the platform we will continue to use.
Steps to Set up your Virtual Advent Calendar
1. Log onto Facebook.com
2. Click on Events
3. Click on Create New Event
4. Choose the Online event options.
5. Choose a General event type.
6. Choose an Event Name, such as Smith Virtual Advent Calendar
7. Choose December 25th or 26th as the date of the event.
By creating the event date on the 25th or 26th, you can ensure the event page will be open for all necessary days.
8. Choose the Private option under privacy. By choosing this, only the family you invite will be included in the event
9. For Location, choose Other
10. Add a Description- You are welcome to our description below
11. Upload a cover photo- anything Christmas-themed will do
12. Click – Create Event
13. When the event is made, will you see the option to Invite Guests under Promote Your Event. So invite all of the family and friends you would like to join, and your event is officially set up!
Christmas Activity Example
Post a photo of you with your favorite
Christmas ornament.
When sharing the daily Christmas activities, you have a few options:
- You can post that day’s activity each morning of the month.
- You can post that day’s activity, yesterday’s activity (for anyone who missed it), and tomorrow’s activity so they have a head start.
- Or (and this is what we will do this year), Give a list of all the activities throughout the month in the description so people have more time to prepare and plan accordingly.
- To summarize, we will – make the entire list (for each day leading up to Christmas) available in the description. Then, we will create a post each morning to remind everyone of that day’s activity.
Christmas Activity Example
Post a photo of you with your Christmas Stocking.
Event Description to use for your Virtual Advent Calendar
Welcome to our Virtual Advent Calendar!
December 1st – 25th
With family all over the country and the busy lives we all lead, we thought of a new tradition to help connect our family during the holiday season.
Throughout the month of December, we will have fun Christmas-themed activities that will be posted here on this Christmas Facebook page.
Our Daily activity will be a Christmas activity (see the list below) that you will be given, and you have till the end of the day to post your picture or information. Most activities will take less than 5 minutes to accomplish.
Alongside our daily activities, three larger events are listed below, so you have time to prepare for them if they pique your interest. Participate in a one, all, or none; the choice is yours.
Check out the upcoming activities below!
*End of Description*
Note about Larger Events – We like to have one larger event planned for each weekend leading up to Christmas.
You also can forgo the more extensive activities and stick with the small ones.
Christmas Activity Example
Post a photo of your favorite holiday card you received or saw this season.
Virtual Advent Calendar Activities
Quick Activities (Average under 5 minutes) Use these on most days.
Post a picture from a past Christmas
Post a picture of yourself with a snowman (real or fake)
Post a photo where you are changing the date of an advent calendar
Photo of you pretending to or actually caroling
Post a photo of you with a reindeer (real or fake)
Photo or video of you cutting out a paper snowflake
Photo of you with a Nativity Scene
Photo of you watching your favorite Christmas Movie
Photo of you drinking your favorite holiday beverage (hot chocolate, eggnog, etc.)
Photo or video of you making a snow angel
Photo of a Christmas craft you have made
Photo of you with a candy cane
Photo of you reading your favorite Christmas book
Photo of you with your favorite Christmas ornament
Photo of the best-decorated house in your neighborhood
Photo of you with your Christmas Stocking
Video of you dancing for 10 seconds to your favorite Christmas Song
Photo of you snuggled up as snuggly as can be
Tell us your favorite thing about the Christmas season.
What is the best Christmas gift you have ever received? Include a picture or story
Post your best internet holiday find ( holiday memes, Jokes, videos, etc.)
Photo of you holding your favorite Christmas decoration
Post an interesting Christmas fact or Christmas Trivia
Photo or explanation of a unique holiday tradition you have
For a new Christmas Tradition this year, check out – Make Gifts Last All Day
The best picture you have of you or your kids with Santa
Photo of you with a wreath
Photo of you kissing under the mistletoe .. or any plant you have hanging around.
Photo of you with your Decorated Christmas Tree (or any decorated tree)
Photo of you wrapping presents
Photo in your most festive piece of holiday attire
Photo of your favorite holiday sweet treat
Photo with your favorite holiday card you received or saw this season.
Photo of you with an Angel
Photo of you with Santa (decor or in person)
Photo of you with a star (tree topper or any other decor)
Photo of you with an elf or Christmas gnome
Photo of you with anything that says Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays
Photo of you with Santa’s Sleigh (decor or lifesized)
Photo of you with a penguin
Photo of you with a snowflake (real or fake)
Recreate a Christmas photo from the past
Photo of you picking out or chopping down a Christmas tree.
Photo of you decorating your Christmas Tree
Picture of you bundled up like Randy (the younger brother) from A Christmas story.
Photo of you pretending to or actually sledding
What is your favorite Christmas activity?
List your top three Christmas movies.
Photo of you with the weirdest Christmas decoration you have
Show a photo of where the elf on the shelf is hiding today. If you don’t have one hide any Christmas decor for your loved one to find and post a picture.
Recount your favorite Christmas memory from the past
What is your favorite Christmas Game?
Photo of you being sneaky and shaking a gift.
Photo of you decorating your home for Christmas.
Photo of you ice skating (real or fake)
Photo of your best depiction of The Grinch
Photo of you delivering homemade or store boughten treats to a friend, family member, or neighbor.
Photo of you in a snowball fight (real or fake)
Photo of you relaxing by the fireplace (real or fake)
What is your favorite Christmas food? Include the recipe!
Take a photo of you in your PJs, ready for Christmas! (usually reserved for the 24th)
Photo of you on Christmas Morning!
Christmas Activity Example
Post a photo of you kissing under the mistletoe .. or any plant you have hanging around.
Medium Activities – These activities may take a little longer – Only choose a couple of these to use throughout the month.
Complete a Random Act of Kindness and tell us what you did!
A photo of you making or decorating Christmas Cookies
Research and try an old-fashioned Christmas tradition
Choose a single line from a Christmas song and create a photo of yourself depicting the line in the song.
Make a Christmas ornament – for your tree or as a gift.
Build a Christmas movie fort to watch your favorite Christmas movie
Research a new recipe and bake a never before tried Christmas Treat.
Make something from gingerbread (house, men, ornaments, etc.)
Create a Christmas background in your home and have a Christmas-themed photoshoot. Post the pictures here!
Research and try a tradition from another country.
Christmas Activity Example
Post a photo of you recreating a famous holiday scene
Long Activities: These activities will take the longest.
These are the activities that we save for each weekend. If you do not include the entire list of activities in the description, be sure to include the information for these days upfront, as they can take longer to prepare.
- Talent show Submission- Show off your talent! You can sing, dance, juggle, anything! Try to add a Christmas theme to your act.
- Lip sync battle – Choose your favorite Christmas song and create a lip sync video to show off your skills.
- Christmas Craft! Try and complete the craft below and share your process/ final results. (find any easy Christmas craft on youtube or Pinterest and include the link)
- Photo of you recreating a famous holiday scene- Just a snapshot here- ( For example – a scene from home alone where he puts on shaving cream. Post a side-by-side comparison if you can)
- Recreate your favorite holiday movie scene! Choose your most beloved scene for a holiday movie. You can do this solo or with a group. Act out or lip-sync the scene and show us your results!
- Secret Santa! -If you want to include a Secret Santa gift swap during the month, include the signup information in the description. We use the website Elfster.com
- We’ve been Elfed Gift Basket. If you don’t know, when “you’ve been elfed,” someone (usually a neighbor) has created a gift basket and left it on your doorstep anonymously. It will usually include a card you can put on your door that says, ” We’ve been elfed! So other neighbors know not to gift you again. When you start or receive this gift basket, you usually make two baskets and pay it forward. The idea is that two people will turn to four, four to eight, and on and on. I love these free printables from AndersRuff.com.
** When choosing activities, be mindful of timing. For example, wait until later in the month for a picture of the best-decorated home in the neighborhood.
Most people will not have everything decorated during the first week of December.
What fun activities will you plan for the month of December?
While, on the surface, the idea of a Virtual Christmas can sound underwhelming, I can promise that it forces you to become present every day during the Christmas season.
You, your family, and even your friends will love the memories you can create by participating in the Virtual Advent Calendar!
If you’re looking for other fun activities to do during the month of December, check out – How to Create a Christmas Scavenger Hunt- 35 Clues Included.
