- Think of some new activities you and your loved ones can participate in during the holidays to strengthen your bond and create fond memories. For instance, if you live in an area that gets really cold during the fall, decorate the house with tropical flowers and bright colors during Thanksgiving, and give everyone a lei when they come over for the holiday dinner. Bake some extra desserts like pies or additional batches of cookies, and hold a hula contest after dinner. Reward the first, second and third place winners with the treats before everyone heads home for a fun and memorable holiday that family members of all ages will enjoy.
- Incorporate new foods into your traditional holiday fare to make the occasion particularly exciting for your friends and loved ones. If you observe Kwanzaa, it's traditional to hold a Karamu, or African feast, on the last day of the celebration (December 31). Many African-American families serve soul food or traditional southern U.S. food for the meal, like cornbread, collard greens and fried or barbecued chicken. Introduce a meal starter like peanut soup, commonly served in Africa for family occasion, for your family members to try before the main course is served. Prepare a brief history of the soup's origins in West Africa, and explain that the dish is prepared different ways --- such as thin soups served as a gravy over rice or chicken --- and that enjoying the meal together is a symbol of Umoja, or family unity. Each year, introduce a new African dish along with a 30-second history lesson to establish a tasty and informative holiday tradition.
- Work with your children to create new crafts each holiday season so they'll look forward to Christmas even more. For instance, let your kids decorate mason jars with shreds of crepe paper and glitter, and purchase cranberry or pine-scented tea light candles to place inside the jars. On Christmas Eve, light the candles and place them on the mantle or shelf closest to the Christmas tree so Santa will know where to drop your children's presents. Or, purchase small frames in gold or silver, along with an assortment of finger and sponge paints. Give your children sturdy paper and let them draw or write what Christmas means to them. Frame the artwork and display it in the family room to start a family tradition that shows how your children have grown to understand the importance of family and sharing over the years.
- Make up a new holiday for your friends and loved ones to share. This gives you another excuse to celebrate and spend time with the people you love, and can make everyone involved feel extra special. For instance, celebrate the day your baby girl took her first steps every year. As your daughter grows, the holiday will take on new meaning; for instance, if the occasion falls near her high school graduation, it will signify her waking into a new phase of life. Invite family members over on the "holiday," prepare a special meal or assortment of snacks, and replay the video of your little girl walking for the first time. If the day falls near another milestone in her life, such as getting married or her 16th birthday, present her with a small gift, like a bracelet with a shoe charm, to commemorate the occasion.