In the third part of our recipe for Creating Family Holiday Traditions, two additional ingredients we suggest for “spicing” up the family fun is Be Creative and Try Something New.

Instead of putting on your Santa Hat, try putting on your creativity/imagination hat and think about ways to amp up your existing Holiday Traditions. If your family has a tradition of cutting down a real tree every year, try wearing Santa Hats or dressing like lumberjacks this year to give the event a little silliness and flair. (Oh yes, I’ve seen Office Space and know that “flair” has a negative connotation but in this case changing up the way you do your traditions can be good.) Every year, ask the kids to come up with a new twist on a favorite tradition and you may be amazed at how fun it can be just brainstorming ideas. If you all bake Holiday cookies together, try a new recipe or one that sounds really wild to be adventurous. If your family runs in a local Turkey Trot or 5K race before Thanksgiving dinner, make T-shirts with a funny saying so you look like a team running together. If you talk about what makes your thankful at the Thanksgiving dinner, this year try bringing something to show everyone instead of just talking.

The other ingredient to creating family Holiday traditions is to Try Something New this year. Be adventurous and try a new activity that you’ve heard or read about. If you love it, do it again year after year. So, if you always go to see the Christmas Carol play, try the Nutcracker Ballet this year. If you have never had a real Christmas tree, try cutting one down this year and see if you like the difference. If your kids are a little older now, try going to Midnight Mass. Invite other people to your Hannukah celebration to teach them about your traditions. Try making your menorah this year instead of using the family favorite. Or, buy a candle making set and have the whole family make candles this year for the Celebration of Light. (I’m not Jewish but I asked my friends about their traditions and looked and online for ideas. I found a really nice article on Hannukah traditions to do with your kids.)

Check back for our next post in our series for How to Create Family Holiday Traditions. Missed the first two – Recipe for Creating Family Holiday Traditions and Plan Now?

How would you add a little more spice to a Family Holiday Tradition? We’d love to hear your stories.

Read all of our posts on the ingredients of our Recipe for Creating Family Holiday Traditions.
Part One – Book It!
Part Two – Prepare Now!
Part Three – Spice It Up!
Part Four – Make it a Party!
10 Ideas for Family Holiday Traditions

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