Holiday Traditions You Can Start This Year

I love a good tradition! I had some growing up; taking pictures with Santa, going into the city to see the tree and the decorated windows, and now that I have started my own family I am looking forward to passing on traditions and starting new ones. Anything can become a tradition if you do it more than once.Here is just a handful of examples of traditions you can start this year!

5 Holiday Traditions To Start This Year

1. Advent Calendar (Countdown to Christmas Calendar). The tradition of the Advent Calendar dates back all the way to the early 1900s. Advent is the four week period leading up to the birth of Christ (Christmas Day). Advent calendars, traditionally, countdown to Christmas with a chocolate for each day. Now Advent calendars have turned into a major business and the countdowns go far beyond chocolate. I've seen calendars that countdown with toys, plushes, socks and even cheese and wine!

​2. Hiding the pickle ornament on the Christmas tree. What do you do? Purchase a pickle ornament and hide it on the Christmas tree. Whoever finds it first gets a prize. This is a German tradition. The pickle was always the last ornament to be hung on the tree and then children search for the pickle and whomever found it knew they would receive an extra gift from Saint Nicholas. Prizes can be as elaborate or simple as you wish or they can just be bragging rights that'll last until the following year.
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3. Select a specialized plate and glass to leave for Santa each year. Santa needs his milk and cookies and what better traction than to use the same set each year? 

4. Matching pajamas to wear Christmas Eve into Christmas Day. This is a pretty common one and not one my family did when I was growing up however, I always wanted to start it once I became a mom. This year hubby and I are wearing red thermal shirts and plaid pants while C will be in a solid red, thermal onesie. Shop our look by clicking on the images below!
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5. Read the same stories each year. I just love ​The Night Before Christmas and many families will read this story on Christmas Eve. But what about the rest of the month? Reading to babies and beyond is so important and there are so many stories you can read throughout the month of December! From Rudolph to Frosty to Charlie Brown there are great Christmas stories to be found! Disney released a book that offers a holiday themed story for each day  leading up to the 25th! C might be too small to understand the stories now but this is a great way to make sure we sit down each day and take sometime to read.

Whatever your holiday traditions are, I hope you and your family have a great holiday!