The holidays are a great time to create traditions with friends and loved ones that can last decades. They become memories that we cherish throughout the year and inspire us. This year, we’ve listed some ideas that can be implemented not only during the holidays, but anytime we want to connect with loved ones. The key to the holidays is to create traditions that are meaningful to you. This year, I’ve listed some suggestions to get your creative juices flowing but feel free to add your own ideas.
- Pie Day! This is a great tradition for the bakers in your circle. Pick a day before Thanksgiving, and have friends and family bring a cake or pie recipe. The idea is to create your masterpiece among other bakers, try everyone’s offering and decide if you’d like to recreate it for your holiday dessert. This activity is a way to bond over a shared passion and learn more about the bakers in your life. Serving some hot cider, treats and playing holiday music adds to the festive mood. In addition, you can also use this time to address hand written Christmas cards to send to far away loved ones to enhance the experience and add a bit of nostalgia to the day.
- Don’t forget to hide the pickle! This tradition, which began in the United States in the late 19th century (although some sources say it started in Germany) is also a fun tradition to start while doing your holiday decorating. While putting up your Christmas tree, you hide a pickle ornament and challenge loved ones to find it. Once finding it, that person can receive a special gift. It’s good to set a timer, so each participant only has anywhere from twenty seconds to one minute to find the pickle.
- Prophetic Letters! This is a great way to encourage your loved ones to celebrate milestones in their lives while creating lasting memories. Encourage each participant to write down five things they desire to achieve by next Christmas. Then place the letters in an envelope and the host holds them until the following year, then they are read aloud to those who attended the previous year. This is a great way to put goals in writing, speak over your own life and share the joy with others.
- Ugly Sweater Gathering! Serve hot cocoa to your friends and family for this one. Get those ugly sweaters out of the closet. Encourage guests to not just buy a sweater but create one with old sweatshirts, sweaters or long sleeved tee shirts they may already own. This way, the personality of the guest shines through. The more hideous the better. Have everyone anonymously vote for a winner. Create a blue ribbon out of construction paper and post your winner on social media.
- Holiday Home Concerts! Do you have any singers, musicians, Dancers, worshippers or other artists in your circle? How about a pop up concert show casing the talents of those among you. Invite loved ones over to have an intimate evening. If you live in a warm climate, you can host this event in your backyard. Live stream the event to your social media and zoom if you have out of town relatives or military members who may not make it home for Christmas.
- Adopt an adult! Yep, there is always someone in our sphere that may have just relocated from another city or state that has no family in the area. Invite them over to share a meal or a cup of coffee with your family. The holidays can be a particularly lonely time for a new transplant and for those who are widowed, never married, and single and have no children. It’s an ideal way to fellowship with someone new and share the joy of the holidays with them.
- Connect with Christ! As believers we must remember that Jesus is still the reason for the season. We have to keep our eyes on Jesus and focus on staying connected to the vine. Prayer, fasting, worship services and prayerful meditation help us navigate through any season.
Whatever you decide, remember to keep the focus of the season on the values you hold dear. The holidays shouldn’t inspire us to get together once a year; it should spark a desire to make and keep bonds with those we love. Have a wonderful holiday season!
