Magical Holiday Home

Rudolph Day is celebrated the 25th of each month ending the year with December 25th, Christmas Day. The purpose of Rudolph Day is to prepare some throughout the year so that Christmas is less hectic. For Rudolph Day you might do a bit of shopping, listen to carols, wrap gifts, or sip some hot chocolate. Whatever you do, try to do a little preparation for Christmas and have a little fun. Rudolph Day keeps the Christmas spirit alive all year long!

Here at Magical Holiday Home we have four pages under Rudolph Day. First we have this, the Rudolph Day page, which will serve as the homepage for Rudolph Day and includes ideas, and suggestions for what to accomplish each month. Second we have a Theme Parties page which will house various theme party ideas that are fun around Christmas time and that you might find yourself preparing for throughout the year. Third we have a Merry Recipes page which will feature a Rudolph Day recipe each month. These may be party dishes or ideas for a Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas breakfast or Christmas Dinner. Last we have our Rudolph Book & Movie Club page which houses the current and past lists of movies and books that have been proposed for each Rudolph Day.

Monthly Lists

January:

• It’s Christmas Notebook Month!  Time to reflect on Christmas past, jot notes for next Christmas, and declutter the notebook. Don’t forget to update addresses using the Christmas cards you received! Print new pages and get ready for the new year! This is a good time to update or start your gift closet inventory and tuck it in your notebook! Also make a list of things needed for the coming Christmas….new lights? ornaments? etc

• Rudolph Day List: Take time this month to look ahead and jot down ideas for future Rudolph Days. Use the ideas list here at MHH or personalize it to fit your individual needs!

February:

• It’s Crafty Kits Month! This month decide on crafts or gifts that you would like to make throughout the year. Remember to keep it simple. You can only do so much.  Then create a craft kit for each one. Use a gallon sized zip lock bag and include the craft directions, materials list, and put in any materials you already have! Now you are organized and ready to craft and create during the whole year. Visit our Christmas Cottage page for some delightful ideas!

• Rudolph Day tote, basket, or bag!  This month find a little storage spot for all your Rudolph Day stuff. Place your Christmas notebook, crafty kits, cards, recipe books, Christmas mug, socks, whatever suits you into the tote. Every Rudolph Day, you will have most of your supplies at your fingertips!

March:

• It’s Books & Movies Month!  Time to inventory and organize your Christmas books and movies! Gather them from all of their hiding places or perhaps you have them in a nice box or on a shelf! Take time to inventory what you have and spend some time browsing online to create a “wish list” for the coming holiday season! If you have a little one…this might be the  month to “wrap” the books. Then when the holiday season arrives, place the wrapped books in a pretty basket or box. When story time arrives, your little one can pick a wrapped book to unwrap and have read to him or her!

• Christmas Cash: If you haven’t already started, it’s time to start tucking away some cash for Christmas. Perhaps you have a Christmas Savers account? Be sure and add to it this month! Maybe you have a savings jar where you tuck away change and small bills? Don’t let it go hungry. You will be glad you fed it throughout the year so you have money for gifts!  Through a combination of buying gifts throughout the year and saving some Christmas Cash…you can have a wonderful Christmas and still stay on your budget!

April:

• It’s Christmas Dishes Month!  Do you have Christmas dishes, serving trays, and other items that are tucked here and there? Do you have trouble finding them when it’s time for a party or dinner? Well this is Christmas Dishes Month and it’s time to declutter and organize the Christmas dishes. Find a storage area. move your dishes there and inventory what you have. Later you may discover a random piece stuck here or there, when you do, add it to your Christmas Cupboard, so when the holiday season arrives, you’ll have everything at your fingertips!  This is also a good time to organize holiday linens.

• Christmas Magic: Do you do 24 Days of Christmas activities? Do you give the 12 Days of Christmas gifts? Or perhaps you do a little St Nicholas Day gift. If so, this is the month to plan the “magic”. Make a list, pick out some items, or just get your ideas into the notebook!

May:

• It’s Recipe Month!  It’s time to organize your holiday recipes! This Rudolph Day task will help you be ready for next month’s party planning and then again in September when you plan your baking and candy making! Get a notebook or file box. Sort your recipes. Keep in mind that you can’t make them all. Keep a section for tried and true recipes that you love and a section for new ones that you want to try. Plan to try at least one recipe before June Rudolph Day arrives. Make a list of ones to try each month between now and Christmas!

• Themes: Do you like to do theme trees like a travel tree or a wine tree? Do you like theme decor or theme parties? If so, this is the month to decide on some themes so you can be on the look out for items to go with your “themes.” Flea markets and resale shops have hidden treasures but to pull it all together you need to make a decision about your theme(s) for this year!  In addition, don’t forget to “think outside the box”. Many non Christmas items can be used as decor or ornaments. When traveling pick up pretty keychains or other items to use as ornaments on your travel tree.

 June:

• It’s Party Planning Month!  It’s never too early to start planning your holiday parties. This month pencil in some tentative dates, decide party themes, and start thinking about menus and decor ideas!

• Master Gift List: We are at the halfway mark. How are your gifts looking? Plan to buy a couple gifts this month! Update your gift lists if you have been buying items throughout the year. Make sure you keep track of them so you don’t over buy!

July:

• Finish up Stocking Stuffers Month (pick up those last little goodies for stockings) It’s easy to get drawn to all the little goodies that get put out right before Christmas but usually these are cute for a second and tossed aside quickly. For stocking stuffers think variety (a book, one beauty item, an ornament, etc) and limit the number you put in each stocking.

• Christmas Cards: This is the month to design, get supplies, and make cards) OR if you use store bought cards then this is the month to get them out and sign them. Perhaps even start addressing the envelopes or at least update addresses as needed on your Christmas Card List.

August:

• It’s the Month of the Elf: Time to plan Elf activities. Get out some planner sheets and jot down any “pranks” your elf might do and also check your elf gifts (did you pick up some items after Christmas for the elf to bring this year?) Don’t forget “experience gifts” are lots of fun with the elf. So be sure and include making cookies or going to the theater to take in the newest Christmas movie (the elf goes too, of course!) The elf can present the tickets as a surprise! If your elf is writing notes….get a jump start and craft a couple this month so they are all ready when the busy holiday season arrives!

• Crafts: Check the crafty kits you started back in February. How are you doing on the crafts and gifts? Do you still need to get some materials? Which ones are priorities? Work on those this month!  Remember time is a factor, so don’t take on more than you can reasonably finish!

September:

• September is Baking Month: This is the month to finalize your plans for baking and candy making. By deciding on recipes early, you can create a master ingredient list and start shopping now. Spreading the cost out over several weeks will help the holiday budget.

• Ornaments: Time to take an inventory of what you need. Hopefully you jotted down that list back in January. Now is the time to pull it out and jot it down in a small notebook to carry with you. Then when you see an item on sale, check your list and stock up on the savings!  In addition, this is a good time to find a cute ornament or two to make! Remember: SIMPLIFY….you can’t make them all….pick a couple and enjoy!

October:

• It’s Gift in a Jar and Basket Month: Are you making some gifts in a jar or putting together gift baskets? If so this is the month to pull them together! Buy jars or better yet, go on a search of resale shops and find an odd assortment of jars. I love the treasures I find in resale shops!  while you’re at it…look for baskets too, at a fraction of the cost! Decide on the ones you will make this year, create a master list and buy ingredients and items!

• Master Gift List: It’s time to check the list again. Just like Santa, checking it twice. Add a space for checking when you wrap the gift. This will also help keep track of what is already wrapped and what still needs to be!

November:

• It is Wrap It Up Month!  The goal for Rudolph Day this month is to finish wrapping gifts or at the very least have a wrapping day and get as many wrapped as possible! No more staying up late Christmas Eve wrapping gifts. The goal is to have Christmas Eve free for enjoying family and friends!

• Advent Calendar: Time to get your calendar ready!
• Elf Arrival: Is your elf ready? Do you have him or her where you can find it? Is your arrival letter written and do you have the gift from the North Pole that the elf can bring? If not…pull off some elfish magic and get them ready now!
• Christmas Cards: Get out those cards you made or signed back in July, finish addressing them, add a newsletter or note if you like and put them in a basket or box ready to mail December 1st! Don’t forget to buy your stamps early.

December:

• Merry Christmas Month!

• Celebrate with family and friends!!

 Don’t forget to check out RudolphDay.com for all the latest and greatest Rudolph Day news!