Have a tradition of your own to share? Email us and we’ll keep adding to this page throughout the holiday season.

The gift of time
We have three children, as do the godparents of my oldest son. Rather than exchange gifts, we spend a day together as a family. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant ““ last year we went swimming in a hotel pool followed by lunch, and this year we are all going to see “Seussical” at the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People. I love this because firstly, the kids don’t miss the presents they are not receiving and it helps reduce the chaos of Christmas morning, and secondly, it teaches the kids that Christmas is not about presents, it’s about family and realizing how blessed and lucky we are to be surrounded by friends and family that love us.

-Danielle Eveleigh

An artful gift
My partner and I no longer buy gifts for each other, instead for the past two years, we’ve been pooling our extra money to buy an original painting for our home. We plan to do the same thing this year. I like the idea that one day we will have a collection of artwork we can pass on to our child, as part of her family’s holiday heritage.

-Yuki Hayashi, former CF executive editor and current contributor

Cozy Christmas Eve traditions
Inspired by my mom and step-father living in Switzerland for four years, we started a tradition of having a cheese fondue on Christmas Eve. It’s rich and decadent, but enough of a departure from the turkey dinner to feel novel on the day before Christmas. It goes beautifully with a winter walk, and makes us all feel cozy and happy to be with family.

We also give each other new pajamas every Christmas Eve. This ensures we all feel camera-ready for those Christmas morning shots. Plus, it’s fun to have a little bit of luxury in our sleepwear around Christmas time.
-Brandie Weikle, former CF senior editor

Christmas for the young at heart
For as long as I can remember, I have given my three kids (well maybe they aren’t kids any more, ages 25, 22 and 19) chocolate advent calendars so that they can countdown the days until Christmas. As well, every Christmas Eve we attend my church’s Christmas pagent followed by a candlelight carol sing. It’s a beautiful and cherished tradition. Then after the service we all go back home to sit by the tree to share a cup of holiday cheer together.
-Donna Hatten

A tree decorated with memories
Every year since my first Christmas I have received an ornament in the mail in early December from my great aunt who lives in the U.S. For 25 years she has sent these unique ornaments to me (as well as my many cousins), and each arrives with my name on it and as well as the year. To this day I have been unable to find ornaments as beautiful as the ones she sends and not once have I received a duplicate. Last year for the first time I had my own Christmas tree to decorate with my husband and thanks to Aunt Alice every branch had an ornament to hold and I had a lifetime of memories to reflect on as I decorated. Now I have nieces and nephews of my own and I am carrying on this tradition with them.

-Sarah Rogers, online editor for CF sister magazine, Wish