5 Simple Holiday Traditions to Start with Your Family

Creating holiday magic can be overwhelming for parents. Lighten your load and make your holidays a little bit less stressful by indulging in some simple traditions that may become part of your family's annual celebrations for generations.

These activities are fun and cost very little money, so they won't strain your holiday budget.

1. Make Treats for the Birds

Decorate an outdoor tree with food for your feathered friends. You could make garlands by stringing popcorn and cranberries. You could also make ornaments by spreading peanut butter on pine cones and then rolling them in birdseed. Many birds also love fruit, so try hanging orange slices or apples as well. The result will be a beautifully decorated tree filled with happy birds.

2. Create Cookie Ornaments

Remember old-fashioned ornaments made from cookie dough? Lookup a recipe online and make these easy treats. Hang them on your own tree or give them as gifts. Before baking, remember to use a straw to make a hole for hanging and scratch the year in the back with a toothpick.

3. Go Caroling

Caroling is a wonderful tradition and an easy way of spreading joy. It doesn't matter how well you sing, just that you sing from the heart. Get a group of people together and head to the houses of friends and family to surprise them with an instant holiday concert.

4. Ready a Story

Reading as a family is an activity that has become lost in the world of electronics. Reading and listening to a story can be a tranquil and calming experience that your family members will treasure. There are many options for holiday reading. If you’re a spiritually-focused family, you could read the Christmas story or the Hanukkah story. If you have a young family, you might choose "The Night Before Christmas." Or you could go to your local bookstore and choose something you've never read before.

5. Make Homemade Gifts

One great way of making the holidays special is to ask family members to give gifts they've made themselves. Encourage your family members to get creative and think about their own talents. Some might cook a special dish while others might choose to make a craft. A service or favor performed for a family member could also be an excellent gift.

The holidays can be a stressful time, but you can dial down the anxiety by including some traditions that are simple ways family and friends can enjoy each other without pressure or expense. Find inspiration in these five-holiday activities that are sure to become special memories.