TRADITION REIMAGINED

How to Create Your Own Holiday Rituals

by Val White

Balancing nostalgia with modern intentionality.

There’s a quiet beauty in the rituals we inherit — the recipes our grandmothers passed down, the ornaments that reappear year after year, the way our families have always done things. These touchstones root us in belonging and memory. But as we grow, evolve, and redefine what “home” means, we may find that some traditions begin to feel less like connection and more like expectation.

It can feel uncomfortable — even guilt-inducing — to admit that something long-cherished no longer resonates. After all, our family traditions often carry emotional weight: they remind us of loved ones who are gone, of childhood magic, or of times we still long to revisit. But creating new rituals doesn’t dishonor the old ones — it honors you, the life you’re living now, and the meaning you wish to cultivate this season.

To reimagine tradition is to become the curator of your own sense of belonging. You can choose which rituals to keep, which to transform, and which to gently lay to rest. Maybe that means reinventing your family’s famous dessert with a modern twist, swapping the frantic gift exchange for a cozy dinner with chosen family, or styling a holiday table that tells your story rather than repeating someone else’s.

Adam and I have adopted the of blending old traditions while introducing new practices of our own. Each Thanksgiving we have enchiladas (to honor his love for mexican food which abounds in central and southern California) and my grandmother’s delicious dressing recipe (which was always the favourite at Thanksgiving and Christmas!). The two dishes would never be served together conventionally, but it’s a perfect example of curating a tradition that is meaningful in the now while honoring the memories of the past.

Remember: letting go doesn’t mean forgetting. It means releasing what no longer fits, so there’s room for what truly nourishes your spirit.

Here are some journal prompts that may help you to embrace or create new traditions while holding on to what still feels resonate.

Journal Prompts:

• Which old traditions still feel sacred to you?

• Which ones no longer fit, and how can you release them gracefully?

• What kind of rituals would reflect who you are today — not who you were expected to be?

• How can you honor the people and memories tied to those traditions, even as you create new ones?

5 Simple Rituals to Start This Year

• Gratitude Letters – Write a heartfelt note to someone who shaped you this year — even if you never send it.

• A Friend-Giving Tea – Gather a few kindred spirits for tea and reflection rather than a formal meal.

• Memory Candle – Light a candle each evening in honor of someone who can’t be with you.

• Intentional Ornamentation – Decorate your home not for perfection, but for storytelling — each object a memory or intention.

• The Pause Ritual – Each morning, take 3 minutes of stillness before the holiday rush begins. Breathe. Remember. Begin again.