Start a New Holiday Tradition

Try something different this year by beginning a new tradition that involves your immediate family, extended family, or neighborhood. Here are a few ideas:

Share-a-Story
On the eve of a holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa) choose a special story to read aloud to the family. Know that each year your holiday will begin with this reading. Have a different family member read each year.

Family Gift Exchange
If you have a large family, try drawing names for exchanging presents. Each year after the Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa gifts have been given, draw names for next year’s celebration. In this way everyone has an entire year to plan. To make gift-giving more personalized, decide that everyone will “make” presents for one another. Presents that are made should be based on the recipient’s interests.

Cookie Exchange
Involve your neighbors in a cookie exchange. Each family bakes a tray of cookies and brings a small wrapped gift to the designated house. (Each year the location will change.) Everyone enjoys the cookies along with games and other activities. The small gifts each year can go to a local children’s charity or to a community nursing care facility or hospital. During the cookie exchange plan a craft for the children to make. Take the handmade crafts to a local chapter of “Meals on Wheels.” Along with each meal to be delivered, will be a small holiday ornament, decoration, or greeting.