While many use the festive period as an excuse to throw huge gatherings with family and friends, this of course isn’t the case for everyone. There might be the odd year when schedules don’t align with loved ones, or perhaps you’re simply choosing to do the festive season solo this year?

Either way, spending the 25th alone certainly doesn’t mean you have to feel lonely. There are various ways to have tons of fun and even thoroughly enjoy it!

So, if a more lowkey Christmas is on the horizon for you, we’ve got you covered with our ideas on how to spend Christmas alone. From festive movie evenings to indulging in delicious food, we’ll show you how to make the 25th one to remember.

Just quickly before we spill our insights, why not have a look at our gigantic selection of Christmas cards? We’ve got plenty of festive options ranging from traditional to hilarious, and you can browse a few of our favourites below:

Then, once you’ve chosen, you can dive into our blog on Christmas quotes and pick out your favourite to jot down inside your card (we know…we really have thought of everything).

How to make the most of being alone at Christmas

From distant family members asking you why you aren’t married yet, to the mountain of washing up after a ten-person Christmas dinner, perhaps celebrating solo might actually be your idea of heaven? If so, here are our top tips on how to thoroughly enjoy it:

1. Deck the halls

Spending Christmas alone this year? Well, that certainly doesn’t mean you can’t go all out with your decorations. You can still dig out your tree, hang plenty of pretty lights, and display your favourite festive ornaments around your home. Doing so will help you get in the festive spirit, and, most importantly, ensure your space feels super cosy.

Or, if you’re not into going all out with bright and bold Christmas bits and bobs, why not treat yourself to a few new home décor items to elevate the cosiness of your home instead? We’re thinking a giant scented candle (warm gingerbread or vanilla will do) and some extra fluffy blankets to cosy up underneath…

2. Prepare some delicious food

If you’re going to be alone at Christmas, why not rustle up a delicious meal for yourself to enjoy? Once you’ve got your house feeling all festive and cosy (fairy lights gleaming and fireplace crackling), it’s time to get stuck into some food prep!

There are of course the traditional festive staples to enjoy like turkey, stuffing, and pigs in blankets. But if you’re not that into Christmas food, this year it’s all about you, so simply cook up your all-time favourite dinner! Perhaps a three-course Italian extravaganza – we’re thinking tomato bruschetta followed by a rich pasta dish and, of course, gelato for dessert.

3. Watch a comfort festive classic

Once you’re too full to move another inch, how about rolling onto your sofa, snuggling up under your new blanket and pressing play on a classic festive film?

Whether you’re a fan of comedic classics such as Elf, nostalgic watches such as Home Alone, or perhaps rom coms like Love Actually, there are a variety of options to choose from. You could even make an afternoon of it and have a festive movie marathon (hey, there’s no one to stop you, so why not?).

4. Read a festive book

With most people away at gatherings having a few too many glasses of wine, a solo Christmas provides you with the perfect window of solace to get your head stuck into a good book…

How about a heartwarming classic such as Little Women (its festive opening makes it the perfect option), or of course there’s always Dickens’s A Christmas Carol! With many editions being just under 100 pages, it’s the perfect story to read cover to cover snuggled up on Christmas afternoon.

Simply hunker down with some festive snacks, then spend a portion of your day getting lost in a festive fictional world.

5. Don’t forget the gifts

Next, while of course Christmas isn’t all about gifts, this doesn’t mean you can’t buy yourself a little festive treat. Perhaps you’ve had your eye on something all year? If so, you should treat yourself to it as a way of infusing the 25th with a little bit of extra joy!

Equally, Christmas is the perfect time to treat loved ones in your life, so how about putting on your Santa Claus hat and sprinkling a little bit of festive cheer on someone else? This could be a neighbour who’s also spending the day alone, or maybe a friend who you haven’t seen in a while.

Simply send them a gift through the post, or if they’re nearby, pop around and drop one off. This is bound to make you (and them) smile.

6. Create a new Christmas tradition

When you spend Christmas with others, whether it’s members of your own family or someone else’s, you’ll often find yourself participating in set traditions (presents in the morning, Christmas dinner in the afternoon, and some games as the evening draws in).

And actually, one of the best things about spending Christmas alone is that you can set new traditions of your own. This can include anything you like, perhaps a cosy Christmas eve walk, or a frosty early morning stroll?

You could even turn your hand to some arts and crafts! And if you love the sound of this, we’ve got guides on how to make your own Christmas tree decorations and how to make a Christmas stocking.

Or why not throw tradition out of the window and go on a little solo festive trip? Sounds fun, right? But you might be wondering where to go for Christmas when you are alone – well, you could head to a picturesque location such as the Cotswolds, or simply book a city break in a nearby festive location.

Spending Christmas alone means that you can do exactly what brings you joy (and after all, that’s what the festive period is all about).

So, there we have it: our top tips on how to spend Christmas alone! From going all out with decorations and delicious food, to carving out new traditions for yourself, there are a variety of ways in which you can ensure the 25th is a memorable one.

Enjoyed these insights? Well, luckily for you, we’ve got plenty more over on the thortful blog. You can read about how to celebrate a Christmas birthday, or even how to make your birthday special for yourself.