When you think of celebrity Christmas celebrations, you probably picture towering Christmas trees, designer decorations, and gifts with eye-watering price tags. But behind the glamorous holiday photos, some famous faces enjoy surprisingly ordinary traditions.
From baking cookies in the kitchen to wearing matching pajamas and gathering around the television, their favorite holiday moments aren’t always about spending big. In fact, many of these activities fit into a regular American family’s Christmas plans with little effort. Here are 11 celebrity Christmas traditions that prove you don’t need a Hollywood budget to make the holidays memorable.
Related: Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas Runs Oct. 16 to Dec. 20 With 34 New Movies, Up From 24 Last Year
Dolly Parton Makes Christmas Breakfast More Colorful and Memorable
Country music legend Dolly Parton knows how to bring a little extra cheer to the breakfast table. One of her holiday traditions involves serving red-and-green pancakes on Christmas morning. Even when Dolly Parton has exited the stage, her festive cake techniques create a memorable Christmas for all who try them.
It’s an easy idea to borrow. Divide your pancake batter into two bowls, add a little red and green food coloring, and cook as usual. Serve the pancakes with butter and syrup for a festive breakfast that doesn’t require fancy ingredients or expensive equipment.
Related:8 Things Never to Do With a Christmas Tree and Holiday Lights
Blake Lively Enjoys a Cozy Christmas at Home
Actress Blake Lively has described Christmas celebrations filled with baking cookies, decorating gingerbread houses, watching movies, and spending time with family.
You can recreate the atmosphere by planning a relaxed Christmas afternoon. Pick a favorite holiday movie, assemble an inexpensive gingerbread house kit, and bring out the blankets. Forget about creating the perfect holiday setup. The real attraction is having everyone together, enjoying activities that don’t require leaving the house.
For Chrissy Metz, Christmas Eve comes with a comfortable surprise. The actress has shared that her family opens one present the night before Christmas, and it’s always pajamas.
The tradition is simple enough for almost any household to copy. Wrap a pair of pajamas for each family member and let everyone open them together. Matching outfits are optional. Add a family photo or Christmas movie afterward, and you’ve created a tradition worth repeating every year.
Related: Christmas Party Games to Sleigh the Night
Carly Rae Jepsen Keeps Childhood Ornaments on the Tree
Singer Carly Rae Jepsen has spoken about childhood Christmas decorations made with her siblings, including painted eggshells and clay ornaments. Those handmade pieces continued to have a place on the family tree.
It’s a lovely reminder that Christmas decorations don’t need to come from expensive stores. Gather some air-dry clay, ribbon, and paint, then let everyone create something personal. Write the year on each ornament. Over time, your tree becomes a collection of family memories.
Related: Sourcing and Decorating With Vintage Christmas Decorations
Bryce Dallas Howard Turns Cookie Decorating Into a Competition
Actress Bryce Dallas Howard has described a family holiday tradition involving cookie decorating, sometimes with a little friendly competition.
Try hosting your own Christmas cookie challenge. Bake or buy plain cookies, set out frosting and sprinkles, and invite everyone to create their best designs. You could even invent funny award categories, such as most creative cookie or biggest decorating disaster. The results don’t have to look professional. That’s part of the fun.
Luke Bryan Serves Chili Dogs on Christmas Eve
Not every celebrity Christmas dinner involves an elaborate roast. Country singer Luke Bryan has talked about his family’s Christmas Eve tradition of chili dogs in pajamas.
For families tired of complicated holiday menus, this idea offers a welcome change. Prepare hot dogs, warm up some chili, and set out toppings so everyone can build their own plate. It’s casual, affordable, and perfect for a relaxed evening before the excitement of Christmas morning.
Katie Holmes Makes Holiday Cupcakes With Her Daughter
For actress Katie Holmes, holiday baking has a sentimental connection. In a 2020 interview with PureWow, she shared that making festive cupcakes with her daughter carried forward a tradition she enjoyed growing up with her sisters.
You don’t need advanced baking skills to follow her example. Use a boxed cupcake mix, prepare some frosting, and let everyone decorate their own treats. It’s an inexpensive activity that brings different generations together in the kitchen.
Paul Giamatti Keeps Christmas Breakfast Traditionally Italian
Actor Paul Giamatti has a refreshingly uncomplicated Christmas tradition. In a 2023 interview with PEOPLE, he explained that panettone, the Italian sweet bread, had been part of his family’s Christmas celebrations for years.
You can easily borrow this tradition without spending hours baking. Pick up a loaf of panettone from a supermarket or Italian bakery, slice it, and serve it alongside coffee or hot chocolate. Sometimes a special Christmas breakfast doesn’t require cooking anything.
Eva Longoria Brings Everyone Together Over Tamales
Actress Eva Longoria has spoken about her family’s Mexican Christmas traditions, including gathering with relatives to prepare tamales. She described these cooking sessions as an opportunity for family members to work together and share the finished food.
Making tamales from scratch can be time-consuming, but the spirit of the tradition is easy to recreate. Invite relatives to prepare a favorite family recipe together, or serve ready-made tamales for Christmas Eve dinner. The important part is sharing the experience.
Mariah Carey Celebrates With Hot Cocoa and Christmas Music
You might expect Mariah Carey to celebrate Christmas extravagantly, and she certainly has. But one cozy detail from her holiday celebrations is enjoying hot cocoa during festive sleigh rides and singing Christmas songs with loved ones.
Skip the sleigh and create a similar atmosphere at home. Prepare hot chocolate, play your favorite Christmas playlist, and gather around the fireplace or tree. It’s a simple way to make an ordinary winter evening feel special.
Miley Cyrus Enjoys a Family Football Tradition
Father Plays Football Outside With His Sons
Singer Miley Cyrus has shared that some of her favorite memories involve playing football with her father, Billy Ray Cyrus. During a 2020 holiday interview, she recalled tossing a football around on her father’s farm.
Radio 88.8 – Demo
You don’t need a sprawling country property to try something similar. Head into the backyard or a nearby park for a casual family game. Whether it’s football, another outdoor activity, or simply spending time together, it’s a refreshing break from sitting all day indoors.
The Best Christmas Traditions Don’t Need a Celebrity Budget
Celebrity Christmas celebrations may look glamorous from the outside, but many of the traditions worth borrowing are surprisingly ordinary. A batch of homemade cookies, a comfortable pair of pajamas, or a simple meal shared with family can become something everyone looks forward to year after year.
You don’t have to recreate every detail or spend money on elaborate decorations. Choose one activity your household would genuinely enjoy and make it your own. Years later, nobody may remember how much the Christmas decorations cost, but they might still laugh about that disastrous gingerbread house or remember those colorful pancakes.
