9 Creative Alternatives to Traditional Holiday Celebrations
Over the years, your family has probably developed some holiday traditions that you hold near and dear to your heart. Some of those traditions may have been passed down from several generations. As times change, the need and desire for new ideas may arise. You may want to incorporate some new practices into your traditions to freshen up the holidays a bit. There are several alternatives to traditional holiday celebrations that can liven up the holidays a little, all while still making amazing memories for your family.
Your family may have very specific ways to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas. But there are so many ways to have a wonderful celebration that doesn’t include turkey, presents, mistletoe or winter wonderlands. In fact, you may even have some ideas that you’ve wanted to try but have been a little too nervous to suggest out of fear that no one would want to break the family’s holiday traditions.
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What are some different ways people celebrate the holidays?
Family Education not only suggests some alternate activities you can try to put a fresh spin on the holidays, but they also add some additional days that you might consider celebrating with your family. Trivia Day and Random Acts of Kindness Day are two of the many suggestions listed.
But, if you’re not quite ready to shift from the traditional holidays, here are some alternatives to traditional holiday celebrations that might just start some new holiday traditions for your family:
1. Plan a holiday trip.
Most people stay close to home during the holidays, spending quality time with family. Though these are fun traditions, have you ever thought about packing up the entire family and going on a trip? Traveling to a fun destination can be an amazing alternative to the traditional holiday at Grandma’s house.
Plan as a family and come up with a location that allows magical experiences you can’t get where you live. For example, if you live in a warm climate, travel to a snowy area. And if you live in the snow, plan a beach trip. If your budget allows, you might even consider traveling to a different country for the holidays.
Use a fun Erin Condren travel planner to plan your holiday trip.
2. Plan a barbecue.
Thanksgiving and Christmas don’t have to consist of the traditional menu, especially if the things on the menu aren’t your favorite things. Change things up a little and plan a barbecue this holiday season.
Fire up the grill and throw on your favorites and gather outside for some fun, even if it’s cold. You’ll make some fun memories and just might start a new holiday tradition for your family.
3. Schedule a group spa day.
Everyone’s so busy these days that it’s hard to squeeze in self-care. But it’s so important to take time for yourself in the midst of all the chaos. Imagine how relaxing it would be if you scheduled spa services for you and your family!
Schedule massages, time in the quiet room, sauna, manicures, pedicures or any other treatments that you think will help your family relax and enjoy a bit of down time. This is a fun and soothing way to spend some time together.
If planning a spa day isn’t in the budget, subscribe to Therabox and plan a self-care spa day at home! Therabox comes packed with high-quality products to help you create a spa-like experience right in your own home.
4. Celebrate with friends.
Do you always spend your holidays with your family? Maybe this year, incorporate your friends into your holiday celebration. Family is great, but there’s something wonderful about friendships. That’s probably why Friendsgiving has become so popular. Mix things up a bit and plan something special with your friends to break away from your traditional routine.
Join The California Wine Club so that you have an impressive collective of wine on hand when your friends come over to celebrate the holidays.
5. Host a holiday bonfire.
If you like being outdoors, host a holiday bonfire. Even if you don’t like being outdoors, it might be a good activity to try. Get the firepit ready for an evening of fun with the ones you love.
Make sure to practice safety precautions if you’re hosting a bonfire and get someone who knows what they are doing to be in charge of starting and tending to the fire. Sitting around the fire roasting marshmallows, telling stories, or just sitting around and enjoying each other is a great way to spend the holidays.
6. Plan a camping trip.
Pack up your family and head to the great outdoors for a holiday camping adventure. Find your closest National Park or a campsite and plan for an outdoor adventure that your family is sure to remember.
Whether you plan to stay in a cabin or RV or you prefer to camp in a more primitive fashion, there are so many options available. Make a list of all your camping necessities, pack your hiking boots and backpack, and get ready for your holiday camping shenanigans.
7. Participate in a holiday 5k walk/run.
Give your family the gift of physical activity this holiday season! Sign everyone up for a holiday 5k and get ready to get that heart rate going. Several events are likely planned for a good cause, making it even more of a reason to participate.
Grab your running shoes and your kiddos and head over to the track to log some holiday miles!
8. Volunteer in your community.
It’s easy to get so wrapped up in our own lives that we forget that everyone doesn’t have it so good. Some people are experiencing the holidays in hospitals, shelters, and other places. Consider spending the day volunteering in your community to serve others in need.
If you’re an animal lover, you could also try volunteering at an animal shelter to walk animals or clean. Get your whole family involved to make a difference in your community and contribute to a great cause.
9. Craft gifts for each other.
Instead of purchasing gifts for each other, plan a day where everyone crafts gifts for each other. You can spend the day doing crafts together and then exchange gifts at the end of the day. You’ll have so much time bonding during your crafting and you’ll cherish the gift because you’ll remember the time and effort put into making that special gift.
If you don’t want to craft gifts for each other, maybe you could work together on a craft for another family member or create something for the house. Either way, you’re working together to create a project. Those memories will be forever etched in your heart.
If you’re looking to shake things up this holiday season, why not try an alternative celebration this year? Breaking away from the norm helps create new memories and can leave a lasting impression on you and your entire family. Happy Holidays!
