5 Family Traditions to Start This Holiday Season

Sometimes it can feel like the holidays are spent just going from one gathering with extended family to another. This isn’t a lot of time to soak in the holidays just with your kids and/or significant other. But having your own holiday traditions that you can enjoy year after year is so important!

With the changes that COVID will make to the holiday season, there’s never been a better time to start new family traditions. Here are five ideas to try out this December!

Have a Pajama Party

We’ve all seen the cute Christmas card photos of families wearing matching PJs. While you may not want to have an entire photoshoot, everyone (parents and kids!) getting into their pajamas early in the evening is a fun tradition to start this holiday season. 

Once you’re all in your coziest PJs, you could watch a movie together while munching on popcorn or your favorite holiday treats or sipping hot cocoa. If you want to cut down on screen time, you could play a board game or read some classic Christmas books together. Everyone will be comfy, cozy, and warm for this at-home holiday pajama party.

DIY Ornaments as a Family

Buying fancy Christmas tree ornaments is expensive. It’s also not very practical if you tend to break a few each year. Instead, make a new holiday tradition of DIYing Christmas tree ornaments each year. 

Not the craftiest person? They can be as simple as candy canes made out of pipe cleaners! Personalize your tree with photo ornaments, or paint inexpensive ornaments in your favorite colors. There are endless DIY ornament ideas on Pinterest!

Carol at Home

Christmas songs are arguably one of the best parts of the holiday season! Although listening to the music while you’re in the car or in the kitchen cooking is fun, taking some time to sing carols together as a family is extra special. Caroling may be out this year because of social distancing, but you can still have the joy of spreading Christmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear in your home.

If you want to make the tradition extra special, play your favorite Christmas song from a music box. Music Box Attic offers all kinds of festive compositions to choose from! This is the perfect backdrop to your new at-home caroling tradition.

Emphasize Giving Back

It’s never too early to teach your kids the importance of giving to others. While the holidays are the most wonderful time of year for some, for many, they are anything but that. Buy canned goods to donate to the local food pantry, go shopping for Toys for Tots, or make a meal for your elderly neighbor. There’s no shortage of ways to help the community and bring joy to others!

Create and Send Holiday Cards Together

Money might be tight this year, and maybe you aren’t planning on giving as many gifts to relatives. Instead, put extra effort into sending holiday cards. You can all own making highly-personalized, handcrafted Christmas cards. Make sending cards a family affair! It’s a great way to show that the most meaningful gifts don’t have to be expensive.

Any of these family traditions will make a great addition to your holiday celebration this year. When you keep coming back to them year after year, you will be creating beautiful memories with family that you’ll cherish forever.