Do you remember hosting the annual New Year’s party leading to the countdown to 12AM ? Have you baked cookies each year on the day before Christmas.
These are some examples of holiday traditions, which can be defined as ritualistic behaviours that help in strengthening bonds with our close ones. Common instances of these customs are singing carols before Christmas or bursting crackers on the day of Diwali. While these traditions are well-known and have been followed for years, you can also come up with new traditions every year. The only criterion is that it should be one all members of the family are fine with, as it will serve the purpose of bringing everyone close only in that case. Children thrive on stability and comfort that customs and predictability bring. Let us look at the process of creating meaningful holiday traditions.
How to create new holiday traditions?
The crucial part of creating a new tradition is not to put too much thought and effort into creating one. These customs are meant to be experienced and enjoyed, hence go with the flow. Sometimes, you may realize that you have started a particular tradition only after performing it for a few years in a row. Nevertheless, here are some general pointers that can be of use to you:
- Enhance existing traditions: The best place to start is by building upon an existing ritual. For example, when you want to make cookies before Christmas, you can add another ritual wherein your cousins can accompany you to the market to purchase materials needed for baking. While it may seem like an incremental change, it brings a lot of joy and will be something to look forward to every year.
- Choose participants: You can include all family members for most traditions, however, having a smaller group will be beneficial for some tasks. Make the decision based on the nature of the task. Another option is to establish a holiday tradition at your workplace. You can include all your colleagues as it will help promote togetherness among everyone. For example, you can start a tradition where everyone in your team comes to the office wearing the same colour clothes.
- Schedule reminders in your calendar: In the digital era, it is easy to create reminders that will give you a heads-up about a task or an action to be executed on a specific day and time. You can even add others involved in the custom to the reminder, so that all are notified in advance.
- Define the purpose: It is acceptable to have traditions without any intention or reason for their origin. However, think thoroughly about the objective behind performing this tradition. Would it aid in bringing cousins together? Take some time to reflect on this thought, as incorporating it will make your tradition comprehensive and complete.
- Trial and error: Not all traditions become permanent, some get discontinued in a year or two. It is an indication that the custom wasn’t a good fit for your life. Do not force yourself to follow traditions that do not make sense anymore. By trial and error, discover traditions that you truly enjoy engaging in along with family. You can even tweak an existing tradition if you think it will be more suitable for you.
Create Traditions Around Shared Activities
Shared activities are at the heart of holiday traditions. Consider activities that everyone can participate in and enjoy. Here are a few ideas:
- Cooking and Baking Together: Preparing holiday meals and treats as a family fosters teamwork and creativity. Share favorite recipes and try new ones to add variety.
- Crafting and Decorating: Create homemade decorations and ornaments. This can be a fun and creative activity for all ages.
- Game Nights: Host regular game nights with board games, card games, or trivia. It’s a great way to bond and have fun together.
- Storytelling and Reading: Read holiday-themed books or share stories about past holiday experiences. This can become a treasured tradition that everyone looks forward to.
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Volunteer and Give Back: Make giving back to the community a part of your holiday traditions. Volunteer together as a family or organize a donation drive. Teaching children the importance of generosity and kindness is a valuable lesson.
In the process of creating holiday traditions, do not become obsessed with the goal because you may miss out on the fun that comes with doing it. Make or break it, but be sure to enjoy the tradition itself.
Happy holidays!
