13 winter holiday traditions that go beyond food

First things first: No one’s suggesting you skip the eggnog, gingerbread, or fried latkes. Those foods are key elements to feeling festive this time of year. But you can bring even more joy to your holiday season with celebratory traditions that go beyond the big feast.

“Holiday traditions are important because they connect us to the past, are a bridge to the future, and create strong family bonds,” says Kierste Wade, author of Simply Tradition: 70 Fun & Easy Holiday Ideas for Families. Need a little inspiration? Read on for 13 festive, non-food-focused traditions to try this year — and keep doing for years to come.

Tell a story

Gather your loved ones 'round the fire (or a few flickering candles) and bring holiday stories to life. For Yuletide classics, there’s always The Night Before Christmas and Dr. Seuss’s Grinch. Prefer stories in stanza form? Browse the Poetry Foundation’s collection of winter poems from greats like Mary Oliver.

Give back

Start a tradition of helping those less fortunate than you. One simple idea: Gather nonperishable food donations from your friends, neighbors, and family, then drop off the collective bounty with a local organization in need. You’ll make a positive difference for others and strengthen your community connections — a win-win. For more opportunities in your area, enter your zip code at Volunteer Match.

Go on a neighborhood light stroll

Venture out for a post-dinner walk around the block to see who has upped their decoration game this year. For an extra dose of fun, turn the outing into an “I Spy”-style game, with points for being the first to spot rooftop reindeer, icicle lights, jumbo inflatable snowmen, and lit-up Santas.

Make a cumulative keepsake

A DIY project that builds with each successive holiday season can be a sweet way to mark the passing years. For some, it’s about growing a collection — say, by crafting a Christmas tree ornament every December and inscribing the year on the back. For others, it’s about adding to an existing work, like having guests sign a cherished memory tablecloth before every big feast.

Get creative with gifting

Sure, there’s an art to choosing the perfect gift. But there’s equal magic to be found in presenting gifts. Some fun new traditions might include staging a scavenger hunt that leads to a gift, or anonymously dropping off holiday treasures on your friends’ doorsteps for a true Secret Santa experience.

Plan a car parade

Pick a day with pals and decorate your vehicles with festive add-ons like reindeer antlers, battery-powered blinking lights, and tinsel. Then start your engines and form a convoy through local streets. Your cheery parade will put a smile on people’s faces — and give you the perfect excuse to blast that Mariah Carey song on repeat.

Go caroling with a modern twist

Merge the tradition of outdoor caroling with the fun of karaoke. On YouTube, you can find karaoke tracks for pretty much every holiday song — everything from Ella Fitzgerald’s classic “Sleigh Ride” to Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me.” Save your faves in a playlist, charge up a portable bluetooth speaker, and join voices with your crew in a performance (even if you’re totally off-key).

Have an outdoor adventure

A holiday tradition that gets you moving in fresh air is always a good idea. Consider an annual ice skating day with your cousins at the lake, a household pilgrimage to chop down a Christmas tree, or a birding hike on New Year’s Day. Whatever your activity of choice, creating a sense of occasion in nature can be a restorative way to appreciate the season.

Schedule a week-long movie marathon

There are way too many irresistible holiday flicks to stream in one sitting. Instead, consider planning out a solid week of festive programming. Monday can be for a classic like It’s a Wonderful Life. Tuesday can be a comedy like Elf. Wednesday could be for a nostalgic favorite like Home Alone. Thursday pick a drama like Carol or Little Women. And on Friday, go with a controversial pick like Die Hard (does it count as a Christmas movie or not?).

Stage a talent show

In advance of your family gathering, tell the group you’re hosting that you’re going to hold an open mic showcase and encourage everyone to come ready with a skill to show off. The wackier the talents, the better: Your nephew juggling toilet paper rolls and your sister-in-law’s weird ability to speak backwards will become instant family lore.

Write messages of hope

Sending holiday cards is a small, simple way to help others understand they’re not alone. Many organizations run card-writing campaigns during the holidays to lift the spirits of those experiencing hardship and loneliness. People in need of heartfelt holiday messages include children facing long hospital stays, seniors experiencing isolation, survivors of prison violence, and military veterans.

Open up the family video vault

Before everyone started hoarding thousands of pics on their smartphones, we used old-fashioned film to capture family memories. If you’re sitting on a time capsule of VHS cassettes or photo prints, the holidays can be a nice time to excavate them from storage and look back. You can even digitize your old videos for a special screening night or collaborate with your fam on a slideshow of everyone’s snaps from a specific year (throwback to 1995!). Don’t worry if your old hairstyle makes you cringe — that’s part of the magic.

Turn mistletoe into a gratitude activity

The mistletoe tradition usually plays out as sweethearts stealing a kiss underneath the sprig. But this holiday symbol of love and affection can also be used as a way to show appreciation for all the wonderful people in your life. Hang some real or faux mistletoe from an overhead spot and pull names from a bucket. Each person selected stands under the greenery and the group showers them with thankful compliments.