10 Christmas Traditions to Start With Your Special Someone

I'm a big fan of traditions, especially around this time of the year. Why not get in the holiday spirit a little early and start thinking about creating a new holiday tradition with your special someone.

Taking the time to create new traditions will bring you closer together and strengthen your relationship. It will also give you plenty of memories to look back on. Here are some favourites:
Christmas sweatersUgly Christmas sweater parties are always a fun time. To ensure you don't create a fashion faux pas and show up wearing the same sweater as someone else, make your own! Thrift stores are a great source for red and green sweaters, and craft stores such as Michaels or Jo-Ann Fabrics have all the supplies needed to make it as tacky as possible.

P.s. These were homemade. No big deal.

Pick your own Christmas treeWhether you go to your local grocery store parking lot or a Christmas tree farm, choosing your own Christmas tree as a couple is always special (and better for the environment then an artificial tree).
Christmas ornaments Add a new ornament to your tree each year. Choose something that has meaning to the both of you. 
Create your own hot toddyHot toddies are good any time of the year, from sitting around a campfire in the summer to warming up after a winter activity. Recipes can vary, and are fun to develop and test as a couple. Check out our go to hot toddy recipe here.
Go skatingFind a local community or park rink and take up a new winter sport. Not only is it fun, skating is great exercise.

This picture is quite embarrassing, but believe it or not, I did play hockey in my younger years.

Stocking stuffersGet creative with your stocking stuffers by picking a new theme each year, such as the "date night stocking" filled with everything needed for a night out, or the "memory stocking" filled with sentimental gifts that bring back memories.
PyjamasStart a new tradition and give each other a new pair or pyjamas on Christmas Eve.  Flannels not your thing? Try a new pair of socks or slippers instead.
Christmas cardsSend Christmas cards to family and friends near and far. Make it more personal with a photograph of the two of you from the past year. There are several websites available like Minted, Shutterfly and even Costco that help you customize Christmas cards at an affordable price. Looking for something more environmentally-friendly? Send e-cards instead.

Our first Christmas card photo at the Reindeer Farm in Palmer, Alaska in 2010.

Movie nightPick your favourite holiday classics and have a movie night. For us, the favourites are "It's a Wonderful Life", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (the original) and "Elf".
Go for a winter walkWith winter comes darkness and cold, but that doesn't mean you have to stay inside and be miserable. Make the best of the winter weather and go for a walk. The cold winter air is surprisingly refreshing.

Winter walks were a staple when we lived in Alaska. 

What Christmas traditions do you share with your special someone?