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36 Unique Christmas Traditions to Start With Your Family This Year

Simple ways to make your holiday even more special.

cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows and christmas decorations on wooden table closeup view cozy winter holidays composition

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There's a reason why the holiday season is considered the most wonderful time of the year: It's one of the few occasions where we press pause on the hustle and bustle of the always-on world we live in, gather with friends and family members, and take part in time-honored traditions.

Now, chances are, you and your loved ones have your own way of doing Christmas—and that probably involves some old Christmas traditions, from gathering around the fireplace for a family-friendly game night to baking insanely delicious Christmas desserts while listening to a playlist of classic Christmas songs. But just because you've done things one way doesn't mean that's the only way, which is exactly why we've gathered some unique Christmas traditions to start with your nearest and dearest this year.

Some of these delightful ideas come straight from our families (i.e. having a Christmas movie marathon while wearing matching pajamas), while others you can steal from around the world to bring joy. For example, you could take a cue from Mexico and place poinsettias in the house, you could decorate a German-inspired Christmas tree (think: creative garland made from popcorn and cookies), you could make and mail handmade Christmas cards like they do in the UK, or, as is custom in Australia, you could serve shrimp as part of your Christmas feast. Not to mention that some of these Christmas activities are just plain fun (we highly recommend adding a Secret Santa gift exchange to your holiday party).

No matter how many you add to your festivities (one, five, even 10), all of these Christmas traditions will make your celebrations even more merry—so consider it our gift to you!

Collect Memento Christmas Ornaments

One of the most touching ways to mark the passing years is to honor each holiday season with a custom ornament, either made by hand or purchased at the store. Whether you've moved or sent your first child to kindergarten, you'll be flooded with memories each time you pull that trinket out of storage to hang it with care.

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Play Holiday-Themed Trivia

Put a festive spin on game night with a few rounds of Christmas trivia, like this list of holiday movie-themed Qs. The winner gets bragging rights, or you can make it interesting with a prize (extra milk and cookies, perhaps).

Make a DIY Photo Booth

You might associate them with weddings and other big events, but making your own at photo booth is a great way to create mementos to share. You won't need much more than a digital camera or iPad on a tripod, a background to tape on the wall (a wildly-patterned blanket or finger-painted paper both work), bright lightbulbs to flatter all your angles, and a little floor space for posing. Throw in some inexpensive funny hats and fake mustaches to tap into your family's silly side, and you've officially got a party going on.

Check out home photo booth tips at A Practical Wedding.

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SHOP PHOTO PRINTERS

Listen to a Holiday Story by Candlelight...or Christmas Lights

Challenge yourselves to put all screens away and cozy up for some quality time as you listen to a Christmas-themed tale together while you craft, make cookies, or simply relax. Try this audio play version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, or if a more modern option is more your family's style, there's author David Sedaris's hilarious (and true) modern classic Santaland Diaries about his time as a Macy's elf.

Count Down With an Advent Calendar

Tap into that holiday buzz by ticking off each passing day, counting down to the main event. It's an old Christmas tradition the kids especially love, but more modern versions—like wine and beauty advent calendars—appeal to adults, too. If you've missed the first few days and need to catch up by eating a week's worth of foil-wrapped chocolate in one night...don't worry, we won't tell Santa.

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Buy Matching Christmas Pajamas

Sit Down for a Special Brunch

Once presents have been torn through, gather the family together for one last holiday celebration—a special brunch. Menu options are boundless, from French toast, to lox and bagels, to egg casseroles. If you want to tap some other holiday traditions, take a nod from Australia and serve shrimp, or turn to ruby red pomegranate, which symbolizes abundance and life. And, of course, don't forget to add a yummy Christmas cocktail, like cranberry prosecco punch or spiked hot chocolate.

Pick Out a Tree

Whether you trek to a tree farm, run down to the street corner, or peruse a local nursery, there are plenty of ways to make the experience a memorable one. Don't want to commit to a live tree? Consider getting a pine wreath instead. Or, get tap into your DIY side by creating a washi tape tree on the wall.

Decorate the Tree

Once you've selected the perfect fir, reserve an afternoon to decorate as a family. Though you probably have a selection of string lights and baubles at your disposal, this tradition originated in Germany, where revelers adorned their trees with red apples and later strings of popcorn, candles, white candy canes, cookies, and dolls, according to Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas by Ace Collins. To infuse a little personality into the tradition, give each family member a mini tree for their bedroom and task them with decorating it in a singular theme that speaks to their personality.

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See Who Can Find the Pickle Ornament

While this quirky custom, sometimes called Weihnachtsgurke, supposedly has German origins, it's more likely an American Midwest tradition, according to The New York Times. What's the significance of this ornament? Traditionalists say the first child to find the pickle Christmas ornament gets the first present, an extra present, or the job of handing out the presents, plus good fortune in the year to come.

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Get Creative With Elf on the Shelf

To the dismay of parents everywhere, this modern Christmas tradition remains wildly popular with kids. Though undeniably fun for little ones, it's a bit of work for moms and/or dads, who are encouraged to come up with creative ways to stage their family's elf each night. The upside? Your elf watches over the little one's behavior, reporting back to Santa, so he can craft his naughty and nice list.

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Participate in a Toy Drive

"Adopting" a child through a local nonprofit organization, such as Toys for Tots, is another way to incorporate a charitable component to the holiday. In most cases, they'll provide a small wish list, then you do the shopping and drop off wrapped presents at a pre-determined location.

Sip Mulled Wine

For an extra-special holiday treat, whip up this popular European winter beverage. It's essentially a warm red wine, flavored with spices like cinnamon and clove.

GET THE RECIPE

Write Letters to Santa

This sweet Christmas tradition is actually relatively modern, originating in the late 19th century, according to TIME. How exactly did children start penning letters and lists to Santa? Cartoonist Thomas Nast published some of the first visual representations of Saint Nick in Harper's Weekly, including an 1871 image of Santa Claus sorting mail at his desk. In the image, one pile is labeled "letters from naughty children's parents," while another reads "letters from good children's parents."

While your kids will undoubtedly want to pen their own, encourage Christmas goodwill by answering a letter to Santa as a family. Through the USPS Operation Santa program, you can read letters and then send a toy to a lucky kid out there.

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Watch a Tree Lighting

Though Christmas trees were originally illuminated with candles, the tradition poses a serious fire hazard. As such, today's modern trees are adorned with much safer string lights (either white or multi-colored, depending on personal preference). According to Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, this adaption became popular shortly after the advent of the lightbulb, when one of Thomas Edison's employees decided to apply their invention to his own holiday tree.

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Tour Neighborhood Light Displays

Outdoor light displays first gained traction in the years following World War II, when greater production made them more affordable and accessible to the masses, according to Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas. Suddenly, there were illuminated Christmas displays both indoors and out, complete with lighted ornaments, bubble lights, and even lighted Santas. In some locales, these Christmas displays have really exploded. For a truly unique experience, see if you can find a local spot that's synced their lights with popular Christmas ballads.

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Decorate With Poinsettias

According to Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas , decorating with poinsettias is one of the few Christmas customs that originated in North America—in Mexico, specifically. In Christianity, the red flowers symbolize the blood shed on the cross, while the green leaves represent eternal life, but, for many, the bloom is simply a beautiful symbol of the holiday season. Use it to add color and spirit indoors or out, from your front porch to your mantle. (Just make sure it's out of reach of pets if you buy a real one, as it can be poisonous if ingested.)

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Do Holiday Crafts

Whether you DIY gifts, make your own holiday cards, assemble festive garland, decorate stockings, or create an entire Christmas village, hosting a family crafternoon is one of the most fun ways to get into the spirit. Turn on some classic Christmas music, warm up a mug of hot chocolate, and get to work. To spread a little holiday cheer, hand deliver your handiwork to elderly neighbors who could use a little company.

Have a Christmas Movie Marathon

Browse a Local Christmas Market

This popular tradition in both France and Germany is replicated all around the world, where shoppers meander through the the seemingly endless stalls at Christmas markets and villages to shop for the best Christmas gifts, all while sipping on hot chocolate or mulled wine.

Participate in a Secret Santa

This tradition goes by several other names, including "Pollyanna," and it's played by families and office coworkers alike. How does it work exactly? Participants select a name at random (usually out of a hat), then shop for a small present—typically under $20 or so—for that person. Sometimes, offices may opt for a White Elephant, or Yankee Swap, instead. The concept is similar, but in these cases, participants draw gifts blindly out of a bag, trading prizes until the game concludes with the last pick.

Mail Holiday Cards

This Christmas tradition first became popular in England around the middle of the 19th century, quickly spreading to the rest of Europe and then to the United States, according to Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas. At first these cards coupled seasonal illustrations with greetings, but today's modern take usually features family photos, too. If you're feeling inspired to get a little crafty, many nursing homes accept handmade cards to cheer up residents who may not have any family to celebrate with. Alternatively, you could do something similar for first responders, including doctors and nurses, police officers, and active duty military.

SHOP CHRISTMAS CARDS

Make a Gingerbread House

Whether you buy your own kit or build a gingerbread from scratch, one thing's for sure: This is a sweet (pun intended) tradition the whole family will adore. If you're really feeling confident in your abilities, up the stakes by entering a local gingerbread house competition.

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Decorate Christmas Cookies

Host a Cookie Swap

Christmas cookies are a holiday staple, but there's only so much baking one person can do. Expand your horizons by hosting a neighborhood cookie swap. Each person bakes a few dozen of a single variety, then everyone gets together for an evening of festive merriment to split the haul.

MAKE THE MOST POPULAR COOKIE ON PINTEREST

Feast on the Seven Fishes

Though one of the oldest Christmas traditions from Southern Italy, it remains a popular one on the tables of Italian-Americans today. The feast, also known as La Vigilia in some circles, occurs on Christmas Eve and is a grand meal, including—you guessed it—seven different types of seafood, ranging from shrimp and octopus to clams and cod.

Go Caroling

According to Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, "caroling" is an ancient word that refers to dancing or singing songs of praise and happiness. In the Dark Ages, it was a year-round practice, but later fell out of favor, since it was considered a pagan celebration. It wasn't until the early 16th century when Martin Luther embraced caroling that it became a common practice during the Christmas season. This is when tunes that we still sing today, like Silent Night, were first composed. If you're feeling inspired, don't just limit yourself to your immediate neighborhood—turn up somewhere that could really use an extra dose of holiday cheer, like outside of a hospital, for example (but check whether they're welcoming outside carolers first).

Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen

If you're looking for another way to give back, consider volunteering to cook or serve a holiday meal at your local soup kitchen, food bank, or shelter. You can also find other volunteer opportunities near you by visiting VolunteerMatch.

Serve Panettone

Alternatively, opt for another traditional dessert. This one, called Panettone, has Italian origins. It's a yeast-leavened bread that's typically made with raisins, candied fruit peels, almonds, and brandy. Even if it doesn't grace your own holiday table, it makes a great gift for neighbors and coworkers.

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Source: https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/g33623616/christmas-traditions/

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Christmas Movie Where Kids Draw Tree on Wall

36 Unique Christmas Traditions to Start With Your Family This Year

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