This time of year is rich with memories from years of anticipating this season, gathering with family and friends and celebrating together. Many of those memories are marked by traditions that we look forward to each year. Those little rituals make this season extra special and give us moments to soak it in, pause the hustle and bustle and of course, look back on fondly. When we started to think of 12 traditions we could share as a team, everyone pulled out their phones and flipped through pictures. In those moments of reliving traditions and chatting about them, the mood in our office was so fun. We’re hoping that by sharing some of our team’s family traditions you may find something in common, a new idea or just a little mood boost.
1. Gingerbread Houses: The gingerbread house decorating tradition goes all the way back to Bryn’s father-in-law Rudy who decorated gingerbread houses as a child. When Hayden and Hannah were born, Rudy offered to decorate houses with the girls as an annual tradition.
2. Special Table Settings: Rachel’s mom gifted her vintage Christmas plaid napkins years ago. She loves how they pair with her blue and white china collection - this is now their table setting for Christmas morning brunch.
3. Palmer House Hotel: Rachel’s family enjoys a Chicago staycation at the iconic Palmer House Hotel most years. The architecture is amazing, the hotel is loaded with history and is always decorated beautifully at the holiday
4. Family Heritage Christmas: The Wulf family heritage tree is a special part of their holiday decor. This tree has family heritage ornaments from Sweden, Norway, and Germany. Additionally, the tree has ornaments that used to hang on the trees of great-grandparents homes including a sequined giraffe, mercury glass, and Italian blow glass birds. The final layer fo the tree are crystal snowflake ornaments given to Bryn’s daughters on their first five Christmases.
5. Holiday Popcorn and Movie Night: When you cover popcorn, pretzels and M&M’s with white chocolate and sprinkles, you must make enough to share. Kim’s crew makes this “party popcorn” for a crowd each year and invites over friends for a holiday movie. Last year, they found a drive-in movie and took their tradition (and snacks!) outside. The Polar Express and Elf are their two favorite movies!
6. Spritz Cookies: The Wulf family cookie of choice is the classic Spritz cookie. As a family of Scandinavian and German decent, this cookie has meaning from many branches of the family tree. Now that Bryn’s girls Hayden and Hannah are teenagers they can get out the cookie press and make them for the family.
7. Christmas Jammies: Every year, Kim’s kids get in the spirit with matching jammies- they are young enough to still humor her! All December long, jammie day at school and especially Christmas Eve, her trio still enjoys this 10 year long tradition.
8. Polaroid Photos: Rachel’s family hosts Christmas Eve for friends and family. A tradition her kids started a few years ago is a photo booth with an instant develop polaroid camera. They have fun setting up the backdrop and they put out a basket of props and everyone gets to go home with a souvenir photo.
9. Holiday Giving: Each year, we make sure to remember those who may have a tough time around the holidays. Whether it is adopting a family, contributing to Toys for Tots or dropping off goodies for the local Ronald McDonald House, each year we try to do something to help.
10. Holiday Tea at the Drake: Instead of tangible gifts, why not exchange time together? For years, Kim and her mom have made a day out of going to the city and having tea at the Drake. Then, her daughter joined them with her doll and now 10 years old, the doll stays home- but the pinkies stay up. Bryn and Rachel have also made tea at the Drake part of their holiday traditions!
11. Holiday Lights: On Christmas Eve, Magan’s family enjoys driving around their town and looking at all the different Christmas lights.
12. Singing and making music together on Christmas Eve: Rachel’s family is lucky to have musical folks in their crew - hands down her favorite part of Christmas Eve is the sing-along that usually comes together pretty organically after the food and drink.
