The great thing about traditions is that they can be just as fun, new or old. While we treasure the routines passed on from our families and hometowns, starting new ones―whether solo traditions, with new friends, or in honor of lost loved ones―can carry special meaning too. We asked our community to share some of their most valuable and unique traditions. However big or small, take time to create moments that will last this holiday season.
Ready to start a new tradition? Read on for our community’s favorites.
Start a Tradition to Honor a Loved One
Cynthia and Leslie’s (@twinagers) favorite tradition: “It’s a new one that just started last year after our mom died. To honor her we moved away from gifting at Christmas to the wider family, and started a book roulette game. Our mom loved to read so the tradition is everyone brings a wrapped book and we have a number system to open, keep or steal. It’s super fun. This is something our mom would have loved as she was an avid reader!
The game is based on an Icelandic tradition known as Jolabokaflod, or ‘Christmas book flood.’ One Icelandic proverb says, “It’s better to be without shoes than be without a book,” and we are part Icelandic so this resonates for everyone in the family.”
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Give Out a Thoughtful Gift
Dr. Kerry’s (@the_gerontologist) favorite tradition: “My favorite holiday tradition is giving all the older adults in my life a beautiful blank journal. With the gift, I give the instruction: share anything and everything. You wouldn’t believe the beauty and stories and advice captured in these little journals. They become … Priceless!”
Have a Cozy Day
Julia’s favorite tradition: “We do a family brunch on boxing day and my mom always cooks a big ham. She slow cooks it overnight, so when we wake up on boxing day, the whole house smells so good! It’s our lazy stay-at-home day after all the gatherings, and we usually end up inviting people who don’t have family around, or who didn’t get to celebrate Christmas.”
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A Themed Movie Night is Always Fun!
Meredith’s (@meredithplays) favorite tradition: “Elf is a beloved Christmas movie world wide, and our home is no exception. I always know that I can get my now grown-up kids to press pause on their busy lives and come over for a little Elf culture. We start the night by making an ELF themed meal like beef and cheese sandwiches or spaghetti (hold the syrup). Last year I even got them to don Buddy the Elf hats…they’re very good sports. After dinner we curl up together to watch the movie while enjoying a candy & hot cocoa charcuterie board. And there are no restrictions on saying as many lines from the movie as possible. This fun tradition has been a great way to boost everyone’s playful Christmas spirit.
Then, each Christmas Eve before our traditional Lobster dinner, we gather round the dining table for a little holiday arts and crafts moment. I usually grab some unpainted wooden ornaments or mini nutcrackers, various sized paint brushes, and colorful paints from the local craft store. We might not be the most artistic bunch on the block, but we give it our best and it’s always fun to see what everyone creates. It’s really just about putting down phones, popping on some holiday tunes, catching up, and playing together. Mom HEAVEN!”
Start The Celebrations Early
Vanessa’s (@silverliberation) favorite tradition: “I’m loving our new holiday tradition! Nearly 10 years ago, we started celebrating Thanksgiving a day early to fit in multiple family gatherings, and it worked so well that we kept it. Now, we enjoy two days of celebration instead of one, giving us Thanksgiving Day to relax or visit friends. It’s made me think―why not consider doing the same for other holidays like Christmas? A little extra time with loved ones can make all the difference!”
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Make Alone Time Just as Special
Mia’s (@miamauge) favorite tradition: “My best friend does a stocking for me every year. Because I’ve been on my own since I was 17, and she’s literally done it for me every year. It’s huge, and it’s filled with things that she knows I love. It’s always so thoughtful―I’m always overwhelmed every year that she’s done that for me. It’s a lovely thing, and the most consistent tradition. She will rock up whatever the circumstances are. It might be very last minute, and she might deliver it on Christmas morning if things have been a bit hectic for her, but she always makes sure I get my stocking.
When you separate from your children’s father it really complicates Christmas―it can get really messy, really difficult. We had really nice traditions when we were a unit, but it’s just got a bit fragmented. I’ll be on my own this year, and that’s okay. I don’t mind riding it through. I did so last year, I was on my own as well by choice. And by allowing them to just go and have fun, I could just kick back and chill at home and ride it through. I just got in my pajamas and watched movies, and, you know, ate lots. I will watch Love Actually, The Holiday … I love Gene Kelly and Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. Hello, Dolly! I love Barbra Streisand―all those old classics.”
Spend Quality Time Over FaceTime
Joy’s favorite tradition: “I live in Canada but my family is in Ireland. When I can’t make it home for the holidays, my mum always sends me a package with some Christmas goodies from home: a plum pudding from Marks & Spencer, Irish chocolates and tea, festive Christmas serviettes, and a decoration for my tree! I always FaceTime my family and play Christmas music (“Fairytale of New York” is an Irish classic) as we open it ‘together’. To me, it’s the start of the Christmas season and a way to feel as if I’m still celebrating with my loved one at home!”
Make Taking Down Decorations an Event
Shelby’s (@thegreygirl_) favorite tradition: “One of my long standing habits is to put our tree up early (like Remembrance Day weekend) and take it down before noon on the 26th. I enjoy the lights and decor in anticipation of Christmas Day for weeks in advance but then for me, when it’s over, it’s over. By then I’m craving my minimalist home again. I often start the deconstruction process before my husband wakes up and can object (lol), but then when everything is put away we reward ourselves with a long walk and a Starbucks stop along the way.”
Cook an Untraditional Dinner!
Gabriela’s (@gabrielamoves) favorite tradition: “We have a family (and friends) tradition of cooking a big spaghetti dinner on Christmas Eve, it started one year and never ended. It’s easy; just spaghetti, sauce, grated parmesan, salad and baguette. And for dessert, cheese blintzes with strawberry sauce from last summer’s garden. So good!”
Play a Games Tournament With Family or Friends
Johanna’s favorite tradition: “My in-laws host Christmas every year, and after dinner everyone participates in a big games tournament with different brackets and finalists. The younger cousins create the schedule and we sign up! The games change―Dutch Blitz, Fingerboard (similar to Crokinole), table tennis, foosball, and recently Catchphrase and Mario Kart―but it’s so fun every year. Last year, one of the grandmothers got into the quarter finals and it was a hilarious upset!”
