When it comes to holiday traditions, some are formal and some are what I like to call “informal”.
When I think of formal traditions I think of the classic traditions that many people do like going out to select a Christmas tree and then decorating it with the same well-loved ornaments that have been used for years, following an advent calendar, or baking the same types of cookies our grandmother’s made.
But, there are lots of other traditions that may not be quite as formal, but are still something that we do every holiday season. One thing my family likes to do at my mom’s house is to go sledding.
We usually never plan it ahead of time, so we’re not prepared clothing wise. That makes part of the fun digging into the closets to find the mittens, scarves, hats and jackets from our youth. (Thanks for not throwing those out, Mom!)
One of our favorite things to wear is our old Moon Boots, which were big in the 80s and actually did make a brief comeback a couple years ago.
Even though our boots are from our elementary and junior high school years, they have enough “give” that they’ll still fit on our feet.
Once we come in from sledding we’re always starving, so it’s time for a snack and a Diet Coke. Everyone in our family is a Diet Coke drinker. (Don’t even try to sneak in a substitute.) We just don’t enjoy our holiday foods quite as much without it. That leads me to another one of our “informal” traditions….
Whenever we are invited to a potluck-style holiday event, we always immediately know what we will bring – Diet Coke!
It might be a little selfish on our part, because we just want to make sure it is available at the party, but it’s always a good idea that we bring a lot because it’s always popular with the party crowd in general!
"Coca-Cola" and "Diet Coke" are a registered trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company.
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
I love informal holiday traditions! Such a great way to enjoy the holidays with your family. 😀
Dawn McAlexander says
I am actually drinking a Coca-Cola Zero Sugar right now. Mmm…. I definitely love to keep some on hand to serve guests over the holidays.
Sarah says
We love our holiday traditions! I hope that my kids carry them on when they grow up.
Sherry says
I haven’t been sledding in ages. Tradition plays a big part in our holiday. Every Christmas we prepare the stuffing that was handed down from my grandmother.
Lisa Bristol says
I have been drinking Diet Coke for years and I love it. I always bring some with me when I go to a party. Sam’s Club is a great place to go stock up.
Cyn Gagen says
Our holiday traditions are so important to us too. Over the years we have added in a few new ones but there are some that really connect us as a family and to our past that we just won’t let go of.
Kathy says
Sounds like a lot of fun! I love this time of year during the holidays. We have a lot of great traditions as well.
Liz Mays says
A snack and some Diet Coke is a good way to recover after some sledding fun. That’s one of my favorite drinks.
Amy Desrosiers says
Glad I am drinking some Coke as I comment on this. I would totally want some if I was not!
Dawn Lopez says
Holiday traditions mean so much more to kids than we realize. It’s what makes the holidays truly special.
Jonna says
There are so many amazing family traditions out there that you can’t do them all. We have six people in our family, so each year we each pick a tradition that we want to make sure we do and then anything else is a bonus. So much fun!
Michelle Waller says
We love having family traditions, my kids look forward to it every year. We try and add in a new tradition every year while the children are growing up.
Ashley says
Family traditions are important to us as well. We have a few that we do every Christmas
Melissa Chapman says
It is great to have those family traditions that your kids will look forward to now and remember as they grow into adults. My favorite guilty pleasure is Diet Coke so i agree with you on this one.
Stacie says
This is such a great post! Family traditions are so important. We have a few that we do every year – trimming the tree, putting up the lights, a special Christmas breakfast.