Creating New Family Holiday Traditions

According to wikipedia.org, the word tradition refers to "beliefs or customs taught by one generation to the next

, often orally." Within a family, traditions may be carried on in grand style, from generation to generation, or may begin as humbly as one child asking his parent, "can we do that thing we did last year?" and suddenly, a tradition is born. Especially around the holidays, traditions seem particularly important and memorable, and when we create a family of our own, we may find that we have a strong desire to continue our most treasured traditions from our own childhood. Whether you're blending two families or you're simply ready for a change, now is the perfect time to create new family holiday traditions. Here are some ideas to spark your creativity.

1. Do something different.

This can be anything outside of your normal practices, but the key is to make it so different and special that the family will naturally want to do it again next year. If you normally put up an artificial tree, why not visit a tree farm this year to chop down your own tree? If you normally stay home during Christmas holidays, why not plan a family trip this year? Take a sleigh ride, make a silly face on your holiday card photo -- whatever it is, just be bold and see what kind of ideas you can come up with.

2. Make something new.

This could either be a craft that you try out this year and repeat from year to year (decorating your tree with strung popcorn or cranberries, perhaps, adding a new string each year), or maybe you simply add your "something new" to the mix each year. Maybe the family makes a crafty ornament for the tree each year.

3. Cook something new and different.

If you normally make cookies every year (yet you're not particularly attached to it as a tradition), why not create peppermint bark this year; or roast a goose instead of a turkey; or serve Chinese food instead of a ham for Christmas dinner? I can still remember the first year my mother dared to make a buche de noel. It was very labor-intensive, but it turned out positively gorgeous, and tasted delicious. Keeping things fresh will keep the holidays exciting, and it's often how new traditions are born.

4. Plan a unique family holiday event

This year, why not elevate one of your favorite holiday traditions? If you love to make popcorn and hot cocoa and snuggle up on the sofa while watching "A Christmas Story" or "It's a Wonderful Life," then why not do it in style this year? No, we're not talking about getting everyone in the family matching Snuggies - we're talking about renting a projector and watching that traditional flick in vivid larger-than-life color.

Whatever new traditions you start this year, have fun and enjoy your holidays!

by: Andy Grant

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