25 Holiday Family Traditions to Start This Year
The holiday season is a time to cherish family and create lasting memories together. One of the best ways to do this is by starting new family traditions. Whether it’s a special meal, a fun activity, or a meaningful ritual, traditions can bring everyone closer and make the holidays even brighter. In this article, we’ll share 25 holiday family traditions to start this year, from simple and low-key to more elaborate and adventurous. So grab a cup of hot cocoa, gather your loved ones, and get ready to make some memories (or nightmares?) that will last a lifetime.
1. Countdown with an advent calendar.
An advent calendar is a fun way to build anticipation and count down the days until Christmas. Buy a readymade version at the store, or build your own for a fun family project. Fill each compartment with a treat, toy, or note of gratitude. Pro-tip: Once candy is introduced, kiddos seem disappointed with anything else. Save the sweet treats for the days leading up to Christmas to avoid behavior that lands anyone on Santa’s naught list. A few ideas for advent stuffers:
- LEGO mini figures
- Candy
- Notes
- Costume jewelry
- Shopkins
- Silver dollars
- Stickers
- Pins
- Temporary tattoos
- Small ornament
- Micro Machines
- Lip balm
- Hair ties or barrettes
2. Baking bonanza.
Dedicate a day to baking holiday treats together with your little ones. Choose a “signature” cookie to bake annually, and incorporate any treasured recipes from grandparents and extended family. Not interested in being a domestic goddess? A tube of sugar cookie dough is more than sufficient. Crank some festive music, light a pine-scented candle, and get that oven preheating.
3. Write a letter to Santa.
Not only is writing a letter to Santa is a great way to know exactly which gifts will delight your kiddos, but it’s also a sneaky way to practice handwriting with early writers. If your child is worried their letter won’t reach the North Pole, the United States Postal Service has you covered. Not only do they share Santa’s official address, your little one will even receive a response stamped with a North Pole postmark.
4. DIY gift wrapping.
Instead of opting for store-bought gift wrap, use craft paper to create personalized gifts with drawings, stamps, glitter, and stickers. Use family inside jokes for inspiration and let their creativity run wild.
5. Take a festive trip to the library.
Public libraries are magical places—especially during the holidays. Check out classic books like The Night Before Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Polar Express, The Christmas Quiet Book, or Mice Skating. Snuggle up together for the perfect holiday storytime.
6. Make an ornament every year.
Making a new ornament ever year is a fun creative outlet and a sweet way to mark the passage of time (sob!). Kids love getting to decorate with ornaments they’ve created and admire the ones they’ve made before. Feeling stumped? Encourage your kids to make an ornament that represents something they’ve been really into that year (PSA: You won’t be the only one with Roblox on your tree). Build something using a photo from last year, or use salt dough to make a handprint ornament. When your little grows up, they’ll have a collection for their own tree.
7. Take a holiday lights tour.
Bundle up, grab some hot cocoa or eggnog, and tour your neighborhood to find the best holiday lights display. If you have restless kiddos, create a scoring system to keep things interesting.
8. Track Santa on Christmas Eve.
Follow Santa’s movements from the North Pole online thanks to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Your kids can watch a sleigh blip on the radar, and sometimes they even share a “Santa Cam” video.
9. Get matching Christmas jammies.
The cuteness of matching family Christmas jammies is hard to top (and is an exceptional photo op). Buy everyone a new pair each year to wear on Christmas Eve and wake up looking like a Hallmark ad.
10. Make time for Christmas crafting.
The holiday crafting opportunities are endless (just ask Pinterest). Cut out paper snowflakes and decorate your windows. Use a mason jar and glitter to make a snow globe. Crush Shredded Wheat and combine it with glue and green food coloring to build kid-sized wreaths. No matter the age and stage of your little ones, there’s a holiday craft perfectly suited to their skill and attention levels.
11. Build a Gingerbread house.
Building a gingerbread house can be as messy as you want. Baking from scratch will (thankfully) occupy a lot of unstructured time while you’re kids are on school break, but beware: Homemade gingerbread is temperamental where construction is concerned (it will involve more clean up, too). If your kids are younger and more frustration-prone, a pre-made kit may mean a jollier crew in your kitchen.
12. Holiday movie marathon.
There are many ways to incorporate holiday movies into your family’s new traditions. Spend a chilly weekend binge-watching, watch part of a movie every night beginning December 1st, or pick a favorite and watch it every year. Here are some of our picks:
- The Muppet Christmas Carol
- Elf
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Home Alone
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
- The Polar Express
- A Christmas Story
- A Charlie Brown Christmas
- Klaus
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- Frosty the Snowman
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
- Once Upon a Sesame Christmas
13. Make a time capsule.
Have each member of your family write down the year’s highlights, place them in a box, and open it next year to reminisce.
14. Plan a special Christmas morning breakfast.
Start your holiday morning with a yummy and special breakfast—something you may not have the time to make during busy weekday mornings. Take a cue from Ina Garten and prep pancake, waffle, or muffin batter the night before and it will be ready to go as soon as you’re up. Most quiche and breakfast casseroles can be made ahead of time, as well.
15. Moments of mindfulness.
When your family is gathered around to open presents or eat a holiday feast, take a moment of mindfulness and gratitude. Ask every family member to say something positive about themselves: A new hobby they’ve started or an accomplishment they’re especially proud of (it doesn’t have to be profound, just uplifting). Then, ask them to tell the person next to them why they’re grateful for them and their impact on your life. If you’re worried this is a touch too sentimental for your crew, don’t worry. Children are apt to add some unhinged, off-the-wall commentary.
16. Give back.
The holiday season is the perfect time to give back to your community. Sort through your kiddo’s toys and choose items to donate. Volunteer at a local food bank. Involve your family in Toys for Tots. Demonstrating care for your community to your children is the lesson of the season.
17. Perform carol karaoke.
Get your crew together for a holiday sing-off—the more off-key, the merrier.
18. Do a holiday scavenger walk.
Grab the coats and cozy mittens, and head outside for a holiday or seasonal-themed nature walk. Who can spot the most wreaths or find a nativity scene? Who can collect the most pinecones? Getting outdoors and burning off some energy will help keep cabin fever at bay.
19. Take a trip down memory lane.
We believe there’s no better time to be schmaltzy than the holidays. Turn on your twinkly lights and spend an evening looking at old family holiday photos and videos, reminiscing about past celebrations. (Cuddle puddles encouraged.)
20. Don’t forget their toy BFFs.
Make sure to include your little one’s favorite stuffies and toys in the festivities. Brainstorm a toy’s wish list for Santa (just remember, Santa has to follow through!) or craft a tiny holiday scarf for dress-up. Make toy-sized snacks and cookies to leave out for the big guy. Your kiddo will be thrilled their most cherished possession has a place in your holiday traditions.
21. Craft holiday cards for neighbors.
Bust out the craft supplies and all the glitter you can get your hands on for a neighborhood “mailing.” Make a card for every neighbor and hand-deliver them with your tots in tow.
22. Play hide-and-seek with ornaments.
Let your little one choose a favorite ornament and “hide” it in the tree. The first person to spy the ornament wins!
23. Spice up your life.
Is anything more comforting than walking into a room that smells like the holidays? Creating your own potpourri is easy, kid-friendly, and a major mood booster. Fill a heavy-bottomed pot with two or three cups of water. Add orange slices, whole cranberries, star anise, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and a few rosemary sprigs. Bring to a gentle simmer and turn your burner down low. Refill with water as needed and enjoy your home smelling magical.
24. Go out for a fancy meal.
We all know that “fancy” and kids require some wiggle room (yes, Panera mac and cheese counts!). Take advantage of free daytime hours, dress up, and head out for a family lunch. It’s an ideal test drive for a big holiday dinner and practicing manners—if Peppa Pig on the iPad is necessary, who are we to judge?
25. Make reindeer food or snowman poop.
Reindeer food and snowman poop are silly projects that little kids love. To make reindeer food, mix peeled or shredded carrots with any salad mix or veggies you have on hand. Add sprinkles and glitter, and prepare to delight Rudolph. For snowman poop, just toss together mini marshmallows and white chocolate chips.
Incorporating new traditions can make the holidays even more special. Over time, they’ll become the memories that your family cherishes and looks forward to, year after year. Whatever traditions you choose to start, the key is to do them together, making the little moments count. Happy holidays!
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