How to Start a New Holiday Tradition

The Christmas season is full of activities and events. From caroling around the neighborhood to feeding the homeless, there are lots of things you and your family can do during the holiday season. You might already have a few activities you like to do as a family, but sometimes it’s fun to introduce a new tradition into the mix. Here are some tips on how you can start a new holiday tradition with your family this Christmas season!

1. Have a Photoshoot: Christmas photos are a tradition in many families. While not many send out annual Christmas cards anymore, you can still hire a photographer to take some sweet pictures of you and your family each year! Plan out the location, theme and wardrobe and then get together and have lots of fun taking photos! When the photographer sends you the digital gallery, you can print one or two photos onto a unique photo ornament that will be perfect to hang on your Christmas tree each year. You could also send them as sweet gifts to family members!
2. Create an Advent Calendar: Advent calendars have been around for ages–probably longer than you think! As a way to countdown to Christmas, many families and companies have gotten innovative in creating their Advent calendars. You can create your own Advent calendar using a variety of household craft items, but if you have a lot going on, you can definitely order one online! Many families use it as a religious tool, but the literal purpose of an Advent calendar is to count up to something, so non-religious families can use it as well. Get each child an Advent calendar so they can each have a small treat or trinket every day. If you don’t have kids, there’s nothing wrong with getting yourself an adult Advent calendar–one filled with small bottles of wine or liquor!
3. Handwrite Cards and Letters: There’s just something so special about receiving a handwritten card or letter during the holiday season. Start a new tradition this Christmas where you handwrite cards and letters to your friends and family! Just remember to space them out so you don’t experience hand cramping. Short and sweet messages are the way to go. Be selective about the people you send letters to, and consider typing them and printing them out to send by mail if your hands tend to cramp quickly.

1. Look for Lights: Christmas decor displays are one of the best parts of the season! Either go walk or drive through your neighborhood and a few other ones close by to look at all the different Christmas lights. If you have kids, make sure to bring some hot chocolate in travel mugs to sip on while you travel down the different roads. You can even turn it into a game by having the kids rate their favorite houses!
2. Have a Big Dinner on Christmas Eve: Instead of having a large feast on Christmas Day, why not have it the day before? This way, you can focus on Christmas Day being more about the family rather than the food and presents. Cook all your family’s favorite recipes passed down through the generations and get the kids in on the action by teaching them to do small cooking tasks! If you are still attached to a Christmas Day dinner, then consider creating an annual Christmas Eve menu that you all eat together as a family on Christmas Eve.
3. Match Your PJs: Matching pajamas are adorable, especially during Christmas! Get the family a set of matching pajamas as an early gift, and have everyone wear their PJs on Christmas Eve! That way, when they get up the next morning to open presents, everyone is wearing matching PJs for pictures. It’ll look so cute when you post the pictures to social media this year! You can find ones that let you monogram the pocket with your initial, or you can get sets that match in pattern and color.
4. Host an Ugly Sweater Party: Did you find Grandma’s Christmas sweater from the ’80s and realize it would make the perfect ugly sweater to wear at an ugly sweater party? Host one of your own this year! Invite a few of your closest friends over for a small potluck or catered dinner party, crack open a bottle of wine and enjoy an evening all dressed in ugly Christmas sweaters and listening to Christmas music! You can play some fun games or watch a classic Christmas movie. Either way, it’s a fun tradition to start with your friends!

1. Pay Tribute to Your Loved Ones: For some, Christmas is a difficult season–especially if they’ve recently lost a loved one. There are plenty of ways you and your family can honor loved ones, such as hanging a memorial ornament on the Christmas tree or putting their framed picture up on the wall. You can bake their favorite Christmas treat or watch their favorite Christmas movie, too. For any pets that are missing from this year’s festivities, you can hang a small stocking in their honor as a reminder of the joy they brought to your family.
2. Bake Something for Santa: Santa needs to have a snack when he comes to visit your home on Christmas Eve! During the day, bake some cookies, brownies or other holiday treats for Santa to munch on while he delivers the presents. Make sure to leave a glass of milk by them so he can quench his thirst after devouring the tasty treats!

Watch a Christmas Movie: Whether it’s White Christmas or A Christmas Story, there are lots of Christmas movies out there you can watch. If you have kids, The Polar Express is always a good one to watch with them, while many adults who enjoy action films would love to watch Die Hard. Many audiences think Nightmare Before Christmas counts as a holiday movie, so add that to the queue, too