• About
  • Contact
  • Courses
  • Binder Kits
  • Collaborate
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Organize
  • Projects
  • Lifestyle
  • Crafts
  • Holidays
  • Courses
  • Binder Kits
  • Media and Press
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Organized-ish

Organized-ish

Progress > Perfection

  • Organize
  • Projects
  • Lifestyle
  • Crafts
  • Holidays
christmas themed nightstand

10 Ideas For Winter Holiday Traditions

December 7, 2020 · In: Holiday Planning

Celebrate the season no matter who you are with 10 fully inclusive winter holiday traditions.

Part of the magic of the holidays is that they mean so much to many different kinds of people, so what works for your neighbor might not work for you. These 10 family winter holiday traditions are inclusive, accessible, and budget-friendly, so you can always look forward to special, festive winters.

christmas paper chain craft projects

My 10 Favorite Winter Holiday Traditions

1. Decorate Paper Chains For The Winter Solstice

I live in the Northern Hemisphere, so for me, the shortest day and longest night of the year falls on December 21, the winter solstice. To celebrate the official start of winter, my son and I make the longest paper chain our living room can handle with construction paper or leftover Cricut cardstock.

It’s a modified tradition from when he redid his bedroom at our old house, and we usually pick bright, flashy colors that contrast well in the dark, like lime, red, yellow, and pink.

2. Host An Open House Tour

If you have new neighbors, invite them over to show off your family’s diverse decorations and traditions, or use a webcam and video chat software like Zoom to do the big reveal virtually.

For tips on throwing an entire holiday party virtually, see this post.

minimalist christmas decor holly

3. Light Fragrant Candles

Imagine coming home from a long work day to scents of apple cinnamon, peppermint, or cocoa. Candles are a great way to make a space feel inviting with minimal footprint. Simply be careful while lighting them to enjoy winter’s magic with all your senses.

4. Experience A Neighborhood Light Show

Not every light show will be winter-themed, but if you can find one in your area, hopping in the car and checking it out is a must. I’ve seen giant snow figures dancing to music, lights that “sled” down walkways, and trees that bathe entire blocks in glistening white.

It’s even more incredible once you ask how they’re made. Some people spend thousands of dollars to patiently set up their light displays, and you don’t need a computer science or engineering background either. It’s the ultimate season-long DIY project, and once you see one for yourself, you’ll wonder why those lights are left in storage for most of the year.

5. Mix Your Own Snow

Live in a warm climate without access to snow? Want a simpler project than a light show? Laura from the blog Make Life Lovely crafted her own version with baking soda and shaving cream. She put the surprisingly icy mixture in a jar as a sensory play area for her kids.

homemade bookmarks for free

6. Read Or Listen To Your Favorite Books

A warm fire, cozy blanket, and riveting story equal the perfect winter evening, especially when reading in a common area like the living room. If you have kids, read aloud to make stories come alive, and encourage everyone around you to share their favorites as well.

Does your must-read list get instantly better with sound? Sites like LibriVox, Project Gutenberg, and Spotify, among countless others, offer free audiobooks; OverDrive partners with your local public or school library for the same purpose.

If you regularly use audiobooks, here’s a link to a 30-day Audible free trial that comes with two free titles of your choice. Several of my family members use Audible to listen to recent bestsellers during their commutes.

7. Bake Cookies

In exchange for my neighbors letting party guests borrow their driveways for parking, I always gift them a container of chocolate chip cookies, along with some wine if I know they’ll appreciate it. Cooking is an essential skill, and starting with sweets makes winter the best time to dive in. It’s also therapeutic to give something handmade to loved ones.

Read More: How To Cram A Large Crowd Into A Small House

8. Donate Or Volunteer

Donating socks to homeless shelters, blankets to animal rescue facilities, or meal money to schools is a fantastic way to celebrate the season of giving. Giving back also means that whatever you decide to part with never feels like trash. It’ll go toward providing as much joy, comfort, or handiness for someone else as it did for you.

Having trouble deciding where that donation box should go? This post has you covered.

You don’t have to spend to give back, either. Volunteering to pack veterans’ care packages, walk dogs at a local shelter, or play board games at a senior center keeps you social and connected throughout the winter holidays.

Lela Burris holiday traditions

9. Throw A Decades Party

Whether for yourself or an entire guest list, a decades party is a lively twist on the ubiquitous ugly sweater party, and you don’t even have to dress up to enjoy one. While throwback fashion is, of course, encouraged, a retro playlist, nostalgic movie, or hilarious reference list to quote throughout the night can be just as fun.

Desperate to go Back to the Future? Is that hideous ’90s T-shirt begging for the spotlight from the depths of your closet? Is your pet rock lonely? Celebrate all of that! The end of the year is a time to reflect, so why not fully embrace it?

10. Get Organized

You didn’t think I was going to go a whole post without mentioning organization, did you? Just as the winter holidays are a time to reflect, a new year is the ideal time to look forward with a new lease on life.

If you’re a complete organization beginner, try doing a brain dump. Next, learn how to keep that momentum going, and finally, follow along with this post (with a free printable calendar) to finish the winter holidays strong.

diy holiday tree popcorn garland. Lela Burris In the New House Designs

Ready To Start A New Tradition?

Great, because winter is truly the season for everyone, and how we celebrate, love, and respect each other is crucial to keeping it that way.

In fact, you don’t have to observe any traditional holidays to enjoy the month. This post shows you how.

I keep track of all of my family’s winter holiday traditions with my Organized-ish Holiday Planner. There’s a big section in the back to write down your favorite highlights of the season, so you’ll never have to skip a tradition again.

What are your favorite winter holiday traditions? Sound off in the comments below.

By: Brad Gandy · In: Holiday Planning · Tagged: christmas, holiday, party, tradition, winter

you’ll also love

how to use cricut window clingsDIY Snowflake Window Clings With Cricut
easy christmas tree fillersWhat I’m Doing Differently This December
host a craft swap partyHost A Pre-Holiday Craft Swap Party To Declutter Your Craft Supplies

Get Blog Posts In Your Inbox

Every Saturday morning I send out a weekly recap of all the new blog posts. Want in?

Reader Interactions

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Next Post >

Easy DIY Dirty Face Mask Hamper

Primary Sidebar

Meet Lela Burris

Meet Lela Burris
hey-o!

My name is Lela, (say it like LEE-luh) and I'm so glad you stopped by my blog! Whether you're into organizing, home improvement, crafts, or you just think my pets are cute, you'll find all kinds of inspo here.

Tell Me More!

Connect

Get VIP Emails

Search

Shop My Planners

printable planners for home organization

Organize Your Craft Room

lela burris organiziedish

Hang With Me

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Follow Along

@lelaburris

Bin Clips are perfect for fabric bins and woven ba Bin Clips are perfect for fabric bins and woven baskets. I found these at Target, but Amazon has a larger variety to choose from. They come with a card inside you can write on, but I used a Cricut Joy and Writable Vinyl to make these cute label stickers. 🙌🏼
Do you have a running “too small” bin in your Do you have a running “too small” bin in your kid’s room?
Kids grow out of clothes SO quickly, and the ones that don’t fit often get left in the closet or drawers until we have time to deal with them.
To cut down on clutter, add a “too small” bin to their room. It saves you time and keeps their clothing that still fits tidy and easy to find. 🙌🏼
Wait for it… Organizing FAIL! Decanting is grea Wait for it… Organizing FAIL!
Decanting is great for items you buy in bulk to cut down on cost and packaging waste, as well as to keep some foods fresher for longer. But DON’T fall for the pretty organizing videos of every single thing moved into different jars.
I have seen some people decanting lotion, peanut butter, and even toothpaste, and I’m here to prove it’s a complete waste of your time and money. ✨What’s the weirdest decanting video you’ve ever seen?✨
Fill in the blank: It’s the […] for me 🤩 A Fill in the blank: It’s the […] for me 🤩
And it’s ALWAYS the ✨hidden trash✨ for me!

Footer

Browse By Category

  • Organize
  • Projects
  • Lifestyle
  • Crafts
  • Holidays

Get Organized-ish

  • Courses
  • Printable Planners
  • Shop My House
  • Amazon Faves

Blog Info

  • Contact
  • Media and Press
  • Disclosures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Organized-ish LLC © 2023 · Theme by 17th Avenue