New holiday traditions are going to be the best part of your holiday season this year. No matter how you celebrate traditions are something that brings families and loved ones together. New holiday traditions can be your way of starting something magical and exciting for your own family or creating joy and laughter in any social circle.
1. Snowman/sandman Building Competition
Everyone loves a good snowman but have you ever heard of a sandman? For those of us who live in the southern hemisphere there is no chance of being able to make snowmen during the holiday season. So for us it is sandmen!
Regardless of what medium you are working with a bit of competition is always fun. Make sure you lay out the rules in advance and have prizes for the winners.
As for judges you can have unsuspecting passersby judge, grandparents, social media or even your lovely neighbour. If you live in a tight knit street it might be fun to make it a neighbourhood competition and get everyone involved. I can almost guarantee you that there will be some dads who are busy planning in July!
2. Sleeping Under The Christmas Tree
This is hands down, no competition my favourite Christmas tradition. I feel so strongly about this that I think it should be on the top of everyones new holiday traditions list.
For as long as I can remember I have slept under the Christmas tree every Christmas eve. Once I had children of my own I knew it was the one tradition I wanted to continue. They love it just as much as I do.
We always make sure to leave all the tree lights on throughout the night which just adds to the magic along with quiet Christmas music to fall asleep to.
3. Carols in the Park
Another highlight for our family during the holiday season is attending carols in the park each year. I feel like this is something that may only occur where it is still somewhat warm during the holiday season. For us Christmas happens to be in the middle of summer.
We will always pack a delicous picnic full of yummy snacks and treats along with our big picnic blanket. There are usually rides and food trucks to add to the entertainment and plenty of places to buy glow sticks for hevily marked up prices.
We always bring our own glow sticks because I am super cheap. I will buy a bulk pack for less than $10 and we are the life of the party. Our kids enjoy sharing them out to other families around us too, which adds a bit of Christmas joy.
It truly is wonderful to see the whole community together singing their lungs out to all the holiday favourites.
4. Go to a Tree Lighting
I have always wanted to go to a tree lighting but have never made it yet. I think this will be one of our new holiday traditions for this year. Can it also be a new holiday tradition to make new holiday traditions every year?
The ultimate tree lighting that is on our family bucket list is the Rockefeller Centre in New York City. That tree always looks absolutely stunning and would be incredibly memorable to see up close.
If like us you don’t live anywhere new NYC, look out for your local city or town’s tree lighting celebrations and make it a goal to attend this year.
5. Buy Gifts for the Giving Tree
This is a tradition that I have always maintained with our children because I want them to recognise that Christmas is about the giving as much, if not more than the receiving.
When they were young the task was often difficult for them to understand and complete without being upset wanting to bring the gift home for themselves. As they have gotten older it has become something that they love to do and look forward to.
As a parent it warms my heart as I have watched them over the years carefully selected something they know a child would love. They are usually the most well thought out and well wrapped gifts we have each year.
Samaritan Ministries also have what they call Operation Christmas Child. This is a holiday ministry where you fill a shoe box with certain items along with a hand written card or letter for a child. The boxes are then shipped to countries who have a lot less that us.
Watch the video below and see how much joy something so small can bring a child. I am sure you will be convinced that this needs to be one of your new holiday traditions.
6. Family Pixies
This maybe called something different where you are from. However the concept is, that you select a family or a person to be your target. For a select amout of time, perhaps a week or even a month you do little acts of service for that family. You act as their pixie.
The trick is however, that they can never know that it is you. It is all hush hush.
We have been on both the giving and reciving end I don’t know what is better!
Some pixie ideas include:
- Leaving treats on the doorstep
- Heart attacking the front lawn or door
- Sending a hand written note
- A grocery hamper
- Hot chocolate making kit
- Little decorated tree
- Gift cards for dinner out
- Hand picked bouquet of flowers
- A new picture book
The ideas are limitless. It is honestly one of the most incredible experiences to be a part of. Sometimes you are an answer to someones prayers or silent cries for help without even knowing it. Sometimes you can just bring some extra love into a family’s home and hearts. There are other times when the blessing comes to your own family as the givers. When children feel the joy of giving and want to experience it more in their lives.
New holiday traditions can be about you or they can be about someone else but this one is perfect for both.
7. Go Carolling
I can not sing. I mean I can sing but I am not great at it. My husband and kids are amazing singers thank goodness. On my list of husband requirements I had that he had to be able to sing. This comes in handy when it is time to go carolling.
Believe it or not, it isn’t about how well you sing. Somehow that doesn’t seem to matter in the slightest once you get out there and the holiday spirit just swallows you up and all of the sudden you are singing your little lungs out.
You will find that as you start carolling that you may start with 8 or so carollers but end up as a blossoming group of 20 before the night is over. This is because you bring so much holiday joy along with you that people that you are singing to want to join in and spread that joy too.
The more the merrier.
8. Bethlehem Dinner
Every Christmas Eve we have what we call a Bethlehem dinner. We eat food that is traditional the the Middle East, which is great for us becuase it happens to be our favourite type of food! The kids have taken it a step further over the years to include dressing up in historic attire and decorating the living room.
Once we are all seated around the table/floor we eat all the delicious food while reading the story of the first Christmas.
9. Christmas Chocolate Game
This game can get a little fierce and brutal just a warning! It starts with a large block of chocolate on a chopping board in the centre. The players then form a circle around the chocolate.
You will need to collect several Christmas attire items or just go for a Santa suit. You could include some Christmas pj’s, Santa hat, reindeer ears, elf shoes, ugly Christmas sweater etc you get the idea.
Now the players roll two dice and the first player to roll double sixes has to put on all the clothes as fast as they can and start cutting the chocolate with a knife and fork. Each piece the cut off they need to eat.
The object of the game is to eat as much chocolate before the next person in the circle rolls double sixes.
Remember, I warned you it can get brutal!
10. Ugly Sweater Competition
I need to be invited to one of these competitions! This is hands down going to be one of our new holiday traditions this year. Even if it is just for our own family I think it will be totally worth it.
I will officially be one of those crazy ladies planning my ugly sweater in July (it’s actually July right now). It might need to be ugly t-shirt competition for us though!
11. Christmas Scavenger Hunt
Christmas scavenger hunts are a lot of fun for the whole family. You can tailor them to suit the ages and abilities of your group.
Little kids can check off simple things like finding a Christmas tree or Santa. Older teens might having items such as “a couple kissing under mistletoe”. You can bet on them convincing some poor strangers to help them on their quest!
12. Christmas Mug Swap
Mugs are things we use every day multiple times a day. It is nice to have a little variety especially at Christmas. This could be one of the fun new holiday traditions you have for your family get together or even the workplace party.
It is always interesting to see what kind of mugs people manage to find. This is a great one for new holiday traditions where you don’t need to spend a lot of money.
13. Host a Hot Chocolate Party
I want you to think of a hot chocolate with all the extras. There are actually so many different hot chocolate combinations. I had no idea. My husband swears by the Spanish hot chocolate that he gets from our local churro shop. Personally I love Samoan Koko.
You can include marshmallows, peppermint, different chocolates, syrups, creams. Let your imagination run wild.
14. Make Holiday Cards
I love getting Christmas cards. It is even more special when I get a cute handmade one. Extra special if I know one of the kids has spent time making it for me. These are the ones I treasure the most.
This a great winter activity for your kids to do. If you need some more winter activity ideas make sure to read this post next
15. Holiday Treat Exchange
Just the thought of holiday treats makes my mouth tingle. My all time favourite holiday treat is marshmallow fudge. I don’t even know if it’s actually a holiday treat but it is totally what I associate it with. I guess if you sprinkle green and red sprinkles on anything it becomes a holiday treat really.
Get a group of friends together and bring all your favourite treats to exchange. Everyone goes home with a box full of goodies to share, or not share with their families.
16. Matching PJ’s
I think this is the year I am finally going to get my wish of having everyone in matching Christmas Pj’s. Even the dog. He is probably the most willing if I am honest.
If you do want family pj’s you need to start looking early because it seems like most of the world wants matching holiday pj’s the week before Christmas.
16. Advent Calendars
The year I was too late getting Christmas advent calendars for our kids is a year I will never be allowed to forget. This is a highlight of our kids years! I should really be more on to it.
This year I want to buy an advent calendar that will stand the test of time and not be reliant on me being organised at Christmas. Well outside of buying a few bags of chocolate of candy to put inside the calendar.
I actually love reusable advent calendars because you can personalise it to your own family. My best friend has a daughter who has severe allergies and the traditional chocolate calendars are not safe for her. She is able to use one of these reusable calendars with safe treats for her daughter instead. Plus they look way cuter.
17. Christmas Movie Marathon
Our best Christmas we have ever had was last year. We did nothing other than eat and watch Christmas movies all day long. It was amazing and I hope we can do exactly the same this year!
Check out this list for the best Christmas movies.
18. Christmas Eve Movie Theatre
If you don’t want to do a Bethlehem dinner on Christmas Eve then perhaps a trip to the movies is in order. This actually sounds like a really nice way to round out the maddening shopping season.
Hopefully there will be some great new holiday movies coming out this year for us to enjoy. Frozen was our favourite holiday release years ago, which we watched on the hottest day in Melbourne. Ironic right?!
19. Visit Light Displays
People are finally getting into the holiday light craziness here in Australia. Years ago when I was in the USA for Christmas I fell in love with all the stunningly decorated houses and businesses. It is exciting to see that finally becoming something special we get to enjoy down under too.
We usually got and get frozen slushies and wait until 10pm and then head out to see as many lights as we can.
20. Family Talent Night
Family talent nights are some of the most memorable activities to do in the holiday season. When it comes to new holiday traditions a family talent night should be right near the top.
Holding a family talent night is a lot of fun when families get together with all the cousins, aunts and uncles. It is a great way to build relationships and share talents and a lot, and I mean a lot of laughter.
Be sure to record the shenanigans for future generations!