Holiday Traditions With Heart

Simple acts of joy and generosity that stand the test of time.

Published October 30, 2026

The recipe for a Christmas tradition is uncomplicated, so don’t make it harder than it needs to be. The best activities are simple enough to repeat and enjoyable for everyone, from the littlest cousin to Great-Grandma Jane. Baking a batch of cookies, taking a neighborhood stroll, or spending an afternoon helping others can cost little more than your time or a few pantry staples — and that’s more than enough for making memories.

Here are a few traditions that capture the spirit of the season and a few pointers to get you started.

Help Santa

The holidays are prime time to help kids practice thinking about others’ needs and wishes. Give them the opportunity to shop for someone else’s Christmas morning. Choose a recipient through a local Salvation Army Angel Tree, read their wish list together, and make a thoughtful shopping plan. Selecting a coat in just the right size or a toy someone requested gives generosity a personal connection. Share the list with relatives to spread out the expense. Check the program’s gift requirements and return deadline before shopping.

Keep the giving going beyond Christmas with our guide to where to volunteer as a family.

Give Back

Aside from physical gifts, families can also give the gift of time — and there are plenty of opportunities to serve together around the holidays. For example, in Dallas, volunteers at Trains at NorthPark help keep a beloved holiday exhibition humming while supporting Ronald McDonald House Dallas and families with children receiving medical care. Across Texas, there are numerous food banks and holiday toy distribution networks in need of volunteers.

Orchestra on stage. — Photo by Christa Martien

Take Your Seats

Give the holiday playlist an evening off and treat your family to a live performance. Check school, church, and community band calendars for free concerts and sing-alongs, or look for an affordable local production of “A Christmas Carol.” Carrollton Wind Symphony, for example, offers a free holiday concert. A little cocoa afterward gives everyone time to deliver their reviews.

Trees with Christmas lights. — Courtesy of Pedernales Electric Cooperative

Follow the Glow

Your neighbors have been working on those elaborate yard displays. Go admire them! Walk a familiar route and appoint the kids as official scouts for reindeer, snowmen, and exceptionally sparkly rooftops. Bonus points for creating Christmas lights bingo cards. My own family brings cocoa and popcorn, with our daughter bundled in blankets and riding along in a wagon.

Explore tree lightings and holiday displays near you and take a family photo in the same spot each year. While lots of light parks charge admission, there are plenty of free displays too. For example, Johnson City’s PEC headquarters offers a free stroll beneath illuminated oaks, while San Antonio’s River Walk dresses its cypress trees in holiday lights.

Send Some Handwritten Cheer

Clear the kitchen table for a card-making party. Austin-based Hello by Hand accepts handmade cards by mail for residents of Central Texas care facilities, so families statewide can participate. Follow the program’s guidelines or ask a nearby facility what it welcomes. Little ones can draw; older kids can write. Paper, crayons, and a thoughtful message give everyone something meaningful to contribute.

Snuggle Up for Movie Night

Pair a favorite holiday movie, such as the “Polar Express,” with a snack or drink inspired by the story. My family watches “The Grinch,” and my daughter loves her special “Grinch drink” made of green Gatorade, sparkling water, and a maraschino cherry to symbolize his tiny heart.

For an outing, check local movie theaters and drive-ins, which often screen favorite holiday films during the season.

Family making Christmas cookies. — Courtesy of Pedernales Electric Cooperative

Bake a Little Family History

Pull out that splattered recipe card and put everyone to work. Grandma can demonstrate her cookie-cutting technique while young bakers handle the sprinkles. Package a few extras for neighbors. Slightly lopsided stars are perfectly acceptable currency for spreading Christmas cheer. For a Texas favorite, try cowboy cookies, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies made with coconut flakes and pecans.

Our holiday baked goods roundup is a sweet place to find your next family tradition, with recipes for pecan pie, Yule log cake, fudge, and more.