How do you make holidays special?

[Anonymous]

I am especially interested in hearing from people with older teen or young adult children/nieces/nephews with no kids of their own and do not travel during the holidays. I used to love holidays, but I have become very bored with them, to be honest. Both sides of the family live in town, so every family get-together feels the same. Whether it is Christmas, Easter, a random birthday, or whatever. Nothing feels very special. We do have some fun traditions, but it is not enough to make me really look forward to it. My kids certainly don’t complain, but I would imagine they feel the same way on some level. I still want to see our extended family on holidays, so going on trips isn’t the answer. Just curious what others do to make the holidays special if you are only seeing the same people you see all the time!

[Anonymous]

We switched it up this year and had a white elephant instead of the usual gift exchange (15 people ranging in age 12-72). We also played a fun game (Guess Who, 5 Second Rule), which was the first time that’s happened during our Christmas get together! We also had heavy apps instead of a traditional formal dinner. Next year we may plan to have a gingerbread decorating contest during the get together. It was nice spending time together (our usual focus is food and presents), and everyone liked how we switched it up this year.

[Anonymous]

Games and activities are the key to break up long stretches of small talk.

Going somewhere scenic is also fun—state parks where you can park and some people can walk.

Going for a holiday light viewing drive or walk is another idea.

Basically, keep things moving and create new ways for people to engage.

[Anonymous]

We went on trips for a few holidays recently which we had never done before. Not sure I would do it every holiday but it was nice to mix it up.

[Anonymous]

I wish my in-laws would be willing to change it up. They want the exact same food every year. No games. Luckily they live closer and our dogs arent invited so we can make an escape after about 4 hours.

[Anonymous]

Games, puzzles, and crafty things are key. I hate just sitting around and eating, so I try to offer or bring something interactive that breaks up the monotony.

[Anonymous]

We play a lot of board games. We include friends so there are new people. We try to visit a lot of festive holiday places to see decorations and Christmas trees - NYC, Frederick, DC, beaches. We (mostly me) decorate a lot and I try to add one new thing every year - shopping at places like garden stores or fun boutiques. We watch Hallmark movies together.

There is so much of the same every year but I still love it. I am pretty much the driver of holiday activities but spouse is the better gift giver.

[Anonymous]

We've traveled for Christmas for the past 3 years, then home for New Year's. On Christmas Eve we've wondered the rain forest, seen fireworks in Europe, and spent the day in our AirBnB playing games and watching movies. Just kind of go with the flow

[Anonymous]

Games, cocktail hours where you make something fancy, interesting food.

Maybe don't do what my FIL did this year and invite a good number of new friends/acquaintances from your activity to one of your children's homes for the holiday. Only the host gets to change it up to a "family and friends" event.

But I think this is also a problem to appreciate. It doesn't feel special to see extended family because you see them all the time? That's very fortunate!

[Anonymous]

We are an immigrants family and so we do not have much of an extended family. We host a Christmas brunch at home with three other families. Dress code for each family is matching PJs. We actually do a low budget Secret Santa where all 16 participate. We don't use wrapping paper for the gifts and we put the gift in a new reusable grocery bag (which is part of the gift).

We do a photoshoot, watch movies/games, play board games, go for walks, some of us take naps and we all just hang out and talk.

[Anonymous]

Music! DD and DH sing, play piano and guitar for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish my in-laws would be willing to change it up. They want the exact same food every year. No games. Luckily they live closer and our dogs arent invited so we can make an escape after about 4 hours.

That's a great opportunity to have one traditional family gathering and then have one unconventional one at home by yourselves or with few friend families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am especially interested in hearing from people with older teen or young adult children/nieces/nephews with no kids of their own and do not travel during the holidays. I used to love holidays, but I have become very bored with them, to be honest. Both sides of the family live in town, so every family get-together feels the same. Whether it is Christmas, Easter, a random birthday, or whatever. Nothing feels very special. We do have some fun traditions, but it is not enough to make me really look forward to it. My kids certainly don’t complain, but I would imagine they feel the same way on some level. I still want to see our extended family on holidays, so going on trips isn’t the answer. Just curious what others do to make the holidays special if you are only seeing the same people you see all the time!

Frankly, it’s young kids that make the holiday special and magical. I’ve tried for years to make the holidays special without them and it just seems forced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We switched it up this year and had a white elephant instead of the usual gift exchange (15 people ranging in age 12-72). We also played a fun game (Guess Who, 5 Second Rule), which was the first time that’s happened during our Christmas get together! We also had heavy apps instead of a traditional formal dinner. Next year we may plan to have a gingerbread decorating contest during the get together. It was nice spending time together (our usual focus is food and presents), and everyone liked how we switched it up this year.

Cocktail/mocktail or dessert-making contest
family walk or hike
ice skating

[Anonymous]

We ski all day and do a fancy cheese fondue (make steak, sausage, french bread and boiled potatoes with a big salad) and dessert fondue (pound cake, marshmallows, berries, banana, kiwi, pineapple, brownie bites) and go to a candlelit mass. That’s our tradition.

I think I agree with you. We actually stopped going to the in laws because it was so boring and my kids had nothing to do and everyone was just running around buying gifts all week. no quality time with family . Now we ski. We see them in the summer for a few weeks and it’s much better.