The holiday season is a time for warmth, togetherness, and creating lasting memories with family. Establishing holiday traditions brings everyone closer, giving kids and adults alike something to look forward to each year. If you’re looking to start meaningful family traditions, here are 12 ideas that will bring joy, laughter, and love to your holiday celebrations for years to come.
1. Holiday Cookie Baking and Decorating
- Gather the family in the kitchen for a day of baking holiday cookies! From sugar cookies to gingerbread men to grandma's family recipe, let each family member decorate their cookies with frosting, sprinkles, and holiday shapes. You can make it an annual bake-off or exchange cookies with friends and neighbors to spread the cheer.
2. Personalized Ornament-Making Party
- Crafting personalized ornaments together is a wonderful way to decorate your tree and make unique keepsakes. Provide simple materials like plain ornaments, paint, glitter, and markers, and let each family member create their own ornament to add to the tree each year.
3. Annual Family Santa Photoshoot
- Capture the magic of the holiday season with an annual family photo session with Santa! Visiting Santa each year not only gives your kids a chance to share their wish lists but also creates a treasured collection of memories as they grow. Make it a tradition to dress up in festive attire, and consider using these photos for holiday cards or keepsakes. It’s a wonderful way to add some holiday spirit to your family album and build excitement for the season. Visit www.whereissanta.com to reserve your spot!
4. Christmas Movie Marathon
- Pick a day in December for a cozy Christmas movie marathon. Gather on the couch with blankets, popcorn, and hot chocolate, and line up family favorites like Elf, Home Alone, or The Polar Express. This relaxing tradition is perfect for a cold winter day.
5. Decorate Gingerbread Houses
- Building gingerbread houses is a classic holiday activity that the whole family can enjoy. Whether you go with kits or make your own from scratch, let each person decorate their house with candy, icing, and a touch of creativity. Display the finished houses as part of your holiday decor!
6. Christmas Eve Box Tradition
- Create a Christmas Eve box for each family member, filled with small gifts like pajamas, holiday snacks, or a Christmas storybook. Let everyone open their box on Christmas Eve, adding a sense of excitement and joy leading into Christmas morning.
7. Write Letters to Santa (and Keep Them!)
- Encourage the kids to write their letters to Santa each year, and keep them as keepsakes. As they grow, you’ll have a wonderful collection of letters to look back on, capturing their changing wishes, handwriting, and holiday spirit.
8. Holiday Light Tour
- Pile everyone into the car, bundle up, and drive around neighborhoods to see the Christmas lights and decorations. You can even stop at a drive-thru for some Hot Chocolate to enjoy during your ride, and make it a game by rating the houses or voting on a “best-decorated” home.
9. Read Holiday Storybooks Together
- Collect a few holiday-themed storybooks to read together each December. Pick a favorite to read each year, and let each family member take turns reading aloud. Books like The Night Before Christmas or How the Grinch Stole Christmas are always great choices.
10. Adopt a Family or Charitable Giving Tradition
- Spread holiday cheer by adopting a family in need or donating to a local charity. Include your children in picking out gifts or donations, explaining the importance of generosity and kindness. This tradition helps kids understand the value of giving during the holiday season.
11. Countdown to Christmas with a Family Advent Calendar
- Create or buy an Advent calendar with daily surprises for the countdown to Christmas. Include small treats, family activities, or holiday messages, and take turns opening the calendar each day. It adds anticipation and excitement to the holiday season!
12. Host a Christmas Morning Breakfast Feast
- Make Christmas morning special with a big breakfast feast! Include family favorites like pancakes, waffles, cinnamon rolls, and hot chocolate. This breakfast tradition is a delicious way to start Christmas Day together and can be a great time to open stockings as well.
Making Holiday Traditions Meaningful
Holiday traditions are more than just fun—they help create a strong sense of family identity, bring generations together, and make the holiday season truly special. Whether it’s baking cookies, reading holiday stories, or giving back, the traditions you start today can bring joy to your family for years to come. Pick a few of these ideas, and make them your own. Don't forget to book your Santa photos at www.whereissanta.com! Happy Holidays!
