Traditions Worth Keeping
The little things we make, share, and bring back year after year.
Some Christmas traditions begin with the simplest things. A handwritten card arriving in the mailbox. A paper star made on a December afternoon. A little decoration that comes out of its box every Christmas, even though it’s slightly crooked.
They’re not necessarily the fanciest things in the house, but somehow, they’re the ones we remember.
And often, the loveliest part isn’t just what we make. It’s the time we spend making it, the people we share it with, and the little stories that stay with us.
Christmas Cards: A Little Tradition of Keeping in Touch
There’s something rather lovely about finding a Christmas card among the usual mail. Someone took a moment to think of you, choose a card, and write a little message.
But did you know that the Christmas card originally came about because someone was running out of time?
How a Busy Victorian Started a Christmas Tradition
In 1843, a British gentleman named Henry Cole found himself with a familiar problem: far too many Christmas letters to answer and not nearly enough time.
So he came up with a clever solution.
He asked his friend, artist John Callcott Horsley, to design a festive greeting card that could be printed and sent to friends and family. The illustration showed a family celebrating Christmas, with scenes of charity on either side.
Cole had 1,000 cards printed, and the first commercial Christmas card was born.
It wasn’t an overnight success, but the idea gradually caught on. By the late nineteenth century, exchanging Christmas cards had become a popular holiday custom. In America, printer Louis Prang helped spread the tradition with beautifully illustrated cards.
What started as a practical way to save time became something much more personal.
Make Your Christmas Cards a Little More Special
Today, sending a Christmas card is a lovely excuse to reconnect with someone, especially a friend or relative you haven’t seen in a while.
And making your own cards can be just as enjoyable as sending them.
Set aside a cozy December afternoon, put on some Christmas music, and spread a few simple craft supplies across the table. Fold pieces of cardstock, cut out paper stars or little Christmas trees, add a ribbon or a touch of watercolor, and see what you can create.
You don’t need to be particularly artistic. A simple handmade Christmas card with a thoughtful message can be far more meaningful than an elaborate design.
Here are a few ways to make the tradition your own:
Share a little memory. Instead of writing only “Merry Christmas,” remind someone of a funny moment you shared, a lovely afternoon together, or something you appreciated about them this year.
Make Your Own Family Fingerprint Christmas Card
Let everyone create one or two cards for someone special. Children can add drawings, while older family members might enjoy writing a personal note.
Here’s a sweet little Christmas card idea that everyone in the family can help make!
All you need is a blank card, some washable ink pads, and a few colored pens.
Let each family member add a fingerprint to the card. A brown print can become a reindeer with tiny antlers and a red nose, while a black one can turn into a penguin. You could even create little elves or snowmen!
Once the ink is dry, draw the faces and add a few festive details. Finish with “Merry Christmas” and write everyone’s name beside their little creation.
One card, a whole family of Christmas characters, and a lovely little keepsake for someone special.
Start a yearly card ritual. Choose one afternoon every December to make and write your Christmas cards. Over time, even the familiar ritual of getting the paper, pens, and ribbons out can become something you look forward to.
And if you receive a particularly special card, tuck it away somewhere safe. It’s wonderful to discover an old Christmas greeting years later, complete with handwriting and memories of someone you love.
Of course, cards aren’t the only Christmas treasures worth making by hand.
Made by Hand, Kept with Love
Long before every Christmas decoration could be ordered online, families made plenty of their own.
During the Victorian era, Christmas trees often held a mixture of purchased ornaments and homemade treats. Paper, ribbons, natural materials, and a little imagination all found their way into holiday decorations.
Some handmade Christmas decorations have wonderful histories of their own. In nineteenth-century Germany, children at Moravian schools began making intricate geometric stars from paper and cardboard. What started as a way to explore shapes and mathematics eventually became a cherished Advent tradition.
And there’s still something special about making Christmas decorations yourself.
A Cozy Afternoon of Christmas Making
You don’t need a whole workshop or a cupboard full of expensive supplies to enjoy a little Christmas crafting.
Paper Christmas stars are a lovely place to begin. Try folding strips of paper into stars, cutting delicate snowflakes for the windows, or making a simple garland from paper shapes.
If you enjoy working with your hands, you could make salt dough ornaments, shape little decorations from air-dry clay, or cast small Christmas wreaths and stars in craft plaster molds. Once they’re dry, add a little paint and a ribbon for hanging.
You might even turn it into a yearly tradition: one afternoon in December when you make something new for Christmas.
Invite family or friends, or enjoy a quiet creative afternoon by yourself. Put on some music, make a warm drink, and don’t worry too much about getting everything perfect.
After all, a slightly uneven handmade star can have far more character than a flawless shop-bought decoration.
Give Your Handmade Ornaments a Story
Here’s a little idea that makes handmade Christmas ornaments even more special.
Whenever you make, give, or receive an ornament, attach a small keepsake tag.
Write the year, who made it, and perhaps a few words about the moment behind it.
Maybe it’s a little clay star made on a snowy afternoon, a decoration your child painted for their grandparents, or a tiny wreath you made with a friend.
If you’re giving the ornament as a gift, add a personal message about why you made it for that person.
And when you unpack your Christmas decorations the following year, those little tags can bring the memories right back.
Before long, you’ll have a collection of handmade Christmas treasures, each with its own story.
Find Inspiration for Your Christmas Craft Afternoon
Fancy trying a new handmade Christmas decoration this year? From ornament-making kits and creative materials to books filled with paper stars and traditional Christmas crafts, there are plenty of ways to get started.
Explore Handmade Christmas Ornament Ideas
You might find a new favorite craft, or perhaps the beginning of a little tradition you’ll return to every December.
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