“Traditions are the threads that weave love through each holiday season” – Unknown.
Welcome, welcome to today’s holiday-themed article! We have a very fun topic to discuss, as you might’ve guessed from the title – holiday traditions! Holiday traditions add a whole new level of meaning to our seasonal celebrations, bringing us closer to those we love.
Naturally, when starting new families or creating our own holiday traditions, we merge the new ones with the old, and that in itself is a magical thing. In a wonderful way, we’re carrying forward the memories of our ancestors through lived experience. And most importantly, these traditions are just a whole lot of fun! Join us as we dive into some fun holiday traditions to introduce to your lives! You may already partake in a few of them, but what’s the harm in adding more? After all, the more the merrier.
Neighborhood Cookie Share
Let’s get this dough on the road with a neighborhood cookie share! Bake some of your famous cookies (or experiment and create a new ‘secret’ recipe) and share them with your community. Don’t forget to grab some cookie favor bags and add a sweet message! This is also an ideal way to get to know the locals if you’re new in the neighborhood!
Merry Wrapping Party
Who says wrapping has to be a chore? Gather your partner, family, or even a bunch of friends, and host your very own gift wrap party! Lay out some snacks, pour out some mulled wine, play some tunes, or throw on a background movie. Together, you can share your individual skills and eventually master the craft!
Community Care Kit Assembly
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have the holidays they deserve, so this activity is just one kind thing you can do to give back! Fill some tote bags or gift boxes with some small toys, treats, and self-care products – basically, whatever you can afford to give back this year! This is a selfless way to gather your loved ones, while also helping others.
Letters to the Future
Have you ever read a diary of your younger self, giggling and cringing at past you’s dreams and comical moments? Snuggle up in your living room and have everyone write a letter to the future, compiling them in a box or notebook. Read through them every year or, better yet, save them up for a milestone moment in your own life, your partner’s, or your kids’!
Movie Night
Picture it: a cold night, with rain, snow, or hail. The fire is making that melodious crackling noise while you’re nice and snug in your PJs and matching jumpers, with a hot cocoa in hand. You and your family have even picked a movie from the “Best Classic Christmas Movies of All Time.” Every year, pick out one (or more), bundle up, and revel in the nostalgia (while the younger generation can experience that movie magic for the first time).
Giving Back
During the holidays, we can get caught up in the joy of celebrations, forgetting that there are others who aren’t as fortunate. Find a local charity or service – like a soup kitchen, animal shelter, hospital, or nursing home – and take some time to work alongside volunteers or even just pop in for a chat! Partaking in this holiday tradition might make somebody else’s day that much better, and what better way to celebrate the joy of the holidays than by sharing it?
Holiday Game Night Extravaganza
For this one, it’s time to deck the halls and deal out some fun – and maybe a little (un)friendly competition. Games are an amazing way of “Turning a Bored Night into a Board Night,” bringing together family and friends into an evening of laughter! For this holiday tradition, whip out some of those old-school games and revel in the chaos of passing the fun to the next generation.
Secret Stocking Exchange
Like a white elephant exchange, but with a twist! Everyone draws a name, and instead of finding a gift, each person gets a stocking customized to their taste. Then, that stocking has to be filled with treats and small gifts! That way, everyone gets some cute surprises on Christmas Day. Let’s get this holiday stuffed!
Family Recipe Legacy Book
Time to spice things up and create a holiday tradition that will warm hearts for generations! Gather your family, find a new recipe (or multiple recipes) and add your own little spin on it, be it something as simple as using a new spice or a experiment with a unique flavoring choice. Write it up and add it to a recipe book. Every year, that book will fill up, and eventually, you’ll have a famed family recipe book for future generations to relish!
Cozy Cocoa Corner
You may have to hold your breath because this one is every chocolate lover’s dream! Lay out a tablecloth and fill up a huge pot with creamy hot cocoa. Prepare a bunch of toppings and syrups like marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, hazelnut syrup, and basically anything you deem ‘cocoa worthy’!
The core of holiday traditions, simply put, is creating connection and fostering joy. They’re something to be cherished; to be watered and grown into something beautiful.
Traditions can change and evolve over time, or new ones can be thought up, and that’s something also to be welcomed with open arms. Life is all about growing, and when we give our holiday traditions space to change, we water the seeds that help us flourish. As we continue nurturing that growth, we thank you for taking the time to read through our article! We wish you the most wonderful holiday celebrations, and if we’ve helped even one of you, then that’s a holiday miracle in itself.
Adam L is a Content Specialist from Kerry, Ireland. His passions include going for long runs, video games, a love for animals, coffee, and travel!
