9 Ideas For Simple, Meaningful Family Traditions To Start In 2017

It’s that time of year again! One year is coming to a close, and another is about to begin. While there is the typical tradition of staying up late and watching the ball drop, New Year’s is an opportunity to start some new, meaningful family traditions.

Here are nine ideas for family traditions that will help make the new year extra-special, and that the whole family will love!

1. Good Things Jar

Each week, write down one good thing that happened during the week on a piece of paper and place it in the jar. Open the jar on New Year’s Eve the following year and reminisce about the amazing year you had!

2. Take A Family Photo

Take a family photo and include the year by holding up cardboard numbers! It will be fun to see how your family changes from year to year, and great to look back on later in life.

3. Family Service Day

Decide as a family where you would like to volunteer on New Year’s Day. This is a great way to spend time with your family and give back to your community. Start the new year on a positive note!

4. Take Down Christmas Decorations

Out with the old and in with the new! While many people take down the Christmas tree the day after Christmas, try taking down Christmas decorations on New Year’s Day (maybe while giving those Christmas albums one last listen of the season). This will bring the family together and close out the holiday season.

5. Box Of Goals

Have everyone in the family write one goal each month. Place the goals at the start of the month into a wooden box. Each month, take out the goal from the previous month and review how family members did! A fun way to actively achieve goals as a family.

6. Leave The Past Behind

Leave the past behind and have everyone in your family privately write down a regret from the pervious year on a piece of paper. Then have a bonfire and throw the pieces of paper into the fire. Start the new year fresh!

7. Family Meal

Whether it’s a Sauerkraut dinner for good luck, or a pancake breakfast with numbered pancakes representing the year to come (try using these), sitting down for a family meal to celebrate the new year is a fantastic way to end one year and start another! (And hopefully a good way to carry this tradition throughout the year ahead.)

8. Daily Family Hug

We know busy families can feel like ships passing in the night, which is why something like a daily family hug is a great way to pause and love on each other, if only for a few seconds. Is this a little cheesy? You bet, but it’s also super-sweet and likely to lead to some laughs.

9. Topsy Turvy Day

Today’s the day to do things a little differently. Every so often, surprise your kids with ice cream for dinner or a breakfast picnic in the backyard. Maybe take it a step further and wear your clothes backwards. Whatever you do, shake it up and have fun!

Find a tradition that works best for your family and have fun establishing a meaningful new activity (or two!) in the new year.

Related: Here’s a fun, cute and easy way to make a family tree centerpiece! Perfect for for graduations, Mother’s Day, and family reunions!