The Beauty of Simple Traditions: Creating Joy this Season

With Holidays quickly approaching and (passing just as quickly) these winter months can feel like a whirlwind. One day you’re picking out a witch costume for your toddler, and the next you’re googling the best Thanksgiving stuffing recipe. You blink and suddenly you are leaving out cookies for Santa then telling everyone you’ll “see them next year!” It’s a season filled with chaos and magic all at once, where we can be overwhelmed with invitations and to-dos and overwhelmed with gratitude. 

As I assemble my to-do lists, my decor lists, my cookie lists, and my Christmas shopping lists, I find the thing I am most looking forward to this season is the traditions that are abundant this time of year - The small moments with friends and family in our home. Some of these traditions are continued from my own childhood, others are new to me, having come from my husband’s family or an idea from a friend or a Pinterest board. All of them are special and while a few are centered around Religious beliefs or Holidays that we celebrate, many of them are not. The one thing that our traditions have in common is that they happen in our home.

Decorating

Many people decorate their homes according to the season and I find this to be one of my favorite winter traditions! Whether you like to decorate indoors, outdoors, or both, there’s so much fun to be had with all the festive colors, twinkling lights and cheerful themes.  In my house, I like to do our decorating all at once and take turns playing cheerful music or watching Christmas movies as we switch out our fall decorations for winter ones. 

Decorating your space, whether you’re doing it alone or with family, is a great way to start cozying up your home. Plus, there’s nothing better than coming home, kicking off your snow boots, and settling into a space that feels as warm and festive as the season itself - even when it’s dark by 5 PM! 

Sledding & Hot Cocoa

This time of year is packed with holiday gatherings. From casual get-togethers to festive parties - it seems like there’s always an invitation or two, on the calendar! That’s why hosting at home is such a great option. When it’s cold outside, nobody wants to be out running around when they can be spending time indoors.

These simple moments — changing into dry sweats, sipping cocoa at the table, and laughing together— are some of my favorite memories of the season. It’s a reminder that traditions don’t have to be fancy to be meaningful; they just need to bring us closer.

Hosting

This time of year is packed with holiday gatherings. From casual get-togethers to festive parties - it seems like there’s always an invitation or two, on the calendar! That’s why hosting at home is such a great option. When it’s cold outside, nobody wants to be out running around when they can be spending time indoors! 

Some fun events I always look forward to are friends-giving, cookie decorating or swapping, Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve cocktail nights, or a good old-fashioned game night! Hosting people you love in your home creates memories that will last a lifetime.

Baking

Tis the season for baking! baking! baking! Every year, I bake dozens of cookies - some to gift, some to share at parties, and of course, some to snack on at home. It’s not the healthiest tradition…but it’s one of my favorites because it reminds me of my grandmother. She would bake so many holiday treats that when the fridge (and the backup fridge) were full, she’d store them in air-tight Tupperware on the back porch (she lived in upstate New York, so I promise they were kept at a safe temperature). 

I also love hearing about other families’ traditions. I have friends who spend hours with their families each year making homemade noodles or baklava, and family who always make the same Cinnamon rolls every year on Christmas Eve. There’s something so special about gathering in the kitchen—it’s more than food; it’s about creating memories and bringing everyone closer.

Gift Exchanges

Gift exchanges seem inevitable around this time of year, whether it’s a Secret Santa exchange with your friends, a white elephant at work, or exchanging gifts with family, the season of giving is always special. While I enjoy shopping for gifts, my favorite things to swap are handmade gifts. I like making ornaments or crafts with my kids to share with family members. My son is an excellent artist and likes to make funny comics or artwork for gifts. 

For families who don’t partake in gift exchanges, giving back to the community is a great way to participate in this tradition. Some of my friends knit hats or blankets for NICU babies and others volunteer at animal shelters or nursing homes. However you partake in giving gifts this season it’s true what they say, it is better to give than to receive! 

This time of year is about more than just checking boxes on a list—it’s about creating meaningful traditions that bring joy and connection into our homes. Traditions don’t have to be complicated, time-consuming or bound by rigid rules—they just need to be meaningful to you and those you share them with. Whether it’s a quiet ritual or a big gathering, traditions weave our experiences together, creating a sense of identity and connection. 

After all, what is home if not a place where you can make memories, where the familiar brings comfort and the simple moments become cherished markers of time? It’s not about how grand a tradition is, but how it resonates, reminding us of who we are and the relationships that shape our lives.