20 Family Traditions You Can Start at Home

I love creating new family traditions, and over the years we’ve created quite a few. As I mentioned yesterday, traditions are a great way to bond as a family and build lasting memories.

While the photos I’m sharing today aren’t Pinterest or magazine worthy, they are beautiful; beautiful because they capture precious moments in time with the people I love.

Every get together is a celebration of family and friends.  Here are some of the ways we celebrate:

Fall Family Potluck– If it’s not the year for Thanksgiving with my side of the family, we have a family dinner (Man, do we eat good that day!) , draw names for Christmas, play games and enjoy each other’s company.

Oscar Party – A few years ago we started getting together with friends to watch the Academy Awards.  It’s a fun excuse to eat, drink and be merry.

Back to School Dinner – I started this tradition with friends this year.  It’s so nice to look forward to a home cooked meal at the end of a long first day of school.

Mother’s Day Beach Trip – All I ask for Mother’s Day is a good book and a chair on the beach.  We’ve been doing this for at least ten years now.

Annual Photo – My Mom and I share a birthday.  So, every year we take a picture of us smiling at each other.

Cousins Beach Day –  My sister and I take the kids to the beach every summer.  (I make up lots of traditions involving the beach.  It’s my happy place.)

Easter Egg Hunt – Every year my family gets together to celebrate Easter and the kids get to hunt Easter eggs.  It’s a really fun day.

End of Summer Beach Day – We get together with friends the weekend before school starts and send off summer with a bang.

December Birthdays – My husband and two of our friends have birthdays within a week of each other.  So, we get together at our house for some food and music.   

Draw Names for Christmas – I mentioned this in the Fall Potluck.  My side of the family draws names for Christmas.  We’ve had fun coming up with creative gift ideas.

Family Recipes – Pass down family recipes to your kids.  The spaghetti, chili and dumplings that I make are the recipes I grew up on.

Christmas Eve – We typically go to candle light service on Christmas Eve.  And, when I was growing up we opened one gift on Christmas Eve.

Here’s one that I’d like to start: Sunday Supper – Cook a big dinner after church and have friends and family…whoever can join us, join us.  Standing invitation. 

More ideas:

Special Plate – for birthdays or special occasions

Weekend Picnics

Saturday bike rides

Movie night

Game Night

Family Read Alouds

Service Project

Bedtime Stories

I always look forward to each tradition from year to year.  Each one has made my life richer and fuller. And, it’s just one more way to love the home, and the people, you’re with.