5 Holiday Traditions You Should Start Right Now

You and your family probably have several traditions that surround the holidays. From dedicating a day to decorate the tree to piling in the car to see all the Christmas lights, this time of year makes it easy to remember old traditions and create some new ones. We found five that were new to us this year, and we couldn’t wait to share them with you.

Find Holiday Joy, One Gift at a Time

Want to make the joy of Christmas morning last longer than 20 minutes? Hide the Christmas presents around your home and place a card with each person’s name under the tree with clues on where they can find their gifts. Prolong the fun by giving the instructions that no gift can be opened until all presents have been discovered and placed under the tree.

Sugar Plum Slumber Party

Choose a day before or after Christmas and have a family slumber party around the tree. Some families choose to do this on the Winter Solstice, which is the longest night of the year for all of us in North America. Even better, since it typically falls around December 21st when most students are on break, it won’t interfere with schedules. Grab your pillows and sleeping bags, get out the board games and Christmas movies, and have some fun.

Host a Gingerbread House Party

Perfect for snow days or bored kids (and adults) on break, the Gingerbread House Party has something for everyone. By assembling the basic houses ahead of time, everybody can start with their favorite part, after taste-testing all the building supplies first, of course. (Need more info? EatThisUp.com has some great suggestions).

Spread Holiday Cheer with Random Acts of Kindness

In the days leading up to the holidays, start writing down nice things you and your family could do to help a neighbor, recognize a community volunteer, or make your local world a better place. Then pick a day when you turn those words into action. This could be shoveling a sidewalk, bringing a busy family a meal, dropping off breakfast at the local fire station, buying the meal for the car behind you in the drive-thru, leaving a generous tip for a server, writing a thank you note to your mail carrier—the list keeps going. Make a list, check it twice, and do some nice!

The Best Gifts Are Free

Instead of putting a price limit on the next family gift exchange, opt for no price at all. Exchange names and make the gift rule very simple: gifts must be something that would be valued by the other person, but cost absolutely nothing. Get-out-of-jail-free coupons, letting someone borrow a coveted sweater, baking a favorite dessert, no-complaint chore completion, handmade gifts using found items, or an extra hour of curfew are just a few ideas that prove the best things in life are free.

On behalf of everyone at Family Health Care of Siouxland, we want to wish you the merriest of holidays filled with all of your favorite traditions.

What is your favorite holiday tradition?