It’s the most wonderful time of the year! We’re talking, of course, about the Christmas season.

There’s no time of the year like Christmas. There’s cookies, gifts, time with family, cozy fires, and handfuls of other activities for spreading holiday cheer. Here at App47, there’s also something else that’s probably not top-of-mind when you think Christmas: apps.

We use apps for work and enable other businesses to use apps every day, but that hasn’t spoiled the fun of using mobile apps to spice up the holidays. Continuing a several-year tradition, here are 5 holiday-related apps you’ll have to try out this year:

  1. NORAD Tracks Santa. This app is a Christmas classic, and for good reason! It’s the official NORAD Santa flight tracker and a great way to make Christmas fun. You can play games, learn about NORAD, and track Santa. And of course, Santa heading your way (with a map to prove it) is a great excuse to get the kids to bed.
  2. The Christmas List ($1.99). Doing some last-minute Christmas shopping? This list app helps you budget for Christmas gifts and organize lists by person. It’s easy to keep track of who needs what. If you already have your Christmas shopping done, keep this around for next year—or use it for other gifts throughout the year!
  3. Waze. Those familiar with Waze, a “traffic outsmarting” app, might wonder what in the world it has to do with the holidays. It’s irrelevant for anyone traveling by air this Christmas, but for those of us driving a few hours to see relatives, Waze is invaluable. It gives you the best route around traffic and will save precious time getting to your destination. Bonus: you can give it to your kids and keep them occupied spotting hazards in the shoulder as you drive to your in-laws’ house.
  4. ElfYourself. Okay, we admit: the novelty of “elfing yourself” wears off pretty quickly, but this quirky app is a great way to get the family to laugh together. All you have to do is take a few photos, and next thing you know your whole family will be presented on-screen as a bunch of dancing elves. It’s hilarious. We promise.
  5. Christmas Music. No Christmas party or cookie-bake-a-thon is complete without a soundtrack of Christmas music. This free app is packed full of some 10,000 free Christmas songs to help get you in the holiday spirit. What could be better? 

Have a favorite holiday app that you’d like to see added to this list? Reach out to us in the comments or on Twitter and let us know!

photo credit: Almost here via photopin (license)