The holidays arrive every year with the promise of joy, reflection, and connection. Yet what truly makes the season memorable is the way families choose to celebrate together. A meaningful holiday tradition gives everyone something to look forward to, strengthens relationships, and creates memories that last far beyond the season itself. If you are looking for traditions to start this year, this guide will help you create moments your family will treasure year after year.

Whether you are blending a new family, welcoming new children, or simply refreshing your family holiday traditions, the ideas below offer both classic and unique holiday traditions that work for families of all sizes and dynamics.

Holiday Tradition: Decorating the Christmas Tree Together

Family Tradition: Let Everyone Take Turns Decorating

One of the most cherished family traditions to start is decorating the Christmas tree together. This simple act instantly helps everyone feel like Christmas has arrived. When families take turns placing decorations, it becomes a shared experience instead of a rushed task.

To make this a true family tradition, turn on your holiday playlist, pour some hot drinks, and let each person add something special to the tree.

You can even turn it into a rotating tradition where:

• One person chooses the tree topper each year
• Kids decide the ornament color theme
• Parents handle the lights while children decorate the lower branches

This helps ensure that everyone in the family feels involved.

Ornament and Decor: Building Meaningful Collections

Every ornament tells a story. Creating a tradition where you add one new ornament each year gives your family a living timeline of shared memories. You might choose ornaments that represent:

• A new baby
• A family vacation
• A milestone or achievement
• A remembrance

Many families also enjoy crafting DIY ornaments as part of their fun holiday decorations as well, which makes the experience even more personal.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History documents how ornaments became a central tradition in American holiday culture, adding historical meaning to your decor:
https://americanhistory.si.edu

Christmas Eve: Starting Calm and Cozy Holiday Family Traditions

Family Holiday: Slowing Down Before the Big Day

Christmas Eve often feels rushed, but it is the perfect time to build calm and meaningful holiday family traditions that help everyone slow down and connect before the excitement of Christmas morning.

A cozy evening routine might include:

• A light family meal
• A shared Christmas movie
• Reading a story about the baby jesus
• Quiet reflection or prayer for families who celebrates Christmas

These traditions become something children will look forward to every year.

Holiday Movie and Christmas Movie Night

Watching a holiday movie together is one of the simplest holiday traditions to start. Some families rotate movies so each person gets a turn choosing. Others pick one film to watch around Christmastime every single year.

Popular family classics include:

• It’s a Wonderful Life
• The Polar Express
• Home Alone
• A Charlie Brown Christmas

You can even grow this into a full holiday movie marathon across several nights in December and make it a special annual event.

Family Photo: Capturing Your Favorite Holiday Moments

Make a Family Photo Tradition That Grows With You

An annual family photo is one of the easiest and most meaningful traditions to start with your family. Whether it’s professional or casual, this tradition allows you to visually watch how your new traditions and family dynamic evolve.

Many families choose themes such as:

• Matching pajamas
• Outdoor winter shots
• Black-and-white portraits
• A cozy living-room setup by the Christmas tree

Over time, these images become treasured reminders of your family holiday story.

Mpix offers a helpful guide on organizing yearly family photos into memory books:
https://www.mpix.com/christmas-photo-gifts

Family Recipe Book: Preserving Flavors and Memories

Holiday Treats and Many Types of Holiday Cookies

Food brings people together, and creating a family recipe book is one of the most meaningful ways to pass down flavor and tradition. This can include:

• Many types of holiday cookies
• Classic soups or stews
• Breads and desserts tied to your heritage

Each recipe can include notes about who made it first or why it matters, turning it into a living family archive.

Family Involved: Passing Down the Tradition

Getting the family involved in cooking builds skills and connection. Even young children can help measure ingredients or decorate cookies with candy cane pieces or icing.

This tradition helps:

• Strengthen generational bonds
• Teach practical kitchen skills
• Create shared holiday memories

It also makes the finished meal feel even more meaningful.

Holiday Lights and Light Displays: Adventures After Dark

Holiday Lights Throughout the Neighborhood

Driving or walking through holiday lights throughout the neighborhood is one of the most joyful and low-cost traditions families can enjoy. Many families turn it into a game to judge:

• The brightest house
• The most creative display
• The best use of inflatables
• The most classic decorations

It is a great way to get outside during winter evenings while creating excitement and connection.

Drive Through Local Parks and Neighborhoods

Many cities now offer professional light displays in local parks and neighborhoods, often as drive-through experiences. Some families add:

• A hot chocolate bar at home before or after
• Pajamas for the kids
• A special holiday playlist in the car

These outings quickly become something families look forward to every year.

The National Recreation and Park Association highlights the community benefits of seasonal park events:
https://www.nrpa.org/our-work/Three-Pillars/health-wellness/

Scavenger Hunt: A Fun Family Challenge

See Who Can Find the Most Holiday Items

A holiday-themed scavenger hunt is perfect for families who enjoy games and movement. You can host it:

• Inside your home
• In your backyard
• Throughout your neighborhood

Kids will love searching for items like:

• A snowman
• A glowing reindeer
• A Christmas tree in a window
• A red-and-white candy cane

Add prizes such as a small gift or special treat for the winners.

Make It a Tradition Year After Year

Once you introduce this activity, it often becomes a fun holiday competition families want to keep doing. You can even adjust the difficulty as children grow older to keep it challenging.

Gift Exchange: Simple, Thoughtful, and Stress-Free

White Elephant and Secret Santa Traditions

Large families sometimes feel overwhelmed by the cost and chaos of gift giving. A structured gift exchange such as white elephant or secret santa keeps it fun but manageable.

These traditions:

• Encourage creativity
• Limit excessive spending
• Focus on meaning rather than quantity
• Keep everyone in the family involved

Many families also pair these exchanges with a family meal or dessert night.

Turns Choosing and Small Gift Ideas

To keep things exciting, families often use turns choosing so each person selects a gift one at a time. Setting a budget for a small gift ensures fairness and keeps stress low.

Gather Your Family: Why Traditions Matter More Than Ever

Meaningful Way to Strengthen Family Bonds

To gather your family intentionally during the holidays is one of the most important things you can do. Traditions provide emotional stability, build identity, and give children a deep sense of belonging.

According to the American Psychological Association, consistent family rituals support emotional development and stress reduction in children:
https://www.apa.org/search?osQuery=parenting%20routines

This is what makes holiday traditions to start such a powerful investment in your family’s future.

Tradition Is One That Grows With Your Family

A tradition is one that naturally evolves. What works when your children are small may change as they grow. The key is staying intentional, flexible, and inclusive.

Whether you celebrate with a cabin in the mountains, home by the fireplace, or with extended relatives, traditions help your family gather around shared purpose.

Unique Holiday Traditions That Make the Season Feel Special

Unique Holiday Traditions: Creative Ideas That Stand Out

Every family develops its own rhythm during the holidays, but introducing unique holiday traditions is what helps the season feel fresh and exciting year after year. Not every tradition needs to be elaborate—often, the most memorable ones are rooted in simple holiday traditions that become deeply meaningful over time.

Some families enjoy experimenting with creative ideas like:

• A themed dinner night once a week in December
• Random acts of kindness challenges
• Outdoor winter games regardless of snow
• Trivia nights focused on family memories

These new holiday traditions tend to stick because they do not feel forced. They grow naturally and become part of what your family begins to recognize as the best holiday traditions.

Candy Cane Games and Sweet Holiday Fun

Candy Cane Challenges Everyone Will Love

A simple candy cane can turn into hours of fun holiday entertainment. Many families start small traditions centered around candy cane games that everyone can enjoy.

Popular games include:

• Candy cane scavenger hunts
• Candy cane stacking races
• Guess-the-flavor challenges
• Candy cane crafts

These types of activities are affordable, inclusive, and ideal for last-minute plans when schedules get busy.

Christmas Morning Traditions That Last a Lifetime

Christmas Morning: Where Memories Are Made

Few moments compare to the excitement of Christmas morning. For many families, this is when Christmas presents are opened, laughter fills the home, and the season truly comes alive.

Some families open gifts all at once, while others take turns, allowing each child to savor their moment. Others pause between gifts to reflect on gratitude or tell stories from past holidays, reinforcing the emotional importance of the day.

Snowman Fun for Outdoor Traditions

If you live in an area with snow, building a snowman becomes one of the most joyful outdoor family holiday traditions. Even in warmer climates, families adapt with sand snowmen or creative lawn displays.

This tradition encourages:

• Physical activity
• Teamwork
• Outdoor family bonding
• Creativity

It is a perfect example of how simple seasonal activities often become the favorite holiday moments children remember most.

New Family Traditions for Blended and Growing Households

New Family, New Traditions

For a new family, the holidays can feel both exciting and emotional. When families blend through marriage, adoption, or guardianship, creating new traditions becomes especially important for connection and belonging.

Rather than replacing older customs, many families:

• Combine elements from both households
• Rotate where key holidays are celebrated
• Introduce one entirely new tradition together

This approach honors everyone’s past while building shared meaning for the future.

Family Holiday Traditions That Grow With Time

Strong family holiday traditions evolve naturally. What works when children are young often changes as they grow into teens and adults. The most successful traditions remain flexible while preserving their emotional foundation.

Holiday Movie Marathon Nights

Holiday Movie Marathon for All Ages

Hosting a full holiday movie marathon is one of the easiest ways to bring the whole family together without complicated planning. Families often pick:

• A single weekend
• One movie each night in December
• A full day of back-to-back favorites

These movie nights create predictable comfort and are often paired with popcorn bars, pajamas, and cozy blankets.

Holiday Playlist to Set the Mood

Music plays a powerful role in making things feel like Christmas. Many families now create a shared holiday playlist where each person adds their favorite songs.

This playlist often becomes:

• Background music during decorating
• A soundtrack for baking days
• The go-to music for long drives looking at Christmas lights

Spotify and Apple Music both offer excellent family playlist tools:

Baby Jesus and Faith-Based Traditions

Baby Jesus Storytelling and Reflection

For families who include faith in their celebrations, honoring the story of the baby jesus becomes a central and meaningful part of the season. This might include:

• Reading the nativity story
• Setting up a nativity scene
• Attending candlelight services
• Family prayer or reflection

These traditions help reinforce the deeper meaning for families who celebrates Christmas as a spiritual holiday.

Christmas Presents That Focus on Meaning

Thoughtful Christmas Presents Over Excess

While Christmas presents are exciting, many families are shifting toward fewer but more intentional gifts. This often aligns with values around gratitude, generosity, and sustainability.

Some families use:

• A four-gift rule (something you want, need, wear, and read)
• Experience-based gifts instead of physical items
• One meaningful family gift

This approach keeps the focus on connection rather than consumerism.

When It Finally Starts to Feel Like Christmas

Feel Like Christmas Traditions

For many families, there is a specific moment when it finally begins to feel like Christmas. This might happen when:

• Christmas lights go up
• The first snowfall arrives
• The holiday playlist plays in the background
• The house smells like baked goods

That emotional turning point is often what anchors traditions most strongly in memory.

Christmas Cards and Holiday Cards Traditions

Christmas Cards as a Family Ritual

Sending Christmas cards is a timeless tradition that still holds emotional value in a digital world. Many families set aside one evening to address envelopes together and write personal messages.

This tradition often includes:

• Selecting or taking the annual photo
• Letting children decorate envelopes
• Sharing reflections from the year

These holiday cards often become keepsakes for extended family members and friends.

Hand Deliver Some Treats With Cards

Some families go a step further and hand deliver some treats along with cards to their neighbors. This might include:

• Cookies
• Small breads
• Hot chocolate kits

Delivering treats to your nearby neighbors builds community and reinforces the spirit of generosity.

Celebrates Christmas Through Giving Back

Soup Kitchen and Community Service

Volunteering at a soup kitchen is one of the most impactful annual holiday traditions a family can start. It teaches children compassion, humility, and the importance of service.

Families often volunteer with:

• Shelters
• Church-run kitchens
• Community outreach centers

Donate to Local Organizations and Support Families in Need

Donating is another powerful way to celebrate with family while serving others. Many families intentionally set aside:

• Gifts to donate to local toy drives
• Warm clothing
• Food supplies

These donations help support families and children, especially families and children who may struggle most during winter.

Trustworthy organizations include:

• Feeding America: https://www.feedingamerica.org
• Toys for Tots: https://www.toysfortots.org
• United Way: https://www.unitedway.org

These are well-established local organizations that support families nationwide.

Ring in the New Year With Family Traditions

New Year’s Eve as a Family Celebration

Many families now ring in the new year intentionally together on new year’s eve rather than separating into adult-only celebrations. This allows children to feel included while creating meaningful memories.

Some families:

• Do early countdowns for younger kids
• Rewatch favorite moments from the year
• Share goals for the coming year

Go on a “Shopping Spree” for Donations

One meaningful twist is to go on a “shopping spree” for others instead of yourselves. Each child receives a set amount to purchase:

• Toys
• Clothing
• Hygiene products

These items are then given as gifts to donate to local shelters or drives. Families often say this becomes the most impactful tradition of the entire season.

Special Stops at the Local Fire Station

Stops at the Local Fire for Seasonal Giving

Many families make special stops at the local fire station to thank first responders with baked goods or small coffee gift cards. These yearly stops at the local fire station often become a special annual event to drive to together as a family.

It teaches children respect, gratitude, and community awareness.

Looking at All the Fun Christmas Lights

Special Annual Event to Drive and Look at Displays

Some families schedule a formal night each December dedicated to looking at all the fun light displays. They map out neighborhoods, pack snacks, and drive for hours admiring Christmas lights.

This becomes a special annual event to drive that children anticipate as much as gift opening.

Gather Around: Why Traditions Truly Matter

Gather Around What Matters Most

In the end, traditions exist to help families gather around what matters most: connection, gratitude, love, and belonging. Whether your traditions are loud and playful or quiet and reflective, they shape how children understand family for the rest of their lives.

When families choose to make this year intentional through shared rituals, they build something far greater than a schedule of activities. They build identity.

Final Thoughts on Holiday Traditions to Start With Your Family This Year

The most powerful holiday traditions to start are the ones rooted in presence, generosity, and shared laughter. Whether you are part of a new family, continuing old customs, or experimenting with new traditions, every tradition you build becomes part of your family story.

From Christmas present exchanges to volunteer work, from holiday playlists to Christmas cards, these rituals become the memories children carry into adulthood. And one day, they will pass them on as the best holiday traditions of their own families.