Centsible Life

Helping Women and Girls Live Healthier, Happier, and Wealthier

Creating Holiday Family Traditions

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Everybody seems to have them, holiday traditions that their family seem to follow. People like family traditions for many reasons, but probably the main reason why families love family traditions is that family traditions can create a sense of security in a world that for many seems uncertain, and they are especially important in the healthy emotional development of children.

“Traditions give you this reason for being,”says Sylvia Yuen, director of the Center on the Family at the University of Hawaii. “You understand your place in the universe. All kids need structure in their lives and this offers continuity — past, present and future — the idea there will be a tomorrow, no matter what happens.”

In my family we have a few holiday traditions we like to follow. We all get and wear new, matching Christmas pajamas, we have a Christmas Eve party in which we all get dressed up, and we decorate sugar cookies for Santa. Here are a few more examples of holiday tradition from some of my blogger friends:

Tina from Madhatter Mom plays “Find Baby Jesus”in which the adults “give the kids a flashlight and tell them they need to search all the rooms starting upstairs. The kids love it and somehow baby Jesus is always found under the tree.”

Connie from Brainfoggles eats “Feast of the Seven Fishes”every Christmas Eve.

Julie from Juliverse celebrates by Hanukkah by creating a theme each night such as “picnic night, movie night, crafting night, etc.”

Tina from Life Without Pink with her family rides the Strasburg Railroad to Santa’s Express, watches Christmas Vacation every Christmas Eve, and has a huge family reunion at the beginning of December where they play White Elephant. “There is literally 35 people or so that play!”

Robin from Simple Green Organic Happy fights to stay awake every Christmas Eve to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

The Centsible Life’s Kelly Whalen‘s favorite tradition is buying a new tacky decoration every year for her front yard.

And as I mentioned in “Holiday Shopping on a Budget: A Guide for Large Families”, my friend Kristin of The Redneck Diva celebrates her family tradition of Festivus.

Creating Your Own Family Traditions

In creating your own family traditions I’ve provided some guidelines to help you get started.

  • Keep in mind that family traditions should be something that you and your entire family can enjoy.
  • They don’t have to be costly.
  • They don’t have to be time intensive.
  • They do require a commitment to carry through with the plan.
  • Sometimes family traditions can change. For example your son at 12 may decide that he’s too old to wear pajamas that match his sister and his mom. I’m not saying that my 12-year-old did that, but yeah, my 12-year-old did that.

What are some holiday traditions that your family enjoys? What is your favorite? What do you enjoy the most about the traditions within your family?

Kelly K.

About Kelly Kinkaid


Kelly Kinkaid, professional blogger and freelance writer, enjoys writing about such topics as stretching a dollar, personal finance, diet and fitness, and living a life well lived. She spends all of her spare time in her many roles including but not limited to soccer, basketball, swimmer, band, and piano mom, runner and wife. You may also contact her on Twitter as @Kellyology, or on Facebook.


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