Creating New Holiday Family Traditions
The holiday season is here, and for many families, that means the celebration of annual traditions. If you’re finding that your traditions need some refreshing, or you’re a new family looking to establish traditions, here are some ideas.
Create a Family Recipe Book
If it’s not Thanksgiving without Aunt Susan’s sweet potatoes or Christmas without Grandma’s cookies, this is a great tradition for your family. Gather these recipes and others while the relatives who make them are still with you. Add to them every year, and it will become a family heirloom that gets passed down through generations.
Create a Family Time Capsule
Fill it with letters, pictures and small trinkets that hold dear memories for the year – a baby blanket or stuffed animal, Grandpa’s tie tack, the deck of cards you use on family game night. Store it away and reopen it as a family the following year. Continue adding new items every year to create a heartwarming way to keep track of your family’s history.
Share Generational Wisdom or Advice
If you have multiple generations gathering for the holidays, take advantage of your captive audience to pass down stories to younger family members or listen to the stories of older family members. Record them if possible, either on video or written notes. These insights will guide future generations.
Volunteer as a Family
Embrace the true spirit of the holidays by spending a day volunteering as a family at a local shelter, food bank or other charitable organization. This type of activity instills a sense of togetherness and provides invaluable life lessons to the younger members of the family. Plus, engaging in acts of kindness has been shown to have positive effects on mental and physical well-being, making it a gift that keeps on giving.
By refreshing your traditions or starting new one, you create lasting memories, strengthen family bonds and make a positive impact on your community and future generations. Happy holidays!
