D.I.Y. Saturday #29 – How to Bring in Non-Traditional Holiday Ideas to your Home

Entry #354, December 11, 2010

Happy Holiday D.I.Y. Saturday at Stagetecture! Depending on your home traditions, many people enjoy repeating the last years ceremonies, rituals and cooking traditions. For those of you who enjoy it, I say – Keep up what you’re doing! For others that want to add new traditions, or just put a spin on the old, today’s DIY Saturday is for you.

From cooking to decorating, how about changing up how your family approaches the holiday? Apartment Therapy has a great article on how to add a twist to holiday traditions.

Bring in new traditions this year!

Family Portraits & Holiday Sweaters

For many, holiday sweaters have become a point of mockery and a faux-tradition all on their own. If you’re planning a yearly portrait of your family or friends together, try adding something a little more fun.

Make paper hats, jewelry, chalkboard word bubbles or add in over sized props for photos that will keep you laughing year round. Or, have a talented family member draw the annual portrait. Change your themes every year to keep things fresh and funky (in the Wild Cherry Way, not the old moldy cheese way).

Traditional Foods

Although traditional foods have a place and a time, if new dishes weren’t added to the menu here and there, you’d still be eating the same thing your Grandparents did when they were little. Consider adding a modern twist to old standbys. Don’t be afraid to make mini versions, bake items in a new shape or even add new ingredients!

YouTube video from Pottery Barn – Unique family traditions:

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Music, Movies and Media

Although there will always be music and movies that make us think of the holidays gone by and days spent watching TV or signing with friends and family, that doesn’t mean you can’t shake things up a bit. Instead, try having a Christmas Movie-thon with a few more unusual flicks — how about an action movie or a sci-fi fest?

Group Activities

There will always be sledding and sleigh riding along with snow ball fights or even surfing depending on what part of the world you live in. Try changing things up a bit and implementing new traditions.

Service work is a great place to start. Try volunteering time at a local shelter serving food or helping tidy up. Likewise, animal shelters are always in need of extra folks to donate blankets, food and time to help give dogs walks, cats some love and make sure everyone stays happy.

Other ideas might include visiting local farms, picking seasonal fruit (assuming you live somewhere without snow), having a cross city scavenger hunt (make sure to take photos!) and even hosting an old-school skating party or board game night can be a great way to spend some time.

Gift Giving

With many of us focusing more on thinning out the items in our home and truly only keeping what we love, donations to organizations and charities are a great way to spend some cash. Knowing that your donation helped fund a school project or put clothes on someone’s back is a far better feeling than a new shiny iPad (though we wouldn’t say no to one).

If you’re not into donations of just money, try sponsoring a family in your community for the holidays and help provide toys and a little holiday cheer. There’s bound to be a program in your area and if not, there’s always fun in playing ding dong ditch to leave presents behind on the doorstep of a neighbor whom you know goes without.

Watch Stagetecture’s You Tube Channel for more DIY ideas