Best Apps to Download this Christmas
Starting to feel festive? With the 25th December quickly approaching, there's no better time to kit out your smartphone with the best Christmas-themed apps. Whether you need help organising Secret Santa or you're looking for something to entertain the younger members of your family, you're sure to find it below.
NORAD Tracks Santa Claus
Available on: iOS and Android
Price: Free
An annual tradition, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (known as NORAD) simulate Santa's amazing journey around the world. With the NORAD Tracks Santa Claus app, you can watch in real-time as the legendary Santa Claus delivers presents all over the world.
Free for all iOS and Android users, the NORAD Tracks Santa Claus app is perfect for Christmas Eve. Tracking begins on the 24th December, but there's still plenty to do if you open the app before then. You can learn more about the NORAD team, and how and why they track Santa, and you'll find plenty of holiday-themed activities and games too. You can even find information about different holiday traditions around the world and uncover the story of Santa.
Elf Yourself
Available on: iOS and Android
Price: Free
If you're thinking about sending a festive video to friends and family this Christmas, then you need Elf Yourself. One of the most popular holiday apps around, Elf Yourself enables you to place your face onto a dancing elf and insert yourself into a number of different holiday scenes.
To get started, you simply need to align your face correctly within the app. It'll take you through all the steps, and you can add multiple elves if you have friends or family who want to feature in the video with you. Once you're ready, just choose your scene and get ready to see yourself dance. You can use augmented reality to place your elf-self into your room, and it's possible to take still photos for sharing them online.
Speak Santa
Available on: iOS and Android
Price: Free
Brighten someone's day with a call from Santa himself via Speak Santa. Just add the recipients name, age, country and a few other details like their favourite colour and sport to the app, and you'll receive a customised video call from jolly Santa Claus himself.
You can receive text messages from Santa too, and add more than one child profile if you require multiple calls from Santa. There are number of other festive features included with the Speak Santa app, including a Santa tracker that'll even let you know exactly what Santa's reindeers are currently up to.
Secret Santa 22
Available on: iOS and Android
Price: Free
If you've been assigned the task of organising Secret Santa this year, then hit download on Secret Santa 22. Helping to keep the gift giving 100% anonymous, simply create your group on the app and add participants to get started. You can send invites in a number of different ways, such as email, text or over WhatsApp. Once everyone has joined you can create rules for your group.
As well as assigning a budget and deadline date, Secret Santa 22 enables you to set more specific rules. For example, if you want to make sure someone in the group doesn't end up with their partner for Secret Santa, you can add this in as an exception. You can set up conditions too, such as a theme or category for your gifts.
The app will then automatically set everything up, and notify each participant of who they'll be buying for this year. You can also create multiple groups on Secret Santa 22, if you have more than one friendship group to organise.
Advent Calendar 2020: 25 Days of Christmas Gifts
Available on: iOS and Android
Price: Free
The build-up to Christmas is almost as fun as Christmas Day itself, so why not start your own countdown with Advent Calendar 2020: 25 Days of Christmas Gifts? Available to download for free from both Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store, you'll find a new mini game hidden away behind every door of this virtual advent calendar.
As soon as you open the app, you'll be met with fun Christmas graphics, animations and the sound of jingle bells. Mini games include snowball fights with Santa's elves, Christmas tree decorating and more. It's sure to be a big hit with children, and entertain big kids too.
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