The holidays are a time for magic, connection, and cozy moments. What better way to capture that spirit than with the simple joy of coloring? It’s a perfect screen free activity that brings families together, and according to one survey, 86% of parents say festive activities like coloring are among the best quality time they spend together all year. While traditional christmas coloring books are classics, the world of free, printable pages has opened up endless creative possibilities.
Whether you’re looking for a quick activity for the kids or a relaxing way to unwind yourself, this guide explores 36 festive ideas to fill your holiday season with color and creativity. For year‑round inspiration, browse our seasonal coloring pages guide.
Classic Characters and Cheerful Greetings
These timeless themes are the heart of holiday coloring. From Santa himself to the whimsical Grinch, these characters bring instant Christmas cheer to any coloring session.
1. Free Christmas Coloring Printables
Why buy new books when the internet offers a treasure trove of free printable pages? Start with these 39 free Christmas coloring pages for kids and adults to kick off your collection. It’s a budget friendly lifesaver for parents and teachers, with 42% of parents saying they have printed holiday decorations like coloring pages. If you can’t find the perfect picture, you can even generate your own unique pages in seconds, turning any idea into a colorable reality.
2. Merry Christmas Coloring Pages
Instead of buying decorations, let the kids color their own “Merry Christmas” banners or cards. It’s a wonderful personal touch for gifts to grandparents or for decorating the house. Americans exchange an estimated 1.3 billion Christmas cards annually, and a handmade one is always special. Plus, it’s a great way to keep kids entertained on Christmas Eve, a day that half of parents say is the toughest for keeping children occupied.
3. Santa Coloring Pages
Nothing builds holiday excitement like coloring Santa Claus. Kids can spend hours decorating his red suit, the sleigh, and Mrs. Claus. It’s a perfect activity for the countdown to Christmas and can become a cherished tradition, like leaving a colored picture of Santa out with cookies and milk. Coloring is a fantastic outlet for creativity, with 85% of parents believing it sparks their child’s imagination.
4. Elf on the Shelf Coloring Pages
If the Elf on the Shelf is a tradition in your home, add coloring pages to the fun. The elf can “bring” a new coloring sheet each morning as part of his daily surprise. This gives kids an interactive role in the tradition and helps parents who feel pressure to make the holidays merrier. About one third of parents have printed out paper crafts to entertain their kids during the holidays, and elf coloring pages fit right in.
5. The Grinch Coloring Pages
The Grinch is a beloved character whose story teaches the true meaning of Christmas. Grinch coloring pages are a great way to talk about kindness and empathy. As kids color his heart growing three sizes, it reinforces the story’s message. Coloring is known to reduce stress, making it a perfect activity for both kids and adults who might be feeling a little “Grinchy” during the holiday rush.
6. Gingerbread Man Coloring Pages
Run, run, as fast as you can to these sweet coloring sheets. Coloring gingerbread people is almost as fun as decorating real cookies, but without the mess. It can even inspire new frosting designs for when you do start baking. Holiday crafts are seeing a resurgence as families look for hands on, screen free fun, and coloring a gingerbread family is a perfect example.
7. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Coloring
Coloring Rudolph and the rest of Santa’s reindeer is a holiday must. It’s a playful way to learn all their names and imagine their magical flight on Christmas Eve. Did you know Rudolph was invented in 1939 by a department store writer for a promotional booklet? That simple story has since become a beloved global tradition.
Telling the Christmas Story Through Art
From the nativity to the festive decorations that adorn our homes, these coloring pages help illustrate the stories and symbols of the season.
8. Nativity Coloring Pages
For many, nativity scenes are a central part of the holiday. Coloring pages featuring Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the Wise Men are a gentle way to share the Christmas story with children. As they color, you can talk through the events of that holy night, turning it into a hands on learning experience. The very first live nativity scene was organized by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223 to help people visualize the story.
9. Christmas Tree Coloring Designs
Oh, Christmas tree! Kids love decorating, and a Christmas tree coloring page lets them design their perfect tree with endless ornaments and lights. It’s a great activity before the real decorating begins. An estimated 25 to 30 million real Christmas trees are sold each year in the United States, but coloring a paper one lets kids create a tree that’s uniquely theirs, maybe even a rainbow one.
10. Christmas Wreath Coloring Crafts
Wreaths are a beautiful symbol of the season, and coloring them can be a calming activity. The circular shape and repeating patterns of holly and berries are almost like a festive mandala. After coloring, cut out the paper wreath and hang it on a door or wall for instant homemade decor. In fact, about a third of parents have used printable crafts to create holiday decorations with their children.
11. Gingerbread House Coloring Pages
Building a real gingerbread house can be a sticky, complicated affair. A gingerbread house coloring page offers all the creative fun with none of the mess. Kids can design their dream candy cottage, deciding what sweets make up the roof, doors, and windows. The tradition of gingerbread houses became popular after the tale of Hansel and Gretel was published.
12. Stocking Coloring Pages
Hanging stockings by the chimney is a beloved tradition. Coloring pages of stockings let kids design their own, filling the outline with patterns and even drawing the gifts they hope to find inside. The tradition is said to have started with St. Nicholas, who dropped gold coins down a chimney that landed in stockings left to dry by the fire.
13. Reindeer Coloring Pages
Beyond Rudolph, Santa has a whole team of reindeer to color. This is a great opportunity to teach kids their names: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. You can also share a cool science fact: real reindeer are the only deer species where both males and females grow antlers.
14. Candy Cane Coloring Sheets
The red and white stripes of a candy cane are iconic. Coloring these simple, bold patterns is satisfying for kids of all ages. Billions of candy canes are produced each year, but their design has a story. Legend says a choirmaster in 17th century Europe bent sugar sticks into the shape of a shepherd’s staff to keep children quiet during services.
15. Angel Coloring Pages
Angels are a symbol of peace and hope. Coloring pages of angels with flowing gowns and halos can be a calming activity that helps set a peaceful tone for the holidays. About one in five Americans places an angel on their tree, making it the second most popular tree topper after the star.
16. Christmas Cross Coloring Pages
For Christian families, coloring a Christmas cross decorated with holly or the word “Joy” is a meaningful way to connect with the spiritual side of the holiday. It can open conversations about the reason for the season in a gentle, artistic way. Coloring words and symbols is also a great pre reading exercise for young children.
Festive Fun from Pop Culture and Winter Wonderlands
Coloring is a great way to explore every corner of the holiday world, from the Nutcracker’s magical kingdom to the cozy comfort of a cup of hot chocolate.
17. The Nutcracker Coloring Activities
The story of the Nutcracker is a holiday classic. Coloring the Nutcracker soldier, Clara, and the Sugar Plum Fairy is even more magical while listening to Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet music. The ballet is so popular that it often makes up nearly 40% of the annual ticket revenue for ballet companies.
18. Ornament Coloring Pages
Let kids become ornament designers. Coloring pages with blank ornament shapes allow them to create their own patterns and styles. The first glass Christmas ornaments were made in Germany in the 1800s, but before that, people decorated trees with apples and nuts.
19. Snowflake Coloring Crafts
Every snowflake is unique, and so is every child’s coloring creation. After coloring an intricate snowflake design, try the classic craft of folding and cutting paper to make 3D snowflakes to hang around the room. A fun fact to share: all real snowflakes have six sides due to the way water molecules bond.
20. Snowman Coloring Pages
Building a snowman is a winter joy, but you don’t need snow to color one. Kids can give their snowman a colorful scarf, a funny hat, and a carrot nose. You can even share a wild fact: the world’s largest snowman was actually a snow-woman built in Maine in 2008, standing over 122 feet tall.
21. Hot Chocolate Coloring Pages
Nothing says cozy like a mug of hot chocolate. Coloring a steaming cup topped with marshmallows is a wonderfully relaxing activity. For a full sensory experience, sip on some real hot cocoa while you color. The drink has a long history, originating with the Mayans over 2,000 years ago.
22. Christmas Lights Coloring Sheets
Twinkling Christmas lights are pure magic. Kids love coloring the bulbs in bright, festive patterns. The first electric Christmas lights were introduced by Thomas Edison’s team in 1880. Before that, people used real candles on their trees, a much more dangerous tradition.
23. Snow Globe Coloring Pages
A snow globe is a tiny, magical world. Coloring pages with a snow globe outline let kids draw and color their own little winter scene inside. The first snow globe was created by accident in Austria over 120 years ago by a man trying to invent a brighter light bulb.
24. Polar Bear Coloring Pages
Polar bears have become an unofficial mascot of winter. While coloring these majestic arctic animals, you can share some amazing facts. For example, polar bear fur isn’t actually white. Each hair is clear and hollow, which reflects light and makes them appear white.
25. Christmas Mandala Coloring
For older kids and adults, Christmas mandalas offer a relaxing challenge. These intricate, circular designs weave in holiday elements like holly, bells, and snowflakes. Coloring complex patterns like these has been shown to reduce anxiety and create a state of mindfulness, similar to meditation. If you’re new to mandalas, our ultimate guide to mandala coloring covers styles and tips.
Modern Coloring for Every Fan and Family
Today’s christmas coloring books and pages reflect every interest, from popular movies and video games to cozy themes designed for adult relaxation.
26. Adult Christmas Coloring Books
Coloring isn’t just for kids. The boom in adult coloring books proves that grown ups love this relaxing hobby. Sales in the U.S. jumped from 1 million in 2014 to 12 million in 2015. These books feature intricate designs of winter villages, festive patterns, and cozy scenes that provide a perfect escape from holiday stress.
27. North Pole Coloring Adventures
A trip to the North Pole is every child’s dream. Coloring pages of Santa’s workshop, elves, and the famous North Pole sign let kids imagine that magical place. While many think of the geographic North Pole, some traditions say Santa lives in Lapland, Finland. In Canada, kids can send letters to Santa using the official postal code H0H 0H0.
28. The Polar Express Coloring Pages
Relive the magic of this beloved story by Chris Van Allsburg. Coloring the iconic train, the silver bell, or the city of elves is a great activity after reading the book or watching the movie. The Polar Express, published in 1985, has sold over 12 million copies and remains a holiday staple.
29. Home Alone Coloring Pages
“KEVIN!” Bring the hilarious antics of Home Alone to your craft table. Coloring scenes of Kevin McCallister’s clever traps is a fun way to celebrate this 1990 holiday movie classic. The film was a massive success, earning around $476 million worldwide.
30. Pokémon Christmas Coloring Pages
Combine two things kids love: Pokémon and Christmas. Explore 40 Pokémon coloring ideas and free printables to spark designs like Pikachu in a Santa hat or Charmander by a fireplace. It’s a great way to merge a child’s favorite hobby with seasonal fun. Pokémon is the world’s highest grossing media franchise, so there’s a deep well of characters to draw from.
31. Christmas Cat Coloring Pages
For feline fans, coloring pages of cats getting into holiday mischief are perfect. Whether it’s a kitten tangled in tinsel or wearing reindeer antlers, these sheets are full of humor and cuteness. It’s a fun fact that around 60% of pet owners buy holiday gifts for their pets.
32. Gift and Present Coloring Pages
The anticipation of opening gifts is a huge part of Christmas for kids. Coloring pages of stacked presents let them design their own wrapping paper patterns and imagine what’s inside. It can also be a gentle way to talk about the joy of giving, not just receiving.
For the Avid Collector: Notable Christmas Coloring Books
For those who treat coloring as a true art form, several artists and publishers release beautiful, high quality christmas coloring books each year that are worth collecting.
33. Johanna Basford’s Christmas Coloring Book
Johanna Basford is a pioneer of the adult coloring book movement, having sold over 16 million books worldwide. Her book, “Johanna’s Christmas,” is filled with her signature style of intricate, hand drawn illustrations of festive scenes, from ornate reindeer to cozy gingerbread villages.
34. Colouring Heaven Christmas Issue
As the world’s best selling coloring magazine, Colouring Heaven releases a special Christmas issue each year. It typically features 40 festive designs from a variety of talented artists, offering a wonderful mix of styles in one collection.
35. Coco Wyo’s Cozy Christmas Coloring Book
For those who prefer simpler, charming designs, Coco Wyo’s “Cozy Christmas Coloring Book” is perfect. This 2024 release features 45 large, bold illustrations of snuggly fireplaces, cute animals, and warm winter scenes, making it ideal for a low stress coloring session.
36. God Jul (Nordic) Christmas Coloring Books
“God Jul” is “Merry Christmas” in Swedish and Norwegian. Coloring books from Scandinavian artists like Hanna Karlzon offer a unique, elegant take on the holidays. You might find pages featuring Nordic traditions like the Yule Goat or St. Lucia processions, providing a beautiful cultural experience through art.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Coloring
Where can I find the best free christmas coloring books?
You can find thousands of free, printable pages on websites dedicated to crafts, education, and parenting. For a truly endless supply, you can use an online generator. A tool like CustomColoringPages.com lets you type any idea, like “Santa surfing on a candy cane,” and get a unique page instantly.
What are the benefits of coloring for kids during the holidays?
Coloring is more than just a fun distraction. It helps develop fine motor skills, improves hand eye coordination, and nurtures creativity. It’s also a calming, mindful activity that can help kids manage the excitement and energy of the holiday season.
Can adults really benefit from christmas coloring books?
Absolutely. Coloring is a proven stress reliever for adults. Focusing on intricate patterns can lower anxiety and provide a sense of accomplishment. Adult christmas coloring books offer complex and beautiful designs that serve as a form of creative meditation during a busy time of year. See our guide to adult coloring benefits and beginner tips.
What’s the best way to print coloring pages at home?
For best results, use a slightly heavier paper, like cardstock, if your printer can handle it. This prevents markers from bleeding through and makes the final artwork feel more durable. Always use your printer’s highest quality setting for crisp, clean lines and consider choosing the right coloring tools to avoid bleed‑through.
How can I make a custom coloring page?
The easiest way is to use a text‑to‑coloring page generator. On sites like CustomColoringPages.com, you simply type a description of what you want, and AI creates a printable line art image for you. Here’s how AI crafts custom coloring pages in seconds. You can also upload a photo of a pet, family member, or drawing and have it converted into a coloring page—follow our photo‑to‑coloring walkthrough.
