Creating our own family Christmas traditions has been a goal for us even before we started our family. Holiday traditions become very special because of the memories linked to them. We loved our family traditions that we had growing up. But, we were also excited to create our own as a young family with what would work for us.
My husband Albert and I are from two different worlds. The saying ‘opposites attract’ is 100% true in our case. He is the salt and I am the pepper. I am the yin and he is the yang. Get, the drift? So, creating Christmas traditions to embrace our uniqueness and identify us as a new family unit was very important.
Albert is a laid back easy going mid-western boy from Iowa (he is from a family of 9) and I am a passionate excitable first generation Cambodian girl born in Virginia and raised in Utah (I am a family from 3). Even though we are polar opposites our differences compliment each other and we have been able to weave our upbringing, life experiences, and expectations well into our married and family life — having 14 years of experience helps a whole lot! And, another key factor is our same love and belief for God.
Whatever your circumstances in life, such as newly married, a blended family, a single parent family, a family that honors more than one religion, etc., — it is never to late to begin creating your own family holiday traditions. They could center around religious aspects of the holiday season and/or simply be fun! Albert and I had a great time creating new Christmas traditions for our family. It doesn’t have to be complicated or hard. In fact, the most simple of traditions have the lasting impact.
The Savage Family Christmas Traditions
- My eldest daughter Emi has a birthday on Christmas and we also celebrate her birthday on Christmas day!
- This year we created a new one where we are wearing matching family pajamas from Target. Don’t you love our nutcracker pajamas!?!
- We have two Christmas trees in our family. One tree has my fancy ornaments and the other one displays our children’s handmade ornaments.
- Each Christmas season our kids get a new ornament or they get to select one.
- We have two elfies in our home. A cute red one with a happy face and a scary looking elf wearing all green.
- We love displaying our nutcrackers on our mantel. Albert served his church mission in Germany so he has a German boy nutcracker next to his German pyramid. The girls and I have Cambodian princesses nutcrackers and Elijah has a cute soldier nutcracker.
- On Christmas day, the first person who find the hidden Percy the Picklepuss stuffed doll in the Christmas tree gets to open the first present.
- We have had the same Christmas decorations for years and keep adding to the eclectic collection.
- Christmas cards given to us are taped in our hallway as a Christmas gallery during the holidays.
- The night before Christmas the kids get to open one present (usually new pjs – exciting for them!).
- We reenact the nativity scene each year with homemade nativity costumes I sewed…it is so fun!
- Each year we participate in a service project and look for anonymous opportunities to serve.
We just love Christmas here at the Savages! I hope this post gets you super excited for Christmas and inspires you to create new traditions for your family. Holiday time is the perfect time to gather as a family and talk about what really matters in life.
It is important for Albert and I to teach the kids about the meaning of Christmas with Christ’s birth and offering service (a kind deed, donation, friendship, helping hand, a smile). Join our family with 25 Ways to #LightTheWord this Christmas by being a light to others with the Savior’s example.
Outfit Details // Family pajamas set from Target.
Photography by Melissa Thomson
“At the H E A R T of every F A M I L Y T R A D I T I O N
is a meaningful E X P E R I E N C E.”
Christmas is so much more than attending parties and presents. It is about memories we create for our families. These memories are held so close to our hearts and passed down from generation to generation. The best gifts cost little or no money at all. Set aside time with your families or alone to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Decide in your life what actions you need to take to shine and be that friend and example to others. Thank you for being a friend to me and supporting my blog! Please comment below and share with me one of your favorite family traditions!!! Love you guys!
Lovely snaps. Please check out my new VS Angel inspired hair tutorial!
Kisses xo | From Aliona With Love
Instagram @alionawithlove
Twitter @alionawithlove
Author
Hi Aliona! Thank you for saying hi! I loved that hair tutorial of yours!
Debbie I really enjoyed reading about your family traditions! And I’m so impressed that Albert wore his pjs for the shoot, he’s a good man and clearly loves his family! Such a beautiful family too!! I absolutely love this time of year! The kids come home each day from school excited for that days activity. We craft and bake and leave jungle bells with treats on doorsteps, sing carols, watch Christmas movies, and read from our collection of Christmas books each night. It’s a happy time and busy with good things. One of my favorite things is seeing my children play with the nativities, they love the story of Jesus. Thanks for sharing your family and wonderful ideas for creating great family memories!!
Author
Hi Amanda! I love your family Christmas traditions too! They sounds so much fun! There is something just magical about the month of December and I love seeing the joy in my children’s’ eyes!
So so cute! I love this post! Family time is more valuable than any gift you can give!
Author
Hi Tiffany! Thank you so much! I agree with this more than ever as the kids are growing up so fast!
This is so cute! I love that you all wear matching christmas jammies!
xo Jessica
http://www.whatsfordinneresq.com
Author
Hi Jessica! Thank you so much! So, glad I got the family to do this!
You guys look so cute and I love your traditions! Xo
Wow, Debbie. I loved reading about all of your traditions with your family. The service projects, family pajamas, and recreating the Nativity scene are all things they will remember forever.
One of our traditions is to eat chili on Christmas eve. My grandma started it, and now that she has past, makes it even dearer to my heart. That is something I will carry on to my family one day.
Thanks for making this post so sentimental and heart felt. It made me feel connected to my own family a little bit more.
Katelyn
http://www.katesnumberones.com
Such a cute family!
XoXo,
Tamara – LoveofMode.com
Author
Thank you so much Tamara! XO
So fun! Your family is beautiful! I’d love to do this with my family some day 🙂
Author
Hi Vanessa! Thank you for visiting my blog!!! Thank you for the sweet compliment! xo
Your family is so beautiful! Love that you were able to talk your hubby into matching pajamas with the rest of the family. He’s the man! Lol. I agree with you on creating your own traditions in your family. It’s a great way for you to implement togetherness with your kids. They will appreciate it when they become adults. Thanks for sharing beautiful. Xo
P.S. Happy Early Birthday Emi!
Author
Hi Pentene! Awww…thank you so much! Ha ha – it is always fun to try to convince the man in your life to join in on a cheesey pic! Ha ha! I am so excited for Christmas break and all the uninterrupted time we will have together as a family! xoxo
These are such great traditions. I just got married and am excited to start some new family traditions as well. We do the Christmas pajamas too and it’s so much fun. Thank you for sharing!
Cheers, J
http://www.cheersj.com
Author
Hi J! Thank you so much for saying hi! Congratulations on your marriage! What an exciting time in your life right now!!! xoxo
Adorable family and pictures!!
<3
DrWinesBlog
Author
Hi Dr. Wines! Thank you so much!!!
Love the photos! You are so beautiful!
http://curlyjosephine.blogspot.ba/
Author
Hi Josipa! Thank you so much love!
Beautiful family!
Federica Di Nardo
http://federicadinardo.com
Author
Hi Federica! Thank you for visiting my blog! I am heading over to check you out!
I like how you’re being authentic with a traditional celebration
It’s great to add your own touch to things sometimes
xxx
Winnie xxx
My blog: itsjustwinnie.blogspot.co.uk
Instagram: @itsjustwinnie1
Author
Hi Winfred! Thank you! I am so glad you dropped by to say hi. It is so important to make the necessary changes to celebrate you and your family’s individuality!
love the pictures ! what a beautiful celebration 🙂
Author
Hi Claire! Thank you so much! Thanks for saying hi! xoxo
Oh my gosh!!! What a BEAUTIFUULLL family! Looks like you guys are always having soo much fun. Your girls are gorgeous, Debbie.They take after their beautiful momma. That’s for sure!
Thanks for sharing darling! Have a blessed weekend!
Much love, Len
http://www.lenparent.com
Author
Hi Sweet Len! Aww…thank you so much! We have a ton of fun together! There is always laughter, chatter, screaming, playing, crying — going on in our household! Thank you soo much! xoxo
Such a beautiful family!!!! Loved reading this post!
Wish you and your family all the best!!!!
XO
Daria
http://www.dbkstylez.com
Author
Hi Daria! Thank you so much for dropping by and saying hi!
I love the style and clasd you have!
Author
Hi K.Dattmore! Thank you so much!
Love it. Please check out my party wear edit and tutorial!
Kisses xo | From Aliona With Love
Instagram @alionawithlove
Twitter @alionawithlove
I love this post. This was so nice to read about how your family has tried to blend family traditions, it’s always tricky but it sounds like you have really merged both nicely. Creating new traditions as well is important and I love hearing all the ways you have done that, I’m still adding in a few as I go so it’s always fun to see what other people do! I love that you have two trees, growing up my family did the same thing and it’s nice to have one “fancy” tree and then one for all the silly, fun and sweet ornaments. I love this Debbie, wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday.
Author
Hi Kristina! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post! I am so happy we were able to blend and create new ones too! So, great you grew up with two trees! I am glad we aren’t the only ones!
I love your family traditions!! We add a nutcracker to our collection each year and we always wear cute oilers pjs (husband is obsessed with hockey) but I would love to have the kids pick their own ornament each year. That’s so special!
Author
Thank you Jen!!! I love the nutcracker add — how many do you guys have? Love the cute pajamas idea — I want to see it!
You have such a beautiful family!!!
I love this post! Now that I have a little family of my own (my daughter is 18 months) I’m excited about starting our own family Christmas traditions. I also want her to know the real reason for the season… Jesus!! Thank you so much for sharing!
Author
Hi Love! Yes, the true meaning is Jesus. I am so excited for you! Your baby is 18 months such a fun and beautiful age and it only gets better and better~ Thank you so much for visiting my blog! Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much!! I’m looking forward to it! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas as well!