7 minute read
Holiday Traditions
Holidayv TRADITIONS
Every family, offi ce, neighborhood and group of friends celebrates the holiday season in their own unique way. These traditions are the bricks that build a holiday, making each celebration feel special. If you’re itching to get in the spirit this year, perhaps starting one of these traditions with your crew will help you all feel merry and bright!
Gift Swaps
Whether it’s White Elephant-style or Secret Santa, we love to find interactive ways to make exchanging presents a little more fun. One of our favorites involves sitting in a circle and reading “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas;” every time the word “left” or “right” is read, pass gifts around the circle in that direction.
Holiday Brunch
Brunch is a wonderful way to gather on Christmas morning, given that everyone gets up early to open presents. Sharing waffles and coffee (or cocoa!) to ring in the holiday feels so festive. As a bonus, brunch lends itself to a lot of makeahead prep, such as overnight French toast casseroles. Tired Santas rejoice!
Matching Jammies
In recent years, getting the whole family a set of matching pajamas has become an adorable tradition. Whether for a holiday card family portrait or just to look cute together, this trend is one that everyone can enjoy... even pets!
Christmas Books
Parents buy 12 Christmas children’s books, then wrap and number them. The kids get to unwrap a book every day leading up to Christmas and everyone reads it together around the tree.
Dear Santa…
One of the biggest moments during the Christmas season for any kid is getting to tell Santa what they want for Christmas. Whether they hop on his lap or send a letter, it’s a rite of passage.
Holiday Cards
Did you know that the first Christmas card (that we have evidence of, at least) was given in 1611? Meanwhile, the tradition of sending Christmas cards really ramped up in popularity with the advent of the first manufactured cards in Victorian times. Roughly 1.3 billion cards are sent each year during the holiday season. Have you made your list and checked it twice?
Ugly Sweaters
Somehow, wearing ugly Christmas sweaters from the 80s became a party trend in early 2000s Canada. The trend spread across the globe, and brands began intentionally producing ugly sweaters you didn’t have to get at a thrift store.
The Magical Last Gift
Remember in A Christmas Story when Ralphie thinks he has opened all of his Christmas gifts, but his dad leans over and announces, “Say! Don’t I see something over there stuck behind the drapes?” And there it is, the cherished Red Ryder BB Gun! The tradition of hiding the last gift and saving it ‘til the end always ensures that it’s an unforgettable, magical moment. Some families also leave a note from Santa, starting a fun scavenger hunt for the last gift.
Takeout
Look, hearty holiday meals are great. But there’s really only so much turkey, ham or pie that any one person can eat in a year. Taking a break from all the traditional feasts and going for something a little more casual can feel like an indulgent treat. Grabbing takeout takes the pressure off of holiday hosts while delighting guests. Those who don’t celebrate Christmas already know the singular pleasure of having something totally satisfying while the rest of the world is chomping on dry turkey.
Elf of the Shelf
Love them or hate them, these secret scouts for Santa have remained steady in popularity since the book debuted in 2005. Pinterest is teeming with ideas to make discovering the elf a fun activity for your little ones. But parents beware: this is one activity that is almost impossible to drop once you’ve started it. Elf of the Shelf is so divisive that one judge in Georgia (jokingly) “banned” them in homes where they have previously wreaked havoc.
Candy & Cookie Swaps
People all over the Bluegrass head to the kitchen at Christmastime to bake cookies and make candy. Some families meet up to bake together, making an event of it. Other people fly solo, then swap their favorite treats – and recipes – with friends, relatives and neighbors. It’s a sweet way to connect during the holiday season!
Family Ornaments
Families have unique ways to mark the passage of time through holiday ornaments. Whether you hang one the children make or have one made by a professional to commemorate each year, it’s a special way to reflect on your shared memories every time you put up the tree. We love the Pinterest idea of using salt dough or clay to press house keys for each home you’ve lived in, or children’s footprints or handprints.
Movie Night!
Whether you're a Hallmark Holiday-Head or a lover of the classics, holiday movies are a huge part of what makes this season so magical. While we can't say we're film buffs, we definitely have a lot of favorites. Here are 20 that we love, and we hope you'll enjoy too! What's your favorite holiday flick? Join us on Facebook to chat holiday movies, traditions and so much more! • Miracle on 34th Street (1994 & 1947) • Love Actually (2003) • A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) • Elf (2003)
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1967) • Die Hard (1988... and yes, it is) • A Christmas Story (1983) • The Preacher’s Wife (1996)
• National Lampoon’s Christmas
Vacation (1989) • Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983) • White Christmas (1954) • Eight Crazy Nights (2002) • Home Alone (1990)
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) • The Polar Express (2004) • The Family Stone (2005) • The Shop Around the Corner (1940) • It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
• Jingle Jangle: A Christmas
Journey (2020) • The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
Advent Calendars
Originally concieved as a way to help children count down to Christmas, modern interpretations offer you 25 days of little treats. We've seen advent calendars bearing wine, cheese, chocolate, soap, dog treats, socks and even beef jerky. There's an advent calendar out there for everyone!
The Feast of Seven Fishes
Italian-American families know this one well: on Christmas Eve, they enjoy (at least!) seven dishes featuring different kinds of seafood. Since Christmas Eve is a day of fasting and abstaining from other meats, this is a clever way to celebrate the season.
This is a silly tradition that families LOVE. Play short, quick, fast-paced games together. From the Santa beard contest (see who can create the longest Santa beard using shaving cream) to Jingle Cookies (everyone gets an identical sugar cookie; the first one to eat it, then whistle “Jingle Bells” wins), this is a riot for all of your holiday guests!
Christmas Tree Hunting
For families that prefer live trees at Christmas, finding the perfect one can be a fun tradition! Some people enjoy the challenge of to a farm and cutting it down themselves. Others like getting to peruse the selection available at their local tree lot, stand or shop. However you do it, picking your tree – or trees – is an easy way to involve everyone.
The Christmas Pickle
So the story goes like this: a very old German tradition saw families hiding pickles in their Christmas trees. Whichever child found the pickle first got an extra present. While that story is total hogwash, it has absolutely become a brand new American tradition! You can find glass pickle ornments – or even a plastic yodeling one from jokester brand Archie McPhee – to hide in your tree.
Bright Lights
Drive around to look at the lights! Many local homes take their holiday decorations over-the-top, Griswold style. So get out there and take it all in. One favorite local tradition is Southern Lights at the Kentucky Horse Park, a can't-miss for families, date night or even solo.
Potluck
Sharing favorite comfort food dishes is a wonderful way to celebrate the season. Holiday potluck parties are especially popular for offices and groups of friends, as it allows everyone to bring their own traditions and celebrations to the table.
The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky’s most famous work is a true Christmas classic. This romantic tale of a young girl transported to a world of wonder has captured imaginations since 1892.
Pointsettias & Paperwhites
These flowers bloom at the perfect time to make great gifts and festive additions to your holiday décor!
Yule Log
Now this is a tradition with a storied history. These specially selected logs to burn on the hearth at Yuletide have ancient origins. But modern interpretations are even more fun! From the bûche de Noël (that is, Yule log cake) to 10-hour videos of burning fireplaces on YouTube, this is a lovely way to bring the holiday spirit into your home.
Giving
The holiday season reminds us of all our many blessings. That’s why it’s so important to embrace the spirit of giving to help those less fortunate. Check out the TOPS Give Back Guide to find incredible local organizations that need your help to help others this holiday season, and throughout the coming year.
