The holiday season is the perfect time to be closer to your loved ones and spend more time with them.
When you celebrate festivities, it’s also important to keep family traditions alive. Whether you carry out a conventional tradition that millions of people follow or something quirky that’s exclusive to your family, traditions are what bring people closer!
Statistics say that 78% of parents feel that it’s important to share family traditions with their children. So, if you need a few unique ideas, refer to this think piece!
Advent Calendar Activity
Many people around the world follow the tradition of advent calendars, so if you haven’t done so yet, now’s your time to start!
Build a custom advent calendar for the perfect countdown to Hannukkah, New Year’s, or any other special holiday event.
If you wish to create a cooking-themed advent calendar, you can include tasks like “Make Spicy Creamed Corn” for day 1, “Bake Snowman-Shaped Cookies” for day 2, and so on. To make it healthy, make sure you use extra virgin olive oil and organic groceries.
There’s no compulsion to go fancy. Just include simple tasks that you’re genuinely interested in.
Igloo Building
If there’s quite a bit of snow piling up on your garden or driveway, why not build a small igloo?
Even though the activity might tire you out, the entire project is quite satisfying. Moreover, you can ask all family members to join in on the fun!
The igloo doesn’t necessarily have to be huge or functional. As long as everyone has fun building and decorating it, that’s all that matters.
Take some blankets, a board game, and fairy lights, and step inside for a cozy family evening. You can even carry a laptop or a tablet and watch a holiday movie together!
Staying with Animals
For vegans, the holiday season can be a little disturbing with all the turkey and duck roasting. Elevate your mood by visiting your local animal shelter and spending some time with them.
This can significantly make you feel happier and lighter, especially if you’re living alone during the holidays. Buy or knit warm sweaters and blankets for these little babies and watch them as they enjoy!
Organizations like PETA actively work to save animals. You can also advocate for the voiceless animals by gifting cards that support animal welfare.
Hot Chocolate Making
One tradition that has been continuing for centuries is making hot chocolate or hot cocoa.
There’s nothing like enjoying a steaming mug of hot chocolate on a cold, wintry evening as you curl up with your loved ones in front of the TV and have a movie marathon!
While the prepackaged ones are easier to make, the homemade ones have a special flavor of their own!
There are so many different types of hot chocolate, from Kahlua to buttered rum, so don’t hesitate to experiment using the items you already have.
Otherwise, you can go all in with the plain old hot chocolate and marshmallows recipe to make everyone’s mouths water!
Storytelling Session
Every family has a rich history and traditions. One of the best ways to follow an inspiring tradition is to have a storytelling session by the fireplace.
Honor your family’s history by telling the younger generation about your ancestors. Tell them their names, professions, and exciting stories about any particular family member.
You can also have a horror storytelling session where everyone comes up with a spooky story! Or you can weave a story in which one person says a sentence, and the person next to them can weave another sentence to continue the story.
Have a Guest Party
Hosting a feast or dinner is also a great way to keep holiday traditions alive! Invite your immediate family, close relatives, friends, and neighbors to make the evening special. Exchanging gifts or taking turns singing Christmas Carols can also liven up the mood.
If you celebrate Hanukkah, light the menorah as a family or spin the dreidel. Or cook traditional Jewish dishes like latkes and sufganiyot. If there are any leftovers or if you wish to cook extra, donate them to the local charity or communal shelter to help the less fortunate ones.
Conclusion
During the holiday season, the most important tradition is to give back to your community through kind gestures. If you see any human or animal who needs a little bit of extra love and care, don’t hesitate to reach out to them!
