Creating your own holiday traditions? Here are 5 ideas to get you started.

The holidays have a special kind of magic: the twinkle of lights, the smell of something sweet in the air, and the feeling that life slows down just enough to make space for connection. But in a new and growing community, many families find themselves at a crossroads—you may be far from old traditions, or ready to start fresh ones that fit this chapter of your life.

It’s in those in-between moments, when you’re unpacking boxes and deciding what the holidays will look like this year, that new traditions quietly begin. They don’t arrive with fanfare. They start with a single choice: to pause, notice, and make time for what really matters. It’s about finding meaning in the small, genuine moments that make any season feel like home.

Start with what matters most

Before you hang the lights or bake the cookies, take a moment to think about what you want your family’s holidays to feel like. Is it about slowing down and finding quiet moments together? Getting outside and exploring your neighborhood? Or connecting with others and building relationships?

Thinking about what’s most important to you helps create traditions that last—and that you’ll look forward to each year. Maybe that means walking the neighborhood with cocoa in hand to look at lights, starting a seasonal cookie swap, or a cozy story time with a favorite holiday-themed book. Small things count, and in a place like this, they add up quickly.

Balance familiar and new

If you’ve moved to Reed’s Crossing from somewhere else, you don’t have to leave your old traditions behind. Embracing a mix of old and new helps your holidays feel grounded but also full of possibility; a reflection of where you came from and where you’re going. If your family used to host a big dinner, maybe that becomes a potluck with neighbors. If you always went sledding, maybe now it’s a stroll on a frosty morning. 

The goal isn’t to recreate the past, but to make new memories that feel rooted in the place you are today. And don’t worry if your first attempt feels a little different—that’s how all traditions start. Each year, you’ll refine them, add small twists, or include new people who become part of the story. Before long, what began as an experiment will feel like something your family can’t imagine the season without. 

Keep it simple, keep it joyful

Traditions don’t have to be complicated (or Pinterest-perfect) to be meaningful. In fact, the best ones are often the simplest. The laughter, the mess, and the little imperfections are what make it yours.

Maybe you’ll dream up new s'mores flavors at a community fire pit (we’re partial to using Reese’s instead of Hershey’s). Choose an evening for pajamas, popcorn, and your favorite holiday movie. Or pick a family photo spot—say, in one of our parks or along the Greenway—to snap an annual family portrait. Over time, you’ll have a beautiful record of how everyone (and the community) has grown. 

Make space for new kinds of celebration

We live in one of the most diverse cities in Oregon, and a great thing about that is how many different traditions you’ll encounter. You might see homes decorated for Dia de los Muertos, encounter a neighbor celebrating Holi, or spot red lanterns for Lunar New Year.

Being open to these moments, and celebrating alongside your neighbors, can help your holiday season feel richer and more connected. Ask about the meaning behind celebrations, try a new dish, or join a small gathering. Over time, your family’s traditions might start to include a few borrowed ones, too, like a favorite recipe from a friend or a small act of kindness inspired by another culture.

Keep the spirit going all year

Traditions don’t have to end when the holidays do. The same ideas—like connection, gratitude, and fun—should be carried through the whole year. You might celebrate the changing seasons with a picnic in spring, join in the community’s annual Halloween parade, or start a potluck with ingredients purchased at the local farmers’ market. Little by little, these moments become the stories your family will tell in the years to come, and they’ll always bring you back home.

Building new traditions doesn’t have to be about grand gestures. It’s about noticing the small, joyful moments that make life feel special. This holiday season, give yourself permission to do a little less, connect a little more, and let your own traditions take root. In a community like this, it won’t take long for those moments to grow into something lasting and uniquely yours.

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