Southern Belle Jubilee

The nostalgia of the holidays definitely inspired this post. The smell of apple spice, pine, and twinkling lights brings back memories of simpler times. As a mother, one of my top priorities is to create magical experiences for my children, including family traditions they’ll want to pass down to their own kids. Here’s a list of family traditions we’ve incorporated to add to that magic:

1. Family Movie Night: Every Saturday, we host a family movie night. It’s a simple way to create excitement and routine, which many studies recommend for family bonding. We discuss which movie we’d like to watch a few days in advance, ensuring we have it or need to plan to buy/rent it. I also plan our snacks and other fun activities for movie night. My daughter excitedly shares our plans with family and friends, making it something to look forward to.

2. Halloween Decoration Tour: A newer tradition for us involves touring the best Halloween decorations in our area. A local kids’ blog curates a list of top displays across multiple suburbs. We usually explore our own neighborhood and venture out to others nearby to see who has the best decorations!

3. Mary on the Mantle: As a Catholic family, we try to follow the liturgical calendar. At the start of Advent, I pull out our pregnant Mary doll from Be A Heart, a wonderful Catholic, Southern, woman-owned shop. Mary serves as our Elf on the Shelf substitute, helping to keep the true meaning of the season at the forefront. She comes with materials that make it easy for me to plan her daily placements in our home. My daughter plays with Mary and baby Jesus all year, only stopping the night before Advent. We plan to get Joseph for my son when he turns two.

4. Good Friday Seafood Boil: This tradition comes from my husband’s family in Southern Louisiana, where they go to their family-owned farmland to boil crawfish every Good Friday. The seasoning recipe is passed down to the boys, and his uncle does an amazing job! Since we can’t always make it back home or get crawfish where we live, my husband prepares a seafood boil for our family. It’s something I eagerly anticipate each year.

5. Baking a King Cake: My daughter and I bake a King Cake for Epiphany to kick off the Mardi Gras season. We even add baby Jesus to the cake! This is another cherished tradition from my husband’s family.

6. Birthday Trip/Experience: Instead of throwing a typical birthday party, we invest that money into a special trip for the birthday person. My daughter loves this tradition; for her most recent birthday, we took her to Walt Disney World!

These traditions not only bring joy and excitement into our home but also create lasting memories that we cherish as a family. I hope these ideas inspire you to start or continue your own family traditions, weaving magic into your holidays and everyday moments. After all, it’s the little things that create a sense of belonging and nostalgia, making our children’s childhoods unforgettable.

What traditions do you hold dear? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!