When Family Traditions Are Missing
Growing up, many of us had that aunt who always made the cranberry sauce from scratch, or that great-grandparent who told the same story every Christmas morning. But what happens when you’re a young family without a nearby big-family network? Or a household for whom tradition feels like they belong on someone else’s Instagram?
If your family tree feels more like a sapling than a redwood forest, you might find yourself asking:
“Where do traditions come from…and how do we start our own?”
Fear not. Traditions don’t require a sprawling family or ancient lineage. They’re built with intention, joy, and the occasional laugh at yourself when your first attempt at yule log cake flops.
Why Traditions Matter — Even (Especially!) If You’re Starting From Scratch
Traditions do three things:
Anchor the present — giving shape to moments that might otherwise blur together.
Create long-lasting memories — stories your future self will absolutely reminisce about.
Help define your unique family “flavor” — whether that’s serious board game battles or matching ugly sweaters.
But when you don’t have big extended family nearby, or you didn’t grow up with set traditions, the holiday season can feel… blank. That’s not a lack — that’s a blank canvas.
5 New Holiday Traditions to Start — From Simple to Slightly Ambitious
Here are holiday tradition ideas you can try this season, ranked by simplicity and impact:
Seasonal Soundtrack Swap
Why it’s great: Minimal effort, maximum connection.
At the start of the holidays, have everyone pick one song that feels festive to them — regardless of whether it’s “Jingle Bells” or “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Play the playlist throughout the season and update each year.
Bonus: label it with the year and save it so you can see how tastes evolve over time.
2. Recipe Reveal Night
Why it’s great: Food = memories.
Pick one new holiday recipe to try together each year. Let each family member take a turn choosing what you cook, creating a growing collection of “our family dishes.”
Ideas:
Spiced pear tart
Homemade hot cocoa bombs
A cultural dish from a place you love- my mom was briefly married into a family that always ordered chinese food on christmas eve... because why not?
3. Holiday Memory Jar
Why it’s great: Captures the season’s magic.
Set out a jar or box with slips of paper. Throughout December, each person writes something they enjoyed — a moment, a sighting, a good laugh — and drops it in. Open them together on New Year’s Eve.
4. Night of Lights & Stories
Why it’s great: Turns simple moments into meaning.
Pick one evening to decorate a corner of your home with lights or candles (battery-operated for safety) and take turns sharing a story from the past year — triumphs, funny moments, lessons learned.
This becomes a yearly “story night” where you document your family’s growth.
Christopher Horwood Photography
Giving Project
Why it’s great: Puts values into practice.
Choose a local charity or cause and commit to helping every holiday season. It could mean:
Donating books
Volunteering together
Baking treats for a shelter
This creates an ongoing tradition built on kindness and shared purpose.
Heirlooms: Make, Buy, or Collect Traditions That Last
If you don’t have a big family history of heirlooms, now is the perfect time to start your own.
Heirlooms don’t have to be ancient or fancy. They simply need meaning. Here’s how to think about them:
Make Something Together
Crafting your own heirlooms ties memories directly to the object.
Hand-stitched ornament with names and year
DIY wooden candle holders
A painted serving platter
These become physical reminders of your first years together.
Buy With Intention
Sometimes buying an heirloom-worthy piece makes sense.
Great options include:
Quality holiday decorations (e.g., blown glass ornaments)
A special board game you play every season
A festive quilt or tablecloth
Choose items that feel special, not just seasonal.
Christopher Horwood Photography
Collect Over Time
Not every heirloom needs to be created at once.
Each year, pick one small item that represents that holiday season:
A postcard from a local market
A custom mug
A mini snow globe
Store them in a keepsake box — and let future generations explore the story behind each piece.
Traditions Are What You Make of Them
You don’t need a sprawling family tree or generations of established rituals to have meaningful traditions. What matters is intentionality and connection — whether that’s singing a weird holiday song together, cooking something ridiculous with too many spices, or lighting candles to share stories.
Traditions are just moments given meaning — and they’re waiting for you to invent them.
-Juliette