51 Unique Holiday Traditions

Call up a family or old friend (who isn't expecting it) to come celebrate with you.
Grab your passports (figuratively) and choose a different country each year. Research their holiday traditions and incorporate theirs into your own.
Start a Charity Box/Jar that you keep in the kitchen or other frequently used part of the house. Throughout the year, drop cash and loose change in it. Come the holidays, collaborate with the family and decide on something worthy of its contents.
Have a gingerbread or latkes making party or contest!
If you have three or more children that are old enough, have each of them draw names and purchase a gift for that one person. If necessary, set a dollar limit.
For Hanukkah, organize a potluck (using SignUpGenius, of course!) and dreidel tournament.
Leave a bowl of reindeer food (oatmeal and glitter) in your front yard on Christmas Eve. (Don't forget to remind Santa to tip the bowl over and scatter the food when he comes!)
Whether it's cinnamon buns, sourdough bread with butter, or an egg-sausage casserole, have a special, consistent breakfast on Christmas morning or a few different choices throughout Hanukkah.
For families of Santa fans, buy presents for kids off of an angel tree at your church or at a mall.
A family walk during Hanukkah or on Christmas day will help prevent sluggishness and keep spirits high.
A fun (and thrifty) Hanukkah tradition is to keep the gifts simple and minor, and put the focus on a theme for each night. (Charity Night, Family Game Night, Home Movie Night...)
Send a Christmas letter with a recent family picture, especially to your friends and relatives who don't spend much time on computers keeping up with people.
Host a cookie swap or a Christmas tea. Use SignUpGenius.com to invite and organize.
Pick an evening and go Christmas caroling with your neighbors.
Decorate a gingerbread house together.
Host a gingerbread house decorating contest. Use SignUpGenius.com to invite and coordinate who brings each type of candy.
Ask each family member to make a card for everyone in your immediate family and place them on the tree on Christmas Eve to open before gifts in the morning.
Plan a progressive dinner for neighbors, church small group members or school families you'd like to get to know better in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Use SignUpGenius.com to invite and organize.
If you live in a warm climate, take a bike ride in the parking lot of a shopping center or mall on Christmas Day when the area is empty of the usual cars.
If you live in a snow-laden climate, face off for a snowball fight or build a snowman together.
Organize a Holiday group gift for your child's teacher using SignUpGenius.com.

51 Unique Holiday Traditions

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