When we become parents, most of us have to figure out how to create family traditions that belong to our brand new nuclear family. Most of the time, we look to our own and our partners’ families of origin and decide how to combine our traditions. But sometimes we need things to bridge the two, and create one, harmonious family tradition that represents our values. Never is this more relevant than during the Constant Parade of Winter Holidays. (One time I tried to count how many holidays from different traditions I could name between Nov 1 and January 1… I got dizzy and gave up.)
A few things I keep in our family idea kit for this time of year are:
- Make/decorate a gingerbread house. Great way to 86 the leftover halloween candy, too. If you didn’t feel like baking gingerbread, you could use stiff cardboard from the recycling bin, since nobody eats those things anyway. This is particularly exciting because I am bad at it.
- My mother’s family had a special card game they always played at family parties. I forget what it’s called, but there’s a system of bets and hands, and there were a lot of pennies involved. I’m sure the world is full of card games that fit the bill.
- Make homemade hot cocoa and watch the fireplace until all hours.
- Call everyone we love on the phone, just because.
- Make crafts out of the kids’ handprints, and photo ornaments for our tree. You can get crafty blanks for around a dollar, or there are a ton of ideas on Pinterest. Promise.
- Play the Treasure Hunt game, where you hide a little present somewhere, and leave a trail of clues to it.
- Go sledding if it snows and make home made donuts or Pizza Fritta. (This is an Italian confection made from fried Pizza Dough- it is way, way, WAY too good, and we always loved it when mom made them on snow days.) Make Pizza Fritta anyway, even if it doesn’t snow.
- Door Knob Stockings– When we were children, my brother and I devised an elaborate holiday game that involved hiding one of our little possessions in a small stocking on the other’s door handle each night. The object was to slip it in without the others’ noticing. We pretty much ended up with our own stuff back, and the sneaking past the top of the stairs without my parents knowing was part of the fun.
- Go see the holiday decorations in the neighborhood. Because it’s cold and they are most impressive past the kids’ bedtimes, this is usually a Pajama Ride. In other words, the kids are all jammied up and ready for bed, and we go around in the car.
- Organize a Giving Tree Gift Swap after the holiday, where all gifts must be handmade or second hand. Each person coming puts their name in the hat and each person pulls one name out. We do “real” gifts (clothing, toys, etc) for the kids and White Elephant gifts for the adults (this part is HILARIOUS) and we also hang a stocking for each kid, so each child can pick out one little trinket or make something for each friend in addition to the name they drew.
- When my husband and I were first married, one of our favorite traditions was to add to our holiday decor collection by going shopping for inexpensive ornaments. We each picked ONE every year, ususally for $5 or less, and it was a sweet moment among the holiday hustle. Now, we have kids, and we have tried to maintain this tradition, but it has not been easy. It is way too prone to turn into chasing the Boy all over a heavily decorated retail establishment and hoping against hope that we’ll leave before he breaks something we can’t afford. This year, we are going to try a family craft activity and make an ornament each. I’ll let you know how that goes.
- The Elf on the Shelf. (I was reluctant on this one, but it has been fun.)
Do you have a family tradition that makes things feel all cheery and bright? Fill up that comment box down there! I can’t wait to be inspired to try some new things as a family this year.
