8 Christmas Traditions to Make Your Own

Want a holiday tradition the whole family looks forward to? Start with cookies. Whether you're decorating cookies on a December night, packing up sweet gifts for neighbors, or counting down the season one treat at a time, these eight ideas will help you build a holiday tradition your family can enjoy year after year.

1) Leave milk and cookies for Santa

The tradition of leaving a cookie platter for Santa, along with carrots for his reindeer, started in the 1930s as a way of teaching little ones to show gratitude. To make this Christmas Eve ritual even more special, get the kids together to decorate the cookies themselves. That doesn't mean you have to bake them yourself. A Christmas cookie decorating kit that includes pre-baked cookies as well as frosting and decorations is just as fun.

2) Have a cookie decorating night

You don't have to wait till Christmas Eve for a cookie decorating night, especially if the night before Christmas tends to be hectic in your household. Instead, you can turn an ordinary evening into a memorable night of decorating. Here's how to get started:

• Choose a recurring date, such as the first weekend after Thanksgiving, so everyone knows it's coming.
• Gather your supplies ahead of time, whether that's a ready-to-go
• Let everyone decorate their own cookies, no rules and no judgment.
• Snap a family photo of the finished trays each year so that you can look back and see how your creations have changed and your kids have grown over the years.

3) Gift cookies to neighbors, teachers, and friends

A cookie tradition doesn't have to stay in your kitchen. Sharing sweets is one of the most heartfelt ways to celebrate the season, and it teaches kids that the holidays are as much about giving as receiving.

Draft a list of the people who make your year a little brighter, from the neighbor who always waves hello to the teacher who goes above and beyond, then deliver cookies. You can bake and box your own, or send an already packaged cookie gift with a handwritten note. Do it every December and it becomes a neighborhood tradition.

The Holiday Cookie Gift Boxes Set of 5, the Buttercream-Frosted Holiday Sugar Cookie Boxes Set of 10, and the Holiday Bow Mini Treats Gift Tin Set of Nine come individually packaged and ready to hand out, so no extra wrapping is needed. For a longer gift list, multipack gift sets make it easy to give to an entire classroom or block of neighbors at once.

4) Count down the season with cookies

As soon as the first day of December hits, the countdown to Christmas begins. Cookies can turn the wait into a sweet tradition.

You might bake one new cookie recipe together each week of the season, or keep it simple with an Advent calendar filled with cookies and brownies. Either way, you're giving the family something to look forward to each day leading up to the holiday.

5) Start a family recipe swap

Just about every family has a cookie recipe worth passing down, and the holidays are the right time to keep those recipes alive. Start a tradition where each person picks one recipe to make and share, whether it's Grandma's buttercream-frosted gingerbread cookies or a trendy new flavor someone discovered this year.

Write the favorites down on cards and add them to a family recipe box, one you can pull out season after season. Over time, you'll build a collection that tells the story of your family, one cookie at a time. Curious how these treats became a holiday staple in the first place? Take a look at the history of Christmas cookies.

6) Volunteer and share cookies as a family

The holiday season is a time to share a little love with the community. Bake an extra batch of cookies to bring to a local shelter, volunteer at a community soup kitchen, or donate warm clothing and food to a charitable organization. You can also have the entire family build care packages for the military, including a few treats to send a taste of home. Doing it together makes the tradition more meaningful.

7) Make the tree outing a cookie adventure

Many families head out together to find the perfect Christmas tree. Make this tradition even sweeter by packing a cookie-themed snack bag for the trip. Gingerbread cookies, shortbread cookies, and candy-cane-flavored cookies are surefire ways to get everyone in the festive spirit. Bonus points if they are tree-shaped or ornament cut-outs!

8) Pair cookies and Christmas stories

Reading aloud family favorites such as A Christmas Carol or How the Grinch Stole Christmas never goes out of style, and it pairs well with a plate of cookies and a mug of cocoa. Extend this tradition to friends and neighbors by hosting a kids' storybook party at your house, with sweet treats and a cozy corner for reading.