The holiday season is a wonderful time to keep up with ongoing family Christmas traditions or even to start new ones. Every family has their own unique way of celebrating and making holiday memories but, what makes every moment extra special is that you’re all together.

Looking for new Christmas traditions to start with family can be so exciting. Plus, you might just find something that your family loves doing and then continue it every year after. The holidays are celebrated in different ways so we asked Team Motherly to share their favorite family Christmas traditions. Check these out for inspiration this holiday season!

Team Motherly’s most cherished Christmas family traditions

1. Staying up ’til midnight on Noche Buena

My family practices Noche Buena which is a Christmas Eve celebration, popular in latinx countries, in which we stay up until midnight then we open presents. Usually we eat a special meal that we spent all day making. In my family, we make tamales and other Colombian specialties–like buñuelos, empanadas and morcilla. — Rachel, Client Services Manager

2. “Cookies & Cocktails”

We started doing “Cookies & Cocktails” every year with my inlaws where we have some festive cocktails and make a bunch of different holiday cookies to share and everyone has a job in making fig cookies from the old family recipe. I also mandated at the outset that everyone has to wear Christmas themed pajamas, even our official ‘cookie testers.’ — Jen Watro, Head of Audience Development

3. “A mad dash to the theaters”

Every year on the day after Christmas, my whole extended family comes to my parents house and we all vote on a movie to see in theaters that day. Everyone has to vote and then we have to find a time that works and a theater that has tickets. It usually ends up being a mad dash to the theater. — Kate Anderson, Chief of Staff

4. Feast of tamales

Like many Mexican families, we make tamales! My mom schedules it for a few days before Christmas, and she simmers the filling for hours, then as many family members who can make it are put to work, filling and wrapping them, then she steams them. It’s so much fun to gossip and make fun of each others’ tamale-making skills. Everyone gets their own portion to take home, and then we eat them all together on Christmas Eve. — Shannon Vestal Robson, Senior Director of Content Strategy

5. Christmas movies marathon

My husband and I (newbies to starting traditions in our home) host a movie night at our house for all the kids. They come over, we make dinner, watch Christmas movies, make cookies, etc. It gives the other parents a break from the kids for the night. Then in the morning, we all convene for a big Christmas breakfast. — Mariah Maddox, Essays Editor

6. The matching pajamas extravaganza

We spend Christmas night at my in-laws wearing matching pajamas and playing Friends Scene It! Winner gets full bragging rights and gets to choose the matching pajamas the following year. — Hayli Craig, Editorial Operations Manager

7. Night at the Nutcracker

Growing up, my dad would take me to see the Nutcracker ballet every December, and it quickly became my favorite annual Christmas tradition. (We’ve seen various versions of it probably close to 30 times now!) I fell in love with the music and dancing from an early age—and hope to continue the tradition with my two boys starting this year, now that they’re old enough to sit still for longer periods! — Jess D’Argenio Waller, Health & Wellness Senior Editor

8. Holiday cards over the years

I save all my holiday cards on a binder ring and bring them out each year, with ours from each year on the top of each bundle. My daughters love to see how families and children have grown over the year. — Jill Koziol, Co-founder and CEO

9. Annual “Antler Bowl”

On Christmas Eve, my family would dress up for church based on a color palette. Every year is different. We attend an evening mass followed by a late family dinner then at midnight, we would open gifts. On Christmas Day, we go over to my aunt’s house to compete in our family annual Antler Bowl. Each family comes up with a game to play, and the family with the highest score wins the trophy and bragging rights for a whole year!! It’s a lot of fun and of course, so much yummy food and goodies!

10. A Christmas Eve story circle

Each year, gather as a family to read a favorite holiday book or take turns telling a story from the year that made you grateful. Kids love hearing family memories shared out loud, and you end up with a beautiful collection of stories remembered year after year. Pro tip: Record family stories and use the transcript to generate a printed book of stories that can be passed down so they’re never forgotten.

11. The first ornament ritual

Choose one new ornament each December that represents something meaningful from the year. You can either pick one new family ornament, or let every member of the family pick their own. When you decorate the tree the next season, retell why each ornament was chosen. Pro tip: Write the year the ornament was added in a discrete spot to help you remember years from now.

12. Holiday lights scavenger hunt

Print or create a list of things to find while driving or walking around looking at lights: snowman, Santa, blue lights, candy canes, reindeer, a house with music, etc. It turns a simple outing into a magical family game where everyone wins.

13. The Christmas breakfast bake off

Choose one breakfast item to make together every Christmas morning. It could be cinnamon rolls, a special waffle recipe, or a French toast casserole. Over time you perfect it together and it becomes a signature dish.

14. Letters to future selves

Every Christmas, have each family member write a short letter to themselves for the following year. Seal them and open them next Christmas to reflect on growth, surprises, and the little moments you may have forgotten.

15. A family kindness countdown

Create a countdown to Christmas that includes a simple act of kindness each day: Donate a toy, bake treats for neighbors, hold the door for someone, write a thank you note, or leave a surprise card. This helps ground the season in togetherness and generosity.

Mai Tran, Graphic Designer