Family Tradition Ideas You Should Try

Family traditions can be very varied, some may seem poignant while others may be frankly silly and just for fun. They are those things your family has always done in certain circumstances that are expected.

What Are Family Traditions?

Life is full of traditions. Some are indicative of a wider community in the form of religious or cultural festivals whilst others may be specific to a single family. They are most often used to mark a certain event of the year or a milestone.

They are activities that the family or a specific member of the family will undertake for some significant purpose. It could be something as simple as a certain family member always making the same Thanksgiving dish.

Some family traditions are serious and considered important to the family while some are just plain goofy and intended to entertain and delight the rest of the family. Basically speaking a family tradition can be almost anything as long as it is done consistently around a certain event or occurrence in the family.

What if Your Family Has No Traditions?

Not all families have traditions; they may adhere to the standard ones that pertain to their faith or cultural identity but they may not have specific traditions that are unique to the family. There is nothing wrong with this, it doesn't lessen the family.

The family may have had traditions earlier however and perhaps your research might uncover these traditions. This may pique your interest and inspire you to try and rekindle those traditions which, depending on what they are, may give you a sense of connection to your ancestors.

Why Are Family Traditions Important?

I am not going to say your family has to have traditions. Some people might find such things ponderous. However it should be noted that there is the potential for both fun and deeper family connection through engaging in traditions.

They do not have to be faith based; they can pertain to something related to the family unit and serve as a celebration of the family. Traditions are something that become part of the fabric of the family and create long lasting memories.

If your family has or had traditions it might be fun to try and keep these going or rekindle them. Some traditions may be archaic and not match the morals and beliefs of the family today so there is no shame in changing them slightly or completely if need be.

Ideas for Family Traditions to Try

1. Start an annual vacation

This kind of tradition can begin almost organically from a family vacation on which everyone had a fantastic time. The place you visited may have been perfect for every member of the family so they could be more than happy to visit there again each year.

You can of course just go on vacation at the same time each year with the family and even extended family to different locations. If multiple branches of the family are involved, maybe a different branch chooses the location each year and smaller traditions can become incorporated to this annual family vacation.

2. Start a family service day

This is a personal favorite because it not only brings the family together to promote bonding but it also gives back. It can be a weekly, monthly or annual event and it can be almost anything as long as it contributes to making something better.

The family might volunteer at a charity, go litter picking at a local beauty spot or essentially just find a way to do something significant that improves their community. A regular family service can bring you all together teaching the kids to be compassionate and create a work ethic in the family.

3. Start a game night

The family that plays together stays together. Yes, that is the intent of this tradition: plan a regular family game night which can be weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. This can be simple playing the same game or it can be more elaborate with a different branch of the family hosting each time and being responsible for the games.

4. Activity raffle tickets

Family members may differ when it comes to things they find fun but as a group it may be good to experience the things our relatives like as well. This is where an activity raffle might be a fun idea. Once a week or month draw an activity from the activity jar.

The activity jar will have three activities that each member of the family wants to do. Whatever is picked is what you will be doing that day as a family. Once drawn and completed that activity is left out of the jar and this all continues until the far is empty. It can then be refilled with more activities.

5. Take an annual camping trip

This is a great one to try and get the family to interact with the distractions of the modern technological world. Not everyone loves the great outdoors but there are degrees of roughing it from basic cabins to of course tents.

The key is a short get away for the family where phones and other tech distractions are limited and only available in case of emergencies. You can enjoy hikes, fishing, cycling and other physical activities together and then sit around a campfire at night talking, singing and generally just forming great memories as a family.

6. Create a birthday tradition

Each member of the family has a day of the year to celebrate their birth so why not attach a tradition to that day that can create memories? Perhaps the person whose birthday it is gets to choose where the family eats that night. Maybe they have to sing a song, wear a funny hat, just do something that is fun in general.

7. Family reunion

In the world today branches of the family may live hundreds if not thousands of miles apart and can only stay in contact by phone or through social media. Creating a tradition that every year or every 5 years someone in the family hosts a family reunion party can reform familial bonds.

8. Holiday decorating party

This one is more for individual families who live in the same household. Various faiths have annual religious holidays so a great tradition might be to set aside a day each year when your family works together to make and hang the decorations for the celebration.

9. Saturday family breakfast

The parents may have the day off and the kids are off school as well so make one of the weekend days a little more special. Perhaps on Saturday the family works together to cook a big breakfast and they can spend the morning sitting around the table eating and talking over the past week.

10. Seasonal activities

We have four seasons in a year which means four excuses for a tradition. These could be specific trips on the first day of a new season to somewhere you can celebrate the upcoming changes. Fall might be a pumpkin patch, winter might be ice skating, spring might be a nature walk and summer might be a trip to a waterpark.

11. An annual family photo

When a family has kids a lot can change in a year this is why having a new family photo taken each year. This can be done at home or professionally if you would prefer. Perhaps have a running theme of wearing the same style of clothes or striking the same pose.

12. Family appreciation day

There is no shortage during a year of holidays in which gifts are given but this is an idea that creates a celebration unique to your family. Choose a day of the year without a holiday and create a day of family celebration with activities, food and a gift exchange.

A great way to do the gift change is have everyone’s name in a jar and each person randomly picks someone to give a gift to. Perhaps these gifts have to be made by the person giving the gift so there is no commercial expectation of value. This is just a day to celebrate family unity which is unique to your household.

13. Movie night

Perhaps once a week you can have a movie night with a rotating tradition of a different family member choosing the movie each time. Obviously set some rules as to what is appropriate especially if some children may be younger.

This can be done at home or as part of a weekly or monthly trip to the movie theater.

14. Make a scrapbook together

This is a fun little activity that all of the family can get involved in. Choose a topic or theme and have the family collect pictures they associate with it and bring them together in a scrapbook.

15. Family talent show

Each member of a family has unique talents so perhaps have an annual talent show where individuals get to show off their skills. This is all about fun and no matter how bad or good the performances there will be applause and praise.

It not only encourages the family to have fun but also may inspire family members into a creative field or new skill.

Final Thoughts

Family traditions can be centuries old or may be started today and passed down for future generations. They are something that may be unique to your family and may have deep meaning. We sometimes lose our traditions but there is nothing wrong with starting new ones or rekindling others as we discover them.

Neil Edwards

Genealogist and family-tree research specialist

Neil was born in Shropshire, England surrounded by centuries of living history. His interest in the past has been a lifelong passion leading to undergraduate degrees in both Economic History & Geography and History & Politics.

This interest in history quickly translated to family history when he moved to the U.S. in 2010. It was here that he began working on his own family tree as well as that of his American wife. That research allowed him to gain a wealth of experience working with both U.S. and European genealogical documents and studying their best uses in researching family history.

Following 9 years of honing his genealogical research skills, Neil was proud to have earned a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University in late 2019. Neil also took part in the research process for a Duke University study into the families of 19th Century UK Members of Parliament.

Link To or Reference This Page

We spent a lot of time downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!