Holiday Traditions You Can Start Today

I about had a meltdown the other day. Why? Because I am a traditionalist, and this year our family is breaking a long-standing tradition: Thanksgiving at my mom’s.

When my sister told me she was hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, I had a small panic attack in my head. What? Not at Mom’s? No Pfalztgraff dishes, plaid napkins, or deer horn knives?

It’s sad to change up where we spend our holidays. It’s like the end of an era. Although, since my sister is a super crafty gal and a world-class chef, I have no doubt the holiday will be lovely. And, with her sixteen side dishes, delicious!

Still….I am going to have pangs of nostalgia all day, I think. We will just have to start new holiday traditions, won’t we?

Before we set out for “Tzi-Tzi’s” house, I’ll have a plate of warm muffins for my little family. It’s sort of our own family tradition to have a special treat on holiday mornings! Sometimes that’s muffins, other times it’s french toast. 

If you have houseguests during the holidays, a time-saving tradition is putting out a continental breakfast buffet so guests can help themselves while you get dinner on!

My favorite part of the holidays is “decking the halls” …and the table too! With several children in the family, chair covers can decorate AND protect cloth chairs. Chair covers at a holiday dinner are smart, and attractive, giving an upscale look to a table.

One feature of holiday meals from times past I always remember are the little dishes of candies my Grandma had all over the house (I distinctly remember butterscotches and strawberry wrapped candies? Anyone?). Even if you’re not cooking, a small dish of interesting candies is a good conversation starter. Put out a special candy or treat that you only get at the holidays, and it’s sure to become a memorable tradition!

Now that I’ve written this, I see our holiday may not be so different after all: we’ll still be with family, around a table of delicious food, thankful for all the blessings God has granted. Maybe starting new traditions isn’t as bad as it sounds!

What are your favorite holiday traditions?