Holiday Traditions to Start This Year

The holiday season is full of traditions. Some of them you may have participated in when you were a child, while others of them might be new to you. If you just moved out on your own, just got married, started a family, or looking for virtual things to do during COVID, here are some ideas for holiday traditions to start in your household.

Holiday Traditions to Start This Yea 

1. The Elf On The Shelf
   This tradition involves Santa sending a stuffed elf to a household to watch over the children and report back to Santa. He or she usually will show up after Thanksgiving and return back to the North Pole after Christmas. Every morning when the children get up, the elf is usually in a different place than the night before. Unfortunately, the elf might not always be the most well-behaved when others aren’t watching and he could do some naughty things like spilling the cereal or knock over the trash can.
2. Advent Calendar
   The Advent calendar is used to count down the days until Christmas. These calendars are generally in the shape of a rectangle and have special windows that are numbered from 1 to 24. Each night from December 1st through the 24th, kids will get to open one window where they will find a special surprise such as a small toy or a piece of candy.
3. Gingerbread Houses
   The tradition of putting together a house out of gingerbread and decorating it started in the 1800s in Germany. They became popular with the fairy tale of “Hansel and Gretel”. Today around Christmas time, many families love to construct small gingerbread houses and decorate them with things like frosting, jelly beans, and gumdrops. This is something you can do on zoom together and have a friendly holiday competition.
4. Create a Holiday PlayList
   There is nothing like music to improve your mood. Why not create a custom playlist that you can play while decorating the tree or baking holiday goodies.
   
5. Have a Weekly Holiday Movie Night
   Whether it’s Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix or the Hallmark channel, there are plenty of options to watch holiday movies together.
6. Have a Virtual Ugly Sweater Party
   Throw a virtual affair by sending out an invitation on Zoom…have a family vote on the ugliest sweater.
7. Download Christmas/Holiday audiobooks.
   Why not listen to How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Christmas Elf, The Nutcracker, or the Christmas Carol while driving around looking at Christmas lights.  Send everybody a Zoom invitation and host a holiday reading of a classic.
8. Christmas Eve Presents
   By the time Christmas Eve arrives, kids are very excited for Christmas. One way to hold off on the excitement is to allow them to open just one small gift on Christmas Eve. In some households while the family goes to a church service or out to visit family, Santa makes a stop and delivers one special present that the child can open when they get home. Oftentimes these presents are a set of pajamas to wear that night or a small treat.
9. Sending A Letter To The North Pole
   Even though many people don’t write letters anymore, the post office receives thousands of letters around Christmas time that are addressed to Santa. This is a beloved tradition that has been passed down through several generations. For those that want to use technology to help them, many websites are allowing kids to email Santa directly through their site.
10. Baking Christmas Cookies
    Whether it’s the hint of cinnamon in the air or chocolate chips, nothing brings everyone to the kitchen faster than fresh baked goods during the holidays.  Make it a tradition to bake sugar cookies and decorate them.  If you have small children decide which cookies you are going to leave out for Santa.  Instead of milk, consider a Hot Cocoa Bar with choices of sprinkles, marshmallows, whipped cream, and peppermint sticks.
11. Wear Matching Pajamas
    Waking up on Christmas morning with matching pajamas makes for great Xmas pictures.  Consider buying them right after Christmas where they are up to 80% off and keep them for the following year. Keep in mind to go a size up for the kids.
12. Decorating a Christmas Tree
    Make it a family event. Whether it’s a small pre-lit tabletop tree or one that you choose at a tree farm, a tree is a great way to involve the whole family. Start an ornament collection, make homemade decorations from the tree as simple as chain link or sewing popcorn its activities that help bring friends and family together.  If a tree is too much work or too expensive, consider a wreath you could decorate. Amazon sells felt trees you can attach to your wall that come with decorations starting at $10.99.
13. Give Back
    Make it an annual winter tradition to help others.  Write a letter to a soldier. You can learn more at Operation Gratitude on how you can support the military by sending letters or care packages.  Also through BuildingImpact.org you can create a holiday gift basket for a family who has survived domestic violence or send winter essentials to Veterans. If you are over 50 you can volunteer at StorriTime as a reader for virtual story hours. Create holiday cards with your children and delivery them to a local hospital thanking doctors & nurses during this challenging year or send them to Cards for Hospitalized Kids to distribute to children who could use some cheering up. Go through closets and donate gently used clothing. Anything you can offer is appreciated and makes a difference.
14. Enjoy Holiday Lights
    Watch the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree on December 2nd. The Christmas special begins at 8 pm with the lighting of the tree at 9 pm EST. Check out the holiday lights in your area.  There are plenty of virtual holiday events as well, just your local listings or tourist board.  We compiled a list of South Florida Holiday events for our local clients.
15. Festive Meals
    Consider making your family’s traditional dishes, or perhaps making something from other cultures.  For example, Italians make the Feast of the Seven Fishes.  Here are some other Christmas Eve Traditions from Around the World.

Christmas traditions are a great way to make memories with your kids. Are there any holiday traditions that you and your family participate in each year?

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