How We Do a Four-Gift Christmas (And Why It’s Perfect for Our Family)
When it comes to Christmas, our family keeps things simple and intentional with a tradition I love: the four-gift Christmas. If four gifts were good enough for Jesus, then they’re certainly good enough for our kids! This approach helps us focus on the reason for the season without feeling materialistic or overwhelmed by “stuff” when it’s all over. Each of our four gifts is themed after the original gifts given to Jesus—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—plus a fourth surprise from Santa and their stockings. Let me break down how it works and why it’s been such a blessing for us.
Why We Love the Four-Gift Christmas
Doing Christmas this way feels balanced and intentional. We don’t get caught up in the pressure to buy endless presents, and it keeps the focus on quality over quantity. Whether it’s a year where finances are tight or one where we can splurge a little, this tradition keeps Christmas feeling meaningful and reduces stress on us as parents. And when you throw points and miles into the mix, even big-ticket gifts like vacations become totally doable without breaking the bank!
The Meaning Behind Each Gift
Our four gifts are inspired by the traditional gifts of the Nativity—gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Here’s how we interpret each of these themes in a way that works for our family:
Gold: This is something of great value—usually the one thing they really want. For the last few years, all our kids have agreed on the same “gold” gift: a family vacation! We use points and miles to make these trips affordable, so giving a vacation as a Christmas gift doesn’t mean blowing our budget. If you are new to points and miles- check out my free beginners guide to find out how to earn over a million points a year within your current budget,
Frankincense: Frankincense was used in worship, so for us, this gift is something that brings the kids closer to God or helps us connect as a family. This could be new scriptures, religious jewelry, a family game, or even tickets to an experience we’ll enjoy together- like a theme park or a concert.
Myrrh: Myrrh is a type of perfume, so this gift is something they can wear. It could be clothing, a special accessory, perfume, shoes, or multiple of these things wrapped up in to one gift.
Santa Gift and Stockings: The fourth gift is a surprise from Santa, and they also get stockings filled with small treats and fun items. This rounds out the morning without going overboard.
To make stocking stuffers more meaningful and travel-ready, I’ve put together a Kids Christmas Vacation Gift Guidewith ideas that are functional, affordable, and perfect for the upcoming trip. Each item is something they’ll enjoy opening and use while we’re traveling—no filler gifts here!
By giving four intentional gifts, we avoid the overwhelm and focus on creating meaningful experiences and memories.
How We Reveal the Family Vacation
When the kids started choosing a family vacation as their “gold” gift, I wanted to make the reveal as exciting as possible—without giving it away all at once! I also don’t want Christmas morning over in 10 minutes.Here’s the fun way we spread out the surprise:
Puzzles as Clues: I pick four activities or places from the trip that I know the kids will love, and I turn each into a puzzle. On Christmas morning, each child gets one puzzle to put together, revealing a different part of the vacation. It keeps the anticipation high, makes the morning last a bit longer, and gives them a peek at what’s in store.
The Big Reveal: Once they’ve finished their puzzles, they start putting the pieces together—literally and figuratively! It’s such a fun way to build excitement for our family vacation, and it’s become one of our favorite parts of Christmas morning.
Why This Tradition Works So Well for Us
We love doing Christmas this way because it keeps things focused, intentional, and meaningful. The four-gift rule helps our kids appreciate what they receive, and we don’t feel like we’re drowning in things we don’t need. Plus, the experience-based gifts mean we’re creating memories together rather than just accumulating more “stuff.”
Since we started focusing on experiences, I’ve also been able to use points and miles to make travel more affordable. Giving a vacation as a gift sounds expensive, but with points and miles, it can actually be quite reasonable! If you’re new to points and miles, you can check out my Free Beginner’s Guide to get started. I also have a post about the best starter card and The Cards Always in My Wallet to help you on your points journey.
Final Thoughts
Our four-gift Christmas tradition has brought so much peace and purpose to our holiday season. It’s simple, thoughtful, and aligns perfectly with our family values. If you’re looking to make Christmas less about stuff and more about meaning, I highly recommend trying it out. And if you’re considering a family trip as a gift, learning the points and miles game can make it easier than you might think.
For more ideas on meaningful stocking stuffers that will make your vacation even more enjoyable, be sure to check out my Kids Christmas Vacation Gift Guide. Each item is functional, fun, and sure to add some extra excitement to your family’s holiday experience!
However you celebrate, I hope your Christmas is filled with joy, meaning, and wonderful memories. Happy holidays!
