One of the most fun aspects of the holidays is how unique the traditions can be. Sure, we get trees decorate them, bake cookies, wrap gifts, hang lights and stuff stockings. But some people do a bit more — and uniquely. Family-centered traditions deepen the meaning of the holidays each year and come down to what your family will remember and pass on for years to come. Your children will love implementing new ideas … and maybe you can get past that little Elf on the Shelf … or not!
New Traditions for Your Holidays
ORNAMENTS
Purchase an ornament with your family that corresponds to something that happened over the past year. Maybe your son learned to play the trumpet — so get a trumpet ornament. If your family took a cruise last summer or somebody got really good at tennis, grab a tennis ornament. Perhaps you have a new dog or somebody’s gotten good at cooking. Whatever it is, think about it, decide about it and do it. Consider one new ornament for all: when your kids are older, you can gift them a box with all of their unique ornaments inside.
Get a train set at the LIONEL STORE in Opry Mills (nashville.lionel.com); at PHILLIPS TOY MART in Belle Meade (phillipstoymart.com); at Tennessee Central Railway’s HOBBY SHOP; or online.
WRAPPING RIP
Let the kids hang wrapping paper on the open doorway to their rooms. In the morning, they get to rip through the paper on their way to seeing what Santa left under the tree. As an alternative … if you have stairs and everybody sleeps upstairs, have everyone wait at the top of the steps before coming down on the word, “Go!”
SAVE YOUR TREE STUMP
If you purchase a real tree, cut the round bottom off of the stump and save it. Label it with the year. Over time these stumps will make a sweet display of Christmas trees past.
SILLY SANTA GIFT
Have everyone buy one silly gift to give on Christmas Eve, it doesn’t matter to whom. After church and dinner, hang around by the tree and give each other the gifts, one by one.
BAKING DAY
Put holiday movies on and spend the day baking in the kitchen with the family. You’ll be amazed how the day whizzes by and how many wonderful items you can concoct. Try new traditions this year — like baking gingerbread men.
CHRISTMAS EVE BOX
Give everyone in the family one gift early — make it Christmas pajamas or something to lounge about in on Christmas day.
TREE ON CHRISTMAS EVE
This is an old tradition that some older people remember. Instead of having the tree up before Christmas, put it up after the kids have gone to bed on Christmas Eve. It will be the most amazing visual for them to come into the room to see the sparkling tree and presents.
SPECIAL CHOCOLATES
Some families enjoy ordering a special box of chocolates and passing it around the family breakfast table on Christmas morning.
PICK THAT ONE MOVIE
Yes, yes, we watch Christmas movies all December long, but there has to be that ONE movie that everybody watches together whether it’s Muppets Christmas Carol or It’s a Wonderful Life. Pick one and make it stick.
CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER
Who’s cooking and what’s it going to be? Whatever it is, repeat it each year so everybody knows, oh, we’re having lasagna! Or, oh, we’re having beef stroganoff! Some people get ambitious and make a paella or tenderloin. Whatever you do, when you have the plan in place, it makes it easier and easier each year to pull it off.
TREE SURPRISE
Hide something in the tree (some people hide a pickle!) and the person who finds it (after everybody opens presents) gets another present you have set aside.
OPEN ON CHRISTMAS EVE
Lots of families have started waiting until midnight and opening gifts on Christmas Eve. This works best for families with older kids, obviously.
STAY IN THE JAMMIES
Nobody is allowed to get dressed on Christmas. Everybody has to stay in their jammies and wallow around amid the wrapping paper and stuff. It would be nice of all involved to help with said wrapping paper disposal and stacking their gifts neatly by the tree for the day.
PUT A TRAIN AROUND IT
This can be a magical Christmas tradition the kids will love. Get a train set and assemble the tracks in a circle around the tree. When the kids wake in the morning, have the train going around!
More Ideas
• DELIVER HOMEMADE TREATS TO YOUR NEIGHBORS
• SPEND TIME GIVING BACK TO A LOCAL CHARITY
• HAVE SANTA SIGN THE GIFT TAGS WITH A SQUIGGLY WRITING – THE KIDS WILL BE ENTRANCED
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