Every family has a rhythm, a heartbeat that makes home feel like home. For some, it’s the smell of cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. For others, it’s the movie that plays every Thanksgiving night or the annual drive to see holiday lights. These small, repeated rituals that we come to expect each year are what we call traditions.
But what if you don’t have many? Or you’re just starting your own family and want to build something special from scratch? The truth is that every tradition starts somewhere and often by accident. I bet if you were to look at your life now, you’ve created traditions that you don’t even realize are traditions.
While traditions can happen throughout the year, there is no better time than the holidays to begin a new one. In a world that often feels busy and rushed, it’s comforting to have something to look forward to, a small moment that grounds you and reminds you of what matters most.
In this blog, we’ll explore where some of our favorite traditions came from and offer simple ways to start a few of your own.
Why Traditions Matter
Traditions are more than habits. They’re the threads that tie one year to the next. They remind us where we’ve been, give us something to look forward to, and create shared meaning across generations.
For children, traditions offer security and belonging, a steady rhythm in a world that’s always changing. For adults, they become a touchstone of joy and nostalgia, grounding us when life feels hurried.
At their core, traditions are really about love made visible and moments we choose to repeat because they make us feel connected. They’re what turn ordinary days into cherished memories and simple gestures into lifelong stories.
A Look Back: How Traditions Began
Many of the rituals we hold dear today began centuries ago, long before twinkle lights or wrapping paper filled our homes. These customs grew from stories, faith, and the simple desire to celebrate light, love, and togetherness in the darkest months of the year.
The Christmas Tree: This beloved symbol of the season originated in Germany, where evergreen trees represented eternal life during winter’s chill. Families once decorated them with apples, nuts, and candles to bring warmth and light into their homes. When the tradition reached England and America, it grew into the glowing centerpiece we know today, covered in ornaments, ribbons, and memories collected through the years.
Hanging Stockings: This custom traces back to the legend of Saint Nicholas. The story tells of a poor family who hung their stockings by the fire to dry. Saint Nicholas tossed coins down their chimney, which landed inside the stockings, sparking a tradition of secret giving that continues to fill hearts and mantels every Christmas Eve.
Mistletoe and Holly: These festive greens were treasured by ancient Druids, who believed they brought good fortune and protection. Over time, mistletoe became a sign of peace and affection, while holly, with its bright red berries, came to represent hope and the promise of new beginnings.
Caroling: In Victorian England, neighbors strolled from house to house singing songs of joy and goodwill. It wasn’t just about music; it was about connection. Caroling was a way to bless each home and share warmth during the cold winter nights.
The Yule Log: This Norse tradition began as a symbol of light triumphing over darkness. Families would burn a large log through the longest nights of winter, celebrating the return of the sun. Centuries later, the Yule log inspired the famous chocolate cake we enjoy at Christmas gatherings.
Advent Calendars: These began as simple paper calendars in 19th-century Germany, used to mark the days leading up to Christmas. Over time, they became more elaborate, filled with chocolates, tiny gifts, or even small acts of kindness to celebrate each day with purpose and joy.
Gift Giving: The exchange of gifts finds its roots in the story of the Wise Men, who brought offerings to baby Jesus. What began as a symbol of love and generosity has evolved into a tradition that reminds us to give thoughtfully and from the heart.
Each of these customs began as something simple: a way to mark time, share warmth, and find joy in togetherness. And while centuries have passed, the heart behind them remains the same. Today, we have the same beautiful opportunity to start our own traditions, ones that might someday become just as timeless.
How to Begin
If you’re ready to build your own traditions, start small. Choose one or two things that feel doable and meaningful. The magic happens in consistency, not complexity.
Think about what brings your family joy. Think about what makes you laugh, rest, or reconnect and build from there. Some traditions last forever, while others fade and make space for new ones. Both are part of the story.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or adding to your rhythm, here are ideas for every season of life.
For Friends Who Feel Like Family
Some of the most cherished people in your life are the family you choose. Creating rituals with friends keeps you connected and gives you something to look forward to year after year.
• Host a yearly Friendsgiving or holiday brunch
• Plan a “favorite things” gift exchange
• Have a holiday movie night with cozy pajamas and themed snacks
• Schedule a winter day trip or weekend getaway to explore lights or local markets
• Create a shared photo album where everyone adds a memory from each year
• Start a tradition of writing one encouraging note to each other every December
For Those Flying Solo or Starting Fresh
Traditions aren’t just for families. They’re for anyone who wants to slow down and savor the season.
• Write a “letter to future me” each year to open next Christmas
• Collect one ornament each year that represents something meaningful
• Create a gratitude jar, adding notes all December and reading them on New Year’s Day
Married with No Kids
This is the season to blend backgrounds and build new traditions together.
• Make or buy matching stockings to hang each year
• Cook one special holiday meal that’s yours, even if it’s takeout in pajamas
• Have a wrapping night with Christmas music and mulled wine
• Write each other a note every Christmas Eve and keep them in a box
• Take a photo in the same spot each year and watch the years unfold
Families with Young Kids
Traditions at this stage don’t have to be fancy. Kids remember laughter, not perfection.
• Make a Christmas Eve box with pajamas, a book, and a treat
• Create a holiday countdown with acts of kindness instead of candy
• Bake cookies and write a letter for Santa
• Go on a “Hot Cocoa Light Ride” in pajamas to see neighborhood lights. We will be sharing all the best lights to see later in the season, but here’s one of our favorites.
• Let kids make or choose a new ornament every year
• Record a short video message each Christmas to look back on later
Families with Grown Kids or Empty Nesters
As life changes, so do traditions. But they can still be rich with meaning.
• Host a yearly ornament exchange or cookie swap
• Have a “holiday memory dinner” where each dish tells a story
• Spend one night volunteering, delivering meals or donating toys. We absolutely love Operation Good Neighbor, and you can read here for more information on other great local charities.
• Choose a shared experience each year, like a concert or Christmas market. We love going to Cirque du Soleil each year, as it comes in around mid-November and stays through the holidays. Fun for all ages!
• Keep a memory journal where everyone adds stories or photos when they visit
From Our Homes to Yours
Traditions look a little different for everyone, and that’s exactly what makes them special. They tell the story of who we are, what we value, and how we show love to the people around us. For us, it’s never been about perfection or grandeur, but about creating moments that are meaningful and true to who we are. These are a few of our favorite traditions, the ones that make the season shine a little brighter and we look forward to with our own families each and every year!
Crystal’s Traditions
We have quite a few things we love and look forward to each year, and many were just fun ideas that inadvertently became traditions.
- We have Friendsgiving every year the Saturday before Thanksgiving with some of our best friends
- We go to Atlanta every year and do holiday pictures at Jeff Roffman Photography. Yes, my two 18 and older daughters still get pictures with Santa! We always go in early November, which accomplishes two goals: One, it gets us in the holiday spirit early. And, two, it allows me to have the images back in time to order my Christmas cards on Black Friday when they’re on sale!
- We go as a family to cut down a real Christmas tree every year
- We put a Christmas tree in the kitchen and fill it with the kids’ homemade ornaments from growing up and they are so much fun to look at!
- We bundle up in the car and sip hot cocoa and coffee while we look at Christmas lights
- We decorate gingerbread houses as a family
- We make homemade cinnamon rolls every Christmas Eve and deliver them to people we love for Christmas breakfast
- My kids get matching Christmas pajamas to open on Christmas Eve
- We “wrap” our living room every Christmas Eve for the kids to burst through on Christmas morning
Jessica’s Traditions
- We love having Elf on the Shelf mischief around the house
- We drive around to see Christmas lights with Starbucks or hot chocolate in hand
- We visit the Gaddy’s Christmas Lights
- We go see the light show at Atlanta Botanical Gardens
- We love to make gingerbread houses together
- We bake and decorate homemade Christmas cookies
- We go see The Nutcracker performance
Amanda’s Traditions
- Growing up, my cousins, siblings, and I would all pick a night in December to go to my grandmother’s house & decorate “tea cakes,” AKA the best cookies on the planet. She would make them from scratch, along with icing (also from scratch) of all sorts of colors, and we would all sit around the table decorating for hours. Part of what took so long to decorate them was wanting to have enough left to take some home. We would eat them nearly as fast as we could decorate them!
- Every year, we get together with my husband’s side of the family for an entire weekend. His dad used to host, but this will be our second year hosting. Everyone comes in on Friday night, and we all get matching PJs to wear. On Saturday morning, we take a big family pic around the Christmas tree and spend all day in our PJs playing games, doing crafts with the kids, etc, until our pre-dinner “reset,” when everyone puts on real clothes for dinner and a trip to see Christmas lights of some sort. This year will be a golfcart caravan around a few neighborhoods.
- On Christmas morning, my sister and I alternate hosting breakfast and “cousin” gift exchange. Our parents drive up either Christmas Eve or morning to join, and the girls get to exchange gifts & show each other what Santa brought.
- My sister and I are super close with our mom’s side of the family, so every year on the Saturday after Christmas, we go back to our hometown for the day. The two oldest generations do a white elephant gift exchange, and the youngest generation draws names for a kids’ gift exchange. For (at least) 38 years in row, we did this at my grandmother’s house, which only changed slightly over the years, and somewhere along the way, the spots where we each sat became more like “assigned seating.” The younger group of us started out as toddlers on the floor. Even as adults, they would still get down, cracking knees and all, into those very same spots every year, and our husbands and kids just squeezed in beside us as the family grew. It was absolutely unheard of to sit in a different spot than you did the year before!
Keep It Simple and Keep It You
Traditions don’t have to look like anyone else’s. They can be quiet or loud, sentimental or silly. What matters most is that they feel authentic to you.
It’s okay if one doesn’t stick or another evolves. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s presence. The simple act of showing up, year after year, in the same spirit of love, is what makes home feel sacred.
The Heart of It All
When you look back years from now, the moments that shine brightest won’t be the perfectly coordinated meals or matching paper. They’ll be the laughter, the smell of something baking, the music playing softly in the background.
Traditions are the soft, steady heartbeat of family. And it’s never too late to start your own.
Because home isn’t just a place. It’s a feeling, one you build memory by memory, season by season.
From our family to yours, may your traditions, whether they’re old, new, or just beginning, bring joy, laughter, and a little bit of magic to your home this year.
Happy Holidays,
The Gals at Good to Be Home 🐝
