12 Christmas Family Traditions to Start This Year
Kindlyra TeamShare this guide
Traditions are what turn a holiday into a family's holiday. They don't need to be big or expensive. The best ones are simple enough to repeat every year and personal enough that kids remember them as adults. Here are twelve Christmas family traditions to start this year.
Why new traditions matter
Traditions give children something to look forward to and give families a shared story. They also help new families, blended families or families in a new home make the season their own.
12 Christmas traditions to start
1. A memory ornament, updated every year
Each December, choose the family's favorite moment of the year and load it onto a video ornament like the Glowmory™ Memory Ornament. It plays on a loop through a small round screen on the tree. Keep last year's clip saved, and over time you'll have a video timeline of your family.
2. Christmas Eve boxes
New pajamas, a book, hot chocolate and a film, opened on Christmas Eve.
3. A family "year in review" night
Everyone shares their best and hardest moment of the year.
4. One new ornament per child, every year
When they leave home, they take a box of their own ornaments.
5. A Christmas morning photo in the same spot
Same pose, same place, every year. The series becomes priceless.
6. Bake the same recipe together
Grandma's cookies, a family stollen, anything with a story.
7. A kindness day
Pick one day to do something for others: donate toys, help a neighbor, visit someone alone.
8. Letters to Christmas future
Each person writes a note to read next Christmas.
9. A lights drive or walk
Hot drinks in hand, the best decorated street in town.
10. A family film night with the same film
Repetition is the point.
11. A gratitude jar
Notes collected through December, read on New Year's Eve.
12. Remember someone together
Hang an ornament for someone who's no longer here and share a story about them. See our memorial Christmas ornament ideas.
How to make a tradition stick
- Keep it simple. If it takes hours of prep, it won't last.
- Put it on the calendar. Same date every year.
- Let kids help choose. Traditions they help create matter more to them.
- Record it. Photos and short videos become part of the tradition.
Traditions for different families
| Family type | Try |
|---|---|
| With small children | Christmas Eve boxes, same-spot photo |
| With teens | Year-in-review night, film night |
| Far apart | Video call with a shared ritual, matching memory ornaments |
| Grieving a loss | A remembrance ornament and story |
| Newly married | A yearly memory ornament, first ornament together |
Frequently asked questions
What's a meaningful Christmas tradition for families?
Choosing a "moment of the year" together and keeping it on a memory ornament. It's simple, personal and builds a record over time.
Can the video on a Glowmory ornament be changed every year?
Yes. Plug it in with the USB-C cable and replace the file. It holds 4 GB, so there's room for several clips.
How much is it, and when should I order?
€54.99 in Europe or $59.99 in the US and Canada, with free shipping. Order by Tuesday, December 1, 2026 for Christmas.
Start a tradition you'll hang every year. See the Glowmory Memory Ornament or read what a video Christmas ornament is.
