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Is there a family tradition that you just love? Whether it’s getting to open one gift on Christmas Eve or gathering everyone in the family for a night of caroling, family traditions are important for a number of reasons.

First, research has found that family traditions are key to building strong family relationships between generations. At a time when there are so many generational divides, it’s good to have that one thing (or a few!) that brings everyone together.

Second, family traditions are the perfect way to create a sense of belonging among family members. Some families sit at the same spot at the table every year or each family member places an ornament on the tree in a specific order – but no matter what that tradition is, it helps each family member realize how important it is that they belong to their family, for it wouldn’t be the same without them!

For me, Diane Agricola, family traditions are the glue that keeps family and friends connected. No matter the size of your family, large or small, you can start your own family traditions that can be passed along for generations to come.

For example, when I was growing up, my mother would make tons and tons of appetizers on Christmas Eve. The entire family would get together on this special night to gather, laugh, and eat our favorite foods. Of course, there were our favorite holiday cookies and other special treats that we always looked forward to eating every Christmas Eve. Even thinking about it now I can feel the warmth and love of those very special times that have since become traditions in my own family and amongst friends – even when I cannot be with extended and immediate family members to celebrate those special holiday traditions.

But traditions don’t have to be something that you only do during the holidays. They can be as simple as a bed time story to your kiddos, a walk each evening, movie nights on Saturdays, or making it a commitment to see your family members on the holidays.

To help you start your own family traditions, we’ve collected a list of five fab ideas that you could start doing to create traditions of your own in 2017:

Special cake: Whether it’s for a birthday, anniversary, or another day that’s special to you and your family, celebrate it with a cake. On the same date every year, get together to make this cake with the ones you love. You can all bake it together and then gather around the table to eat it and reminisce about whatever it is that makes the day so special.

Professional celebrations: Any time someone in the family achieves a professional milestone, turn it into a celebration. Whether it’s a new job or a promotion, anything that has to do with a professional achievement can be turned into a family tradition. That way, whomever is getting the new job or promotion will be even more excited to come home and celebrate with family.

Pizza night: Pick a day of the week and turn it into family pizza night. On this day, order a pizza (maybe even the same pizza!) and get a few of your other snacks before hanging out on the couch to watch a movie. This is a great way to ensure that the family is together at least once a week – which is especially important at a time when everyone is always so busy.

Easter egg scavenger hunt: No matter how old you are, it’s NEVER not fun to go on an Easter egg hunt. Get tons and tons of eggs for the family and put someone in charge of hiding them. From the grown children to the youngest ones, you know they’ll all love searching for eggs and eating the candy inside!

Family bike rides: While you make not be able to go on a family bike ride every week when it’s cold outside, you can always pick a day out of the summer that is a family bike trip. If you’re lucky enough to live in a location where it’s fairly warm year-round, or the cold doesn’t bother you, choose a Sunday afternoon or another day of the week where everyone can go on a bike ride. You’ll not only be spending time bonding over something everyone loves but you’ll be working on your fitness along the way!

Ready to start a new tradition? Stop by A Village Gift Shop in historic downtown Glendale to pick up your very own Giving Plate to start a new tradition of delivering fresh cookies to a neighbor, who then passes the plate onto others. It’s all in the spirit of giving this holiday season!

Stop by and shop our holiday items, home decor, apparel, accessories, and more at 3 Village Square in Glendale. Visit www.avillagegift.com or call 513-771-3927 for more information!