Christmas collage from Wikipedia

Many families have cherished Christmas traditions that they pass on from generation to generation. Some people celebrate their own special Christmas moments every year, whether it's eating a favorite food, playing a favorite game, or watching a favorite movie. In this article, several gospel artists and Christian entertainers, including Chris Tomlin, Kevin Max, BarlowGirl, Michael O'Brien, Phil Keaggy and others, share their favorite Christmas traditions.

Favorite Christmas Traditions of Christian Artists & Entertainers

I love watching It's A Wonderful Life with my mom, and when we were young, my brothers and I loved watching Emmitt Otter's Jugband Christmas with my dad.  Now I have started my own tradition of listening to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens each year. – Chris Tomlin. Chris Tomlin released his first Christmas record Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship in 2009.

Singing round the piano – Kevin Max

Our family shops early for Christmas, so during the tour we would try to get some shopping time in on days off to take care of Christmas gifts.  To avoid commercialism in our home we have a favorite tradition in our family - We draw names of an immediate family member and we have to make a handmade gift for that person that has a special meaning.  We give that gift on Christmas eve as well as reading the Christmas story from Luke.  All of us love this the most and the handmade gifts are so special to us. – BarlowGirl

On Christmas Eve after we put the kids to sleep, my wife and I have a tradition of opening one gift from each other. Most of the time, we have no idea what we are getting and its a very special time. With four kids, quiet takes on a new definition. – Michael O'Brien (NewSong)

For the past few years we've purposefully kept the dates from Thanksgiving to Christmas open on our calendar. It's been so great getting to really focus this time of year on hanging with our families and celebrating what this season is really about.  My wife, Kandice, and I have two little boys both under the age of two… so this year we're looking forward to starting some new traditions around the house with them. It’s so cool to see Christmas for the first time again through their eyes! – Mike Weaver (Big Daddy Weave)

Focusing on the birth of the Savior - such a message of unconditional love. – Marty Roe (Diamond Rio)

My family has always picked names for a Stocking Person.  All year long on trips and vacations you buy little things for your person, remembering them, and praying for them.  On Christmas morning we reveal who we have had all year and give them all the gifts we have collected in their stocking.  It is a lot of fun, and is definitely everyone's favorite tradition. – Sara Groves

Going to a Christmas Eve Service with Family and Friends and coming back to our home and eating a light meal around the fire--thanking God the Father for the Son. Rejoicing in the Grand Miracle--"and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." – Phil Keaggy

Going to my grandparents’ house to open gifts and put up their tree – Josh Reedy (DecembeRadio)

Being with family. I go to my mother’s parents on Christmas Eve with all my Italian relatives, eat seafood and open gifts. Then, on Christmas Day, I go to my father’s parents for more traditional American Christmas foods (ham, turkey, yams), and usually we do some type of hunting (squirrel, rabbit, quail or deer). – Eric Miker (DecembeRadio)

Opening one present on Christmas Eve. – Briann Bunn (DecembeRadio)

The family gettin’ together and eating way too much.  I love to hang out with the family ‘cause I don't get to go home too often, so that is a very special time for me. – Boone Daughdrill (DecembeRadio)

Setting the Christmas tree and decor. – Brandon Bee

Every year for Christmas I always help put up a tree and put lights on it while listening to Christmas music. – Noah (Mission Six)

In our family we have many Christmas traditions, but the one that is my favorite is where my sister and I open one present on Christmas Eve. – Michael (Mission Six)

Christmas morning breakfast/brunch with our family. – John Schlitt (Petra)

Mitzy and I host a friends and family breakfast on Christmas morning. Started with just a few and has grown to over 30 people. We spend the day enjoying the fellowship and Christmas spirit. – Larnelle Harris

Eating, watching movies, laughing, singing show tunes, building a fire...the tree..the decorations...the lights....protecting our time together which is gold! – Bonnie Keen (First Call)

Going to my great-grandmothers house.  We would eat tons of food, spend time with family we rarely get to see, and watch football with my great-grandfather.  My family is dysfunctional to say the least, so getting us all together once a year was always full of surprises and good times. – Lyrycyst

Sherri always gives most all of the gifts we buy for the kids and grandkids before Christmas day because she loves to give so much she can't wait.  Don't know if that makes sense or not but I look forward to the process! – Jimmie Bratcher

Growing up, On Christmas Eve, my parents and sister would gather around the piano, and I would play carols and we'd all sing- well, really we'd just crack up laughing because my piano playing was so bad, trying to follow my horrible playing sounded like someone trying to sing with hiccups and stuttering at the same time.   We'd then head over to the church and be part of the live nativity scene. Most years I was an angel, and we would bundle up under the white robes and big wings, and stand still in the freezing New Mexico weather while people drove by. Then we'd drive around the neighborhoods and look at Christmas lights on people's houses.  Now that we're in TN, and my parents in KY,  My mom and i have started a new tradition and that's going shopping together for Samaritan's Purse boxes. We've had fun doing that the last two years, and it's becoming one of my favorite parts of Christmas! – Alexa James (Jeni Varnadeau)

Movies and food with La Fam. –  Bob Halligan (Ceili Rain)

Now that I'm married, I love waking up having Christmas morning with Malerie and Belle (our doggy). Also, her family makes annual visits to Callaway Gardens to see the lights with Snowflake! (If you've been there, you'll get that.) – Kevin Huguley (Rush of Fools)

My favorite holiday tradition is going over to my aunt's house every Christmas eve and being able to see all my cousins, aunts, uncles, and other family. It's so cool. We pass out presents that we picked out for one another and then, of course, have a large Christmas meal that night! It's awesome! – Wes Willis   (Rush of Fools)

Opening Stockings.  I will never get tired of that Tradition.  Now it's just me and Mom filling each other's stocking, but since losing my husband Trent, I always go home to Michigan for the holidays and spend the night at Mom's house, so we can get up early Christmas morning and open our stockings. – Tammy Trent

Making the rounds to each of my family members houses. – Darren Elder (The Wrecking)

Christmas breakfast at my sister's house. – Doug Elder (The Wrecking)

Going to church on Christmas Eve, then going out for Chinese food with my immediate family and then getting in our new PJs sitting by the tree and fire, then waking up Christmas morning for a wonderful family breakfast, prayer time, then off to my grandparents for a family celebration. – Jaime Jamgochian

I love getting together with all my family, sharing old memories to my nieces and nephews about their parents, my brothers and sister; and I love remembering my first and favorite doll, Suzy Smart who was an A student and a singer. – Babbie Mason

Christmas Adam.  It’s the night before Christmas Eve (Adam came before Eve, you know) and we open our presents as a household and sleep in front of the Christmas tree. – Jason Gray

Silly String fight with my parents' family. – Yates (After Edmund)

Playing tunes with my dad on piano. – Mitch Parks (After Edmund)

Family Christmas Lunch. – Matt McFadden (After Edmund)

A new one we started about 5 years ago.  Sleeping under the Christmas tree on Dec. 23rd. My wife and 5 children pick a favorite ornament, eat a chocolate covered cherry, jump into sleeping bags, and have sore backs in the morning – Peder Eide

Opening presents Christmas morning with my kids. – Travis Cottrell

Making Swedish Glögg - hot spiced mulled wine that makes the atmosphere Christmasy! – Dan Meyer (sword swallower)

I used to like going to my grandma's house every Christmas Eve. My uncle always gave me money in a card...actually, he gave me and my brother more than the other nephews because he liked us more :)  Haha! – Aaron Greer (of Aaron Greer Band)

Egg Nog. – Eliot Sloan (Blessid Union of Souls)

My father served 30 years in the Air Force, so we always lived near military bases.  Every Christmas Eve, very close to midnight, we would go to the base and visit each entrance gate where there was usually a lone guard standing watch.  Because they had to spend Christmas Eve at their post, we wanted to bless them with a basket of well-put-together goodies, as well as a "bonus check" to use for their families who waited for them at home while they faithfully served their country. This was a tradition for us every year, and my parents, long retired, still perform this small act of kindness to this very day. – Marie Barlow Martin

More articles are coming on how gospel artists and Christian entertainers celebrate the Christmas holidays including favorite Christmas songs, favorite Christmas albums, favorite holiday movies, favorite Christmas memories and more Christmas favorites of gospel artists!