50 family traditions to start during Christmas

As someone with a new family, its hard to decide what traditions are most important to you when it comes to the holiday season. Things you did as a child, you may or may not want to continue. I have heard of some that I would have LOVED growing up, but we simply didn’t know about them. This is why I created this post, to put traditions in one place for you to find and decide what you want to do for your little family. I hope you will be able to find something your family will enjoy this holiday season.

Deciding what Family Traditions to Start this Holiday Season 2025

Here are 50 traditions you can start this year with your family!

Traditions to Checkout

1. Bake gingerbread cookies or houses
2. Hot cocoa bar night
3. Christmas Movie Marathon
4. Read a Christmas book every night in December
5. Wrap gifts together with Christmas music and enjoy snacks
6. Make paper snowflakes and hang them around the house
7. Decorate the tree together
8. Write letters to Santa
9. Build a blanket fort and read stories in it
10. Make DIY ornaments
11. Create a Christmas countdown chain
12. Adopt someone from the angel tree
13. Deliver homemade treats to neighbors
14. Christmas caroling 
15. Volunteer at a local shelter, rescue, or food bank
16. Do a family kindness challenge
17. Visit nursing homes with cards and candy canes
18. Make a donation in someone’s name 
19. Host a “Cookies & Cocoa” for friends and family
20. Send Christmas cards
21. Secret Santa within your family or friend group
22. Elf on the shelf
23. Christmas Eve Box –
    • New PJ’s, a movie, candy, and hot chocolate
24. Track Santa on NORAD’s Santa tracker
25. Make Reindeer Food
26. Santa footprint stencils
27. Make a “Nice List” certificate for your kids
28. Write a thank-you note to Santa after Christmas
29. Build a North Pole Breakfast
    •  red pancakes, candy cane plates, shaped pancakes, etc
30. Set out cookies and milk for Santa and Carrots for the reindeer
31. Sleep under the Christmas tree and watch Christmas movies
32. Go Sledding, tubing, or snowshoeing on Christmas week
33. Drive around and see Christmas lights with blankets
34. Visit a local tree farm or go cut your own
35. Take a winter family photo in the snow every year in the same spot
36. Have a “Polar Express” night
    •  Create golden tickets, make hot chocolate, and watch the movie together.
37. Ice Skating at a local outdoor rink
38. Visit a local light display
39. Do a New Year’s Eve lantern release
40. Make a Family gratitude jar
41. Do a kindness challenge
42. DIY advent calendar
    •  Filled with activities, or tiny gifts
43. Holiday scavenger hunt around the house
44. Record a “Christmas Message” video each year to watch back later
45. Make a “Christmas Playlist” each year as a family
46. Family karaoke night
47. Bake a birthday cake for jesus
48. New Ornament exchange
    •  Buy or make a new ornament for someone else in the family
49. Take a photo in front of the tree every year 
50. Make your kids a “Year Book” with photos of them throughout the year and a special message from you. 
51. Get matching Pajamas and Blankets
52. Elf on the shelf

Other Options for Christmas

If you aren’t too fond of traditions, you can simply do things as a family that are winter related. These are supposed to be fun activities for your family, but if starting a new tradition feels too stressful, remember spending time with your family is what makes holidays great. 

Check out things to do in Utah this winter, as well as some printables where you can decide as a family what your goals are this year and what activities you’d like to do. 

I hope this was helpful to you, and I hope you and your family have the best holiday yet! I appreciate you being here. 

Start a Winter Bucket List

On top of finding new traditions for your family, each year, you should have a family Winter Bucket List. This is a great way to plan out your winter and make sure you’re able to do everything each family member wants to do. I created this fun printable that is a coloring page, and a bucket list for your family. I also include ideas for your family! Be sure to check it out and see if its something your family would benefit from.

Have a great Holiday season! Cheer!