Top 10 Wonderful Holiday Traditions to Try This Year
Baking gingerbread houses, caroling, and hosting a festive movie marathon are traditions that make Christmas truly special. Explore why having traditions is important and try the new traditions from our list this year.
Some holiday traditions have been with us since childhood, while others emerge as we grow older. Either way, these rituals create a sense of stability and comfort, allowing us to dive into the festivities regardless of age.
Why Follow Holiday Traditions
Traditions might seem like outdated customs that stifle creativity and impose a certain way to celebrate. In reality, holiday customs bring many clear and subtle benefits. Here's a comparison in the table below.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Create a festive atmosphere | May be unclear and uninteresting for family or friends |
| Allow room for creativity and imagination | Require extra effort to carry out |
| Bring everyone together | Need someone to inspire others to support the tradition |
| Offer a chance to slow down after the holiday rush | May involve extra costs |
| Encourage caring for others and yourself | Can become tiresome if repeated every year |
| Help to reset and start fresh | Responsibility to ensure everyone enjoys the tradition |
How to Choose the Right Tradition
It's important to consider a few points to ensure a tradition is enjoyable for all guests. We've gathered some simple tips to help you choose the perfect option—use them as a checklist to move step-by-step or simply pick what resonates most with you.
Rely on Your Experience
If you enjoy repeating a certain ritual every year, trust the tried-and-true instead of reinventing the wheel. Even if it's as simple as caroling in your neighborhood or making an Advent calendar, the key is that these rituals bring you into the festive spirit year after year.
Pay Attention to Trends and Symbols
To make your celebration special, explore what trends are popular and their symbolic meanings for the upcoming year. For example, 2026 is the Year of the Red Fire Horse, symbolizing a vibrant, energetic year. Traditions that promote self-care, talent development, and learning new things fit perfectly.
Be Open to Something New
While traditions often evoke familiarity and routine, if you're tired of classic scenarios, there's always room to spice up your holidays with fresh ideas and activities. You can create a tradition anytime, as long as it matches your mood and meets expectations.
Consider the Interests of Others
To ensure your loved ones enthusiastically engage in holiday traditions, discuss with them which customs you'd like to uphold this year. You can choose a holiday tradition through voting or organize a small debate where everyone suggests an idea and tries to persuade others. This shows respect for others' opinions and is a great way to show care and deepen your connection with them.
Trust Chance
You don't always have to rely on logic to choose a great tradition. If you love experiments and believe everything happens for a reason, consider holding a lottery, using a randomizer, or flipping a coin. This is a great scenario if you have a large group with differing opinions, or if you just want to make a quick decision without extra responsibility.
10 Traditions to Consider This Year
There are countless holiday traditions worldwide, each unique to different countries, families, and even friend circles. We’ve selected some of the most intriguing options to help immerse you in the festive spirit and celebrate the new year joyfully. These traditions can be enjoyed with a group, as a couple, or even solo.
Gratitude List for the Past Year
This seemingly simple idea is a must-have on our list. A gratitude list allows you to say "thank you" to yourself or loved ones, helping you gain fresh perspective on your small victories and achievements. You can use a dedicated gratitude journal with prompts, or take a plain piece of paper and write down what you feel.
Examples of Phrases for a Gratitude List
Gratitude to Yourself
- I'm grateful to myself for having the courage to pursue my dream job.
- I'm thankful that this year I've taken care of my diet.
- I'm grateful for making my new apartment cozy and comfortable.
- I'm grateful for finding the time and motivation to complete the course I kept postponing.
Gratitude to Loved Ones
- I'm thankful to my children for inspiring me to fulfill my dream.
- I'm grateful to my partner for taking charge of our move.
- I'm thankful to my friends for celebrating my birthday and making it special.
- I'm grateful to my parents for their support, even from afar.
Gratitude for Opportunities and Events
- I'm grateful that my work is creative.
- I'm thankful for the freedom to travel anytime this year.
- I'm grateful for the new project entrusted to me this year.
- I'm thankful for the many warm gatherings with loved ones this year.
Gratitude for Small Joys
- I'm thankful for the snowy December.
- I'm grateful for the delicious coffee at my favorite café.
- I'm thankful for cozy family movie nights.
- I'm grateful for walking through the beautiful park on my way home.
Creative Workshop
In 2025, there was a surge in interest for workshops on candle making, teddy bear painting, wool felting, and all things creative. Even if you're not connected to these crafts or follow trends, this experience will surely become a cherished memory and offer a chance to reset. Try something new, spend time with loved ones, and diversify your festive days—a workshop is the perfect way to fulfill these desires.
Themed Secret Santa
This popular game adds a twist to traditional gift exchanges and bonds any group—be it family or friends. The idea is simple: each participant draws a name and prepares a gift for that person. On the appointed day, everybody gather to exchange gifts and unveil the mystery.
To make the game more fun, add a theme. You might replicate gifts from movies, choose quirky surprises, or agree on practical gifts. You can play this game annually by changing the theme, offering a fresh experience each time.
Secret Santa Theme Ideas
- Eco-friendly — everyone selects gifts that care for the planet (reusable bag, wax wraps, water bottle, microgreens kit, etc.).
- Childhood Nostalgia — gifts that evoke childhood memories (candy with temporary tattoos, chocolate coins, chalk, bouncy balls, etc.).
- DIY — exchange handmade gifts (garland, card, knitted socks, etc.).
- Favorite Movie/Show/Book — gifts inspired by characters or the atmosphere of a favorite movie/show/book (Harry Potter scarf, Little Prince mug, etc.).
- Trends — gifts trending online (Dubai chocolate, Korean sweets, popular cosmetics, etc.).
A themed Secret Santa is easy to organize when everyone knows what to gift. Try running the game through the MySanta service—it simplifies participant interactions while keeping the surprise till the end. Here’s how it helps:
- Everyone sees the budget and theme — no need to worry about anyone forgetting details and gifting inappropriately. Participants see the game name, budget, and your message.
- Quick draw — assign Santa-receiver pairs in a few clicks, avoiding unnecessary hassle and responsibility.
- View recipient's wish list — the service hints at what your recipient is dreaming of, making it easy to stay themed and ensure a meaningful gift.
- Track the game progress — organizers can check if everyone has prepared surprises, making sure no one is left out.
Customized Ornaments
Try creating your own Christmas ornament by decorating a plain ball with acrylic paint or waterproof markers. You can draw something fun or dedicate your creation to significant events of the past year. For example, draw a house if you moved, or write about a dream come true like seeing whales. This is an easy project to realize, and over the years, you'll develop a special collection of ornaments with unique meanings.
Writing a Letter to the Future
Writing a letter to your future self is a great opportunity for reflection and a way to remind yourself of your dreams and goals. Preparing such a message before the holidays feels especially magical, signifying new beginnings. In the letter, write about what matters, offer yourself words of support, or simply share your thoughts and worries. Reading this text later will reveal how your life has changed, allowing you to appreciate your progress and gain encouragement from yourself.
Our article explains how to prepare, send, and read such a letter, with templates included.
Photo Shoot
A holiday photo shoot is a versatile tradition, perfect to repeat alone, with family, or with friends. Plan your look, find a location, and coordinate with a photographer to make it happen. The theme might reflect your mood or just celebrate the upcoming holidays—choose what makes you feel comfortable and confident to ensure a fun and enjoyable photo shoot. The resulting images will not only enhance your social media but also help capture how your life is evolving.
We've compiled ideas for holiday photo shoots in the table below to help bring this concept to life.
| Solo | With Family | With Friends | |
|---|---|---|---|
| At Home | 1) Cozy evening with a book and a warm blanket; 2) Decorating the tree in pajamas. |
1) Family pajama party; 2) Christmas breakfast with pancakes and cocoa. |
1) Pillow fight; 2) Board game night. |
| In Studio | 1) Evening look with a glass of champagne; 2) Minimalistic session in sweater and jeans. |
1) By the fireplace with gifts; 2) Classic holiday portraits. |
1) Fun session with poppers and sparklers; 2) Themed like an '80s disco party or fairy-tale characters. |
| Outdoors | 1) In a coat or jacket in a snowy forest; 2) Against the backdrop of a city decked out for the holidays. |
1) Building a snowman with the family; 2) Strolling through a snowy forest. |
1) Enjoying a holiday market; 2) Photo session at a scenic ice rink. |
Fortune Telling for the Future
Even if you don't believe in horoscopes or tarot spreads, consider trying this tradition. Use coffee grounds for simple fortune telling, buy New Year fortune cookies, or explore metaphorical cards. Don't take predictions too seriously—see them as fun entertainment and a chance to imagine the future.
Make a Wish at the Stroke of Midnight
On Christmas, making wishes is a time-honored tradition. You can follow a familiar method every year or experiment with a new one—what matters is capturing the magic. Find interesting and unusual rituals for making wishes to make the process entertaining and memorable.
How to Make a Wish on Christmas
- Magic Pouch of Wishes. Write your wishes on sticky notes and place them in a small fabric pouch. Besides notes, add items related to your desires. Place the pouch under the tree before Christmas Eve.
- Sky Lanterns. Buy a sky lantern to launch on Christmas night. Follow the instructions, find a safe launch spot, and send the lantern skyward while making a wish.
- Vision Board. Take an hour the day before Christmas to reflect on your dreams and visualize them. Print and cut out images associated with your dreams to make a collage.
- Coin and Snow Ritual. At the stroke of midnight, step outdoors, close your eyes, make a wish, and toss a coin into a snowbank. This is great if your wishes involve career and finances.
- 12 Grapes. A Spanish tradition popular worldwide. Count down to Christmas by eating 12 grapes—one for each stroke of midnight—believed to bring good luck and make wishes come true.
Bake Homemade Treats
Baking is a simple, cozy way to spend the winter holidays with loved ones or enjoy your own company. Choose a recipe you love, whether it's gingerbread cookies, cinnamon buns, or chocolate muffins, play some music or a show for company, and savor the process. This activity offers a break from everyday hustle, and the smell of homemade treats adds to the holiday atmosphere.
Stay Active in the First Days of the Year
Enrich your holiday period with interesting and beneficial activities—be it yoga, a trip to another city, or a simple walk in a nearby park. You can repeat the same activity each year, or adopt the idea of staying active at the year's start. This tradition kickstarts the new year productively, preventing post-holiday lethargy.
Conclusion
Take a fresh look at holiday traditions—they can be a chance to create unforgettable celebrations for yourself and loved ones, helping you kick off the year with ease.
